Why Does it Matter?

Chapter 9: Balancing Equations

"Then answer me Arya! Who the hell is that?" He shouted at me. I look at our surrounding and thank God that only a few people are here in this morning. Napapikit ako ng makita ang bakas ng frustration sa mukha niya.

"I told you! Kaibigan ko nga lang!" I hissed at akmang hahakbang na paalis sa kanya pero hinirang niya ang katawan niya sa daraanan ko. Kanina pa kami paulit-ulit na nagtatalo dito and it's making me furious.

"I only know Annica and Monique as your friends." Madiin niya pang saad kaya naman napairap na lang ako sa pag-iisip niya.

"Can't I have a new friend now?!" I ask him kaya naman agad siyang umiling bilang sagot sa tanong ko na siya namang kinasinghap ko dahil hindi ako makapaniwala sa inaakto niya.

"I know you, Arya. You don't do friends!" He said in a loud and frustrated voice kaya naman hindi ko na kinaya ang paulit-ulit niyang pinupuna. Early this morning at eto ang bubungad sa akin, just great!

"You thought I won't notice? You're avoiding me, Arya!"

"Caleb I'm just busy. I have a lot of things to do!"

"And yet you dare have a time for that dumbass who answered your phone that even I cannot touch."

"Caleb, I told you. She's my friend! She!" I emphasize evidently in my tone of voice at mas lalong umasim ang mukha niya.

"She? The voice that greeted me on the phone has a hoarse one! Bagong gising! What can you say about that?!" I gasp by how he is delivering this to me! Full of malice! I look at him in shock and with an expression that doesn't believe he could go low like this.

"Kaibigan ko nga lang yun! Of course, bagong gising siya, we bought fell a slept at the couch!" I explained and rising my tone too so he could realize that he has no rights to questions who am I with in the first place. I'm not obliged to report anything to him!

"Are you having a fuck buddy?"

"What?! For Christ's sake! She's my friend and she's a freaking girl!" I shouted in irritation at mas lalong tumalim ang titig niya sa akin na mukhang hindi pa rin naniniwala sa sinabi ko.

"Are you having a lesbian as a fuck buddy?" Napahawak ako sa ulo ko at napayuko sa sobrang inis.

"I can't believe you, Caleb!" I shout full of aggressiveness at naglakad na paalis sa harap niya, he even tries to stop me but I managed to bump off his tall body in full force so just I could move him.

Naglakad ako palayo sa kanya kahit pa paulit-ulit niyang tinatawag ang pangalan ko. I can feel the sudden burst of adrenaline in me and it's killing my insides. Gusto kong magwala sa sobrang inis at sobrang gigil.

Frustrated kong tinawagan si Annica and luckily sinagot naman niya. It's just the start of my day and I know this one will be long, pero kung umaga palang ay uubusin na ko ng mga tao sa paligid ko, hindi ko na alam!

"Annica! You won't believe me! Could you see me for a moment, nyeta!" Agad kong bungad sa kanya ng sagutin niya ung tawag ko.

"Easy there, papasok na kami ng gate 5 ni Monique, asan ka ba?" She asks agad naman akong napatingin sa paligid ko and to see that I don't know where I'm headed pissed me off more.

"Café." I said at pinatay na agad ang tawag. I can feel my insides trembling in anger and frustrations. How could he?! If he insists on what he believes in, believe what he wants! Sobrang nasira ang araw ko dahil pagtapak ko pa lang ng main gate kanina siya na agad ang bumungad sa akin, blabbering about that stupid phone call.

Nang makarating ako ng café, agad ko namang nakita sina Annica na andoon na at naka-upo. Padabog kong inilapag ang bag ko sa lamesa at naupo na.

"Okay, I'll be the one getting the coffee today." Monique awkwardly said at dahan-dahang tumayo to order our coffees, nakita ko namang tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Annica kaya naman agad ko siyang inirapan dahil damang-dama ko pa din ung inis na kanina ko pa dala-dala.
"Okay, spill the tea." Annica said at humarap ako sa kanya, still frustrated.