XVIII. An Overnight Revelation

Gabi na at nakaupo ang mga babae sa  dalampasigan sa harapan ng rest house at nakapalibot sa isang maliit na campfire.  Panay ang tanong ni Elise tungkol sa kanya na sinasagot naman niya at minsan naman ay nagtatawanan kapag may ikinikwento si Myrtelle na ginawa ng kapatid sa current girlfriend nito.  Magkatabi sila ni Elise.

“So Trisha, you’re an Accountant?”  tanong ni Rheanne.

Medyo nagulat siya nang magsalita ito, hindi niya akalain na papansinin siya nito.  She talked to everyone but her.

“I’m a Junior Accountant at Lucian Group,” nakangiting sagot niya dito.

Nakita niya ang slight grin nito, warning her to be cautious with her before the attack.  “So you were just an accounting staff?” saad nito at ngumiti kay Myrtelle when she  silently laughed at the insult.

“Rhey!” saway ni Suzette.

“I am an accounting staff.”  Trisha proudly said.  “I am actually proud to be one.  You see, we are the heart of any business especially the big ones,” kalmadong dagdag ni Trisha.  She smiled,  “without us…there will be financial chaos, so I’m suggesting you should give time to thank them, they will help you succeed…someday,”   sabay kindat kay Rheanne.  Nabanggit kanina ni Suzette na tagapagmana ito ng malaking restaurant business.  Chef din ito at sa Paris pa nag-aral.  Pero she’s not intimidated.  Pareho rin naman silang tumatae.  Palihim siyang natatawa sa naisip.

Tumahimik ang lahat lalong-lalo na si Myrtelle nang lingunin nito ang nakasimangot na kaibigan.  “Ahhmmm…boys hindi pa ba yan luto?  I’m so hungry.”  Sigaw nito sa mga lalaking busy sa pag-uusap at pag-iinuman habang nagbabarbeque sa may di kalayuan.

“Hay naku, gutom na ang matakaw,” sagot naman ni Max at nagtawanan ang mga ito.

Trisha sighed after she realized what she had done.   Nasa isip niya ang magsorry pero bago pa man niya magawa ay naramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Suzette sa isa niyang kamay nang umalis sina Myrtelle at Rheanne papunta sa mga kaibigang lalaki.

“Nicely done!”

“I’m really sorry.  Hindi ko dapat—”  hindi niya naituloy ang sasabihin nang marinig ang mahinang tawa ni Elise.

Nakatakip ang mga palad nito sa mukha at makikita ang pagtaas-baba ng mga balikat nito.  Kung hindi mo maririnig ang halakhak na pilit nitong pinipigilan aakalain mo itong umiiyak.

“Oh my God!  That was so funny.  You’re so feisty,” saad nito matapos huminga ng malalim upang kalmahin ang sarili.

“We’re just not used to seeing Marsden hanging out with other women aside us.  Rhey and Merth are kind of possessive.  Can you forgive them?”  paliwanag ni Suzette.

“I understand, huwag kayong mag-alala.  Medyo nagiging sensitive lang din ako basta trabaho na ang pinag-uusapan.  I’ve worked hard para maabot kung ano ang mayron ako ngayon.  Well, my pride was raising its ugly head now and I’m sorry,” aniya.  Somehow, gumaan na ang kanyang pakiramdam sa reaksyon ng dalawa.

“Hey ladies, hungry for me?” nakangiting saad ni Drazen habang nakangiti at dala-dala ang isang malaking plato ng chicken and pork barbeque.

Natawa siya nang umupo ito sa tabi ni Elise at napaaray dahil kinagat nito ang braso niya.  “I’m just kidding, isusumbong kita sa boyfriend mo kahit sino lang ang kinakagat mo,” reklamo nito.

Elise just laughed and started to eat the chicken thigh.  “He won’t mind, he endured a lot of it already.”

Nakangiti pa rin siya nang tumabi sa kanya si Marsden at ibinigay ang pork barbeque.

“Hungry?” nakangiting tanong nito.

“Famish!” sabay kagat sa barbeque.

Marsden chuckled and ate his own food.  He was thankful that he did actually enjoy their reunion.  Trisha was a big help.  He can see the enjoyment in her eyes everytime their eyes met which was actually often.  She blended with them easily and he was very touched by the effort.  She’s really a good friend.

After eating they played, talked and laughed.   When it’s already midnight they went to their respective rooms to rest.

Hinatid siya ni Marsden sa kanyang kwarto and bid her goodnight with a kiss in the cheek.

Namumulang pumasok si Trisha sa kwarto at pagkatapos itong isirado ay sumandal dito.

