Chaotic Love

Chapter 18

Nagising ako dahil sa nakakasilaw na sinag ng araw mula sa bintana na malapit sa akin.

Nakita kong natutulog pa rin sina Ella. Mabuti na lang dahil walang pasok ngayon. It's Sunday!

"What happened?" My lips parted upon seeing Ali.

She looked like a mess. Masyadong magulo ang damit nito. Wait...that's her dress last night. Hindi ba 'to umuwi?

"You didn't sleep here, did you?" Mukha itong tuliro.

"I slept on my friend's place...Joy." She mumbled then started walking towards her bed.

I squinted my eyes at her. Patay-malisya lamang ito. Mabilis niyang kinuha ang kanyang twalya at saka lumabas na.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. Did I missed something?

Liam:

    Good morning!

Napangiti ako ng makatanggap ng mensahe mula kay Liam. He would always send me messages.

"Putangina!" Ella groaned in frustration. Gising na pala ang pinaka-maarte kong kaibigan.

Bumaba na si Rose at saka binato ng twalya si Ella.

"Tangina! Lasing na lasing ako!" Rose hissed. Masama naman itong tiningnan ni Ella.

"What happened?" I curiously asked them.

"You left us to be with Liam! We got drunk as fuck!" Ella hysterically said.

Muling pumasok si Ali. Nakapagbihis na rin ito. "You were gone last night, too!" Ella pointed at Ali.

Tinaasan lamang nito ng kilay si Ella. "My friend had an emergency." She casually said.

Nilingon ako ni Ali. "Liam's outside...and Von."

I heard Ella groaned and motioned us that she would still sleep. Uh, weird? Lagi naman itong mangunguna sa pagkain.

"Where are you going?" Charm asked with her usual morning voice. Kakagising lang pala nito. Grabe! Hindi man lang nagising dahil sa ingay ni Ella? Pano 'yon?

"Hospital." She casually said.

"Why? Sinong nandun?" Usisa ko sa kanya.

Gustuhin ko mang lumabas na at yakapin na si Liam ay hindi ko magawa.

"Kaibigan ko. Don't worry, she's fine." She said. Nakasuot na ito ng kanyang usual attire. Jeans, shirt, converse shoes.

"Ingat!" I told her. She smiled at me.

Tumayo ako sa gilid ng kama ni Ella. Ang gaga na 'to! Best actress din e!

"Alam kong gising ka. Mag breakfast na tayo!" Masungit kong saad sa kanya.

"Bangon na, Ella! Nandoon si Von sa labas!" Tunog pang-aasar ni Rose rito.

Mabilis na lumipad ang isang unan patungo kay Rose. Charm laughed.

"Shut up!" Inis na singhal ni Ella. She looked really pissed.

"What happened last night?" I faced Charm.

Baka sakaling magkwento ito. Mukha kasing ayaw magsalita ni Ella. Si Rose naman ay tila ba mang-aasar lamang.

"Well, this girl got so drunk and kissed Von!" Charm casually spilled the tea.

"No one's going to mentioned about this. Never again!" She marked with finality. "I am going to talk to Von!" Mabilis itong gumalaw.

"What about your boyfriend?" Hindi ko namalayang tanong sa kanya.

Natigilan si Ella dahil sa tanong ko. Mukhang iyon ang kanyang problema.

"I can manage." But I know that she can't.

Mabilis naming sinundan si Ella palabas. Von stood up upon seeing Ella. Mukhang alam na rin ni Von ang dapat gawin.

I went near Liam and hugged him from his side. Napalinga-linga rin si Charm.

"Sorry, Dale's on the site pa rin. But, pinadala niya 'tong breakfast mo." Liam said as he handed a separate breakfast for Charm.

Lumabas na rin sina Ella at Von. Mag-uusap ata ang dalawa.

"Won't you be on the site?" Usisa ko kay Liam.

"We're more on office work but we'll go there in the afternoon." Liam explained.

Hiniwa niya na ang bacon. Mabuti nang may pabreakfast si Liam. At least ay hindi na kami magluluto pa. Nakakatamad din kasi talaga.

Umalis din sila agad pagkatapos naming kumain at pagkatapos mag-usap nina Ella at Von.

Ella's quiet. I didn't even bother to ask her. Panigurado na ang gulo-gulo ng kanyang isipan ngayon.

We continued on our usual activities. Minsan lang si Liam makapadala ng breakfast kaya naman madalas ay sa karinderya kami kumakain.

"Can you ask Liam about Dale?" Lunch break namin ngayon. Wala si Charm dahil kasama niya si Dale.

Kunot-noo kong tiningnan si Ella. Rose sighed. They both looked pained.

"We saw Dale with someone. I know it's bad to assume over things but...can you please asked Liam? They're close naman diba?" Panunuyo ni Rose sa akin.

Tila may bukol na bumara sa aking lalamunan. Hindi ko kasi alam kung sasagutin ba ni Liam ang mga ibabatong tanong ko sa kanya.

I messaged Liam if we could meet but he declined it. Ika niya ay marami silang gagawin.

I tried to reached out for Liam but then again he's busy. Maging ako ay nahihirapan na rin.

"We need to tell her that something's wrong." Ella insisted.

Wala pa si Charm. Kasama niya pa ata si Dale ngayon. Kakatapos lang namin kumain ng dinner.

"That's not our story to tell." Nanghihinang sagot ni Rose.

"We cannot just tell her that something's wrong. We haven't figured it out." Paliwanag naman ni Ali kay Ella.

"My goodness! Ilang beses na ba natin nakita si Dale kasama ang babaeng iyon? At...anong ginagawa nila sa kids  section?" Ella groaned in frustration.

Magkasama kasi kami kanina ni Ella. We went to the mall. Inutusan kami ng boss namin na may bilhin saglit.

We passed by Shakeys and saw Dale with a girl. Mabilis namin itong sinundan ni Ella.

"That's the same girl we saw!" She whispered.

Kunot noo kong pinagmasdan ang dalawa. Abala sila sa pagtingin ng mga laruan at damit pambata. Hindi ko rin malaman kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman.

"Kumalma muna tayo, okay? Hintayin natin na si Dale ang magpaliwanag." Utas ko sa kanila.

In the end ay nagpasya na lang kaming matulog. I texted Liam if we could talk. Napahinga ako ng malalim nang wala akong matanggap na mensahe galing sa kanya.

Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayare. Liam would always sent me good morning messages. Ika niyang marami silang ginagawa raw.

Naabutan ko ang pagtatalo nina Rose at Ella. I think they saw Dale again.

Natahimik lamang sila ng pumasok si Charm. My heart's beating so wild. Charm would meet Dale's family. I haven't heard anything from Liam.

"Call us if something happens." Ali told the innocent Charm.

Ella frustratedly brushed her black long hair. Rose was silently wiping her tears.

Naiwan naman akong tulala. Ni hindi na kami nakakain pa ng dinner.

"She's not calling. Maybe, everything's okay?" Rose breaks the silence enveloping us.

"Hello? Charm?"