It’s bad! Naibulong niya sa sarili.  They are friends and she wanted for them to remain this way but she’s feeling something within her that were asking for more.  “Nahuhulog na ba ako?”

★★★

Nag-iinuman sina Marsden at Max sa terrace kung saan sila nagbrunch kanina.  Marsden was leaning over the railings while drinking a bottle of beer. 

“So, paano kayo nagkakilala?” tanong niya kay Max nang bumalik ito from the kitchen bringing more beers.

“Drake and I were colleagues in some cases and I met Trisha when he brought her in a thanksgiving party.” Ngumiti ito at tumabi sa kanya.  “She’s so beautiful in a sparkly black dress and with those curves man you can’t blame me if I…” natigilan ito nang makita ang nakakunot niyang noo. “Well I flirted a little when I saw her at the garden alone.  I didn’t know her yet and I’m getting tipsy so I…” tumingin ulit ito sa kanya.

Napalunok si Max.  “I accidentally touched her butt and she doesn’t like it and punched me at my eye,”  mabilis niyang turan sabay turo  sa kanang mata.

Natawa si Marsden.  Mas lalo siyang bumilib kay Trisha.  “Serves you right bro,”  sabay tapik sa shoulder ni Max.

“Well, unfortunately I was the second one who tried to put a hand on her,” pailing-iling na saad ni Max.

“What?”  galit na turan ni Marsden.  “The bastard!”

“Bastard you mean the old man or the boyfriend?”  nangingiti ito.

“Both!”  aniyang naiinis.

Max looked at him curiously.  “All the attention was on him,  he’s good at his job, I give him that.”

“He’s bad as a boyfriend.  If I were him, I wouldn’t left her alone.  If I were him, I’ll be too happy to–”  Marsden realized kung anong nasabi niya.  He didn’t meant to say it aloud o kahit isipin man lang.  Trisha can never be his.

Max smiled knowingly.  “How about you?  How come you’ve been caught kissing at the airport if you’re not dating?”

“You saw it?  She was unfairly accused.  His boyfriend was the one who cheated.” 

Marsden relayed the incident to Max who seconded his opinion of Drake as a bastard!

“Wow!  What a small world,” anito nang matapos siya.

Nginitian niya lamang ito at binuksan ang panibagong bote ng alak.  Hindi pa siya inaantok.

“So you mean Trisha was your friend when you and your mom live in San Juan?”

“Yup!”  Marsden was now casually leaning his side at the railings and looked at the dark horizon.  His mom.  He still miss her even after 17 years.

“Did the nightmare visit you again.  Your memories with Trisha could trigger it?” pag-aalala nitong tanong sa kanya.

Sina Max at Enrique lang ang nakakaalam ng trauma niya noong bata pa siya.  Kaibigan niya ang mga ito simula pa noong high school kaya naman bestfriends niya ang mga ito.

“It came back the first time when I helped her with the scandal…We reminisced a lot of the past.  Actually, I enjoyed it.  Other memories reminded me of mom but the pain was lesser because we laughed so hard.  I’m starting to fully remember those times with them.”  Nakataw pa rin siya sa dagat.

“But the nightmare came back…and it didn’t disturbed you at all?”

He grinned.  “I’m used to not sleeping well,”  aniyang pabiro.  The nightmare only visited him when he was tired.   When he was feeling low.  As if it can only fight his mind when he was in his weakest.

“Really Mars…if you needed anything just tell me bro.  Are you really sure furthering your friendship is good?”

“Don’t worry I’m handling it well.  I’m not the broken boy I used to be,” aniya assuring his friend.

Sa ibaba ng terrace sitting at the front step was Trisha.  Hindi siya makatulog kaya naman plano sana  niyang maglakad-lakad muna sa dalampasigan hanggang dalawin ng antok nang marinig niya ang seryosong pag-uusap just  above her.   She doesn’t want to pry kahit na boses ni Marsden ang narinig niya and the other sounded like Max kaya patuloy lamang siya sa paglalakad hanggang sa pababa na siya ng sementadong hagdan.  Ngunit bago paman siya makaapak dito ay narinig niya ang kanyang pangalan na tinuran ni Max.  Nightmare, the thought that she can trigger it and the question if it is good to further their friendship remain in her mind especially the broken boy Marsden used to be.  She silently sat at the higher step.  Hindi niya akalain na ang epekto ng pagkakaibigan nila ay ang maibalik ang bangungot na suguradong nagpapahirap dito.  Akala niya ang pagod na mga mata nito na  kanyang napapansin minsan ay dahil busy ito sa trabaho.  Marami pa pala siyang hindi alam dito.  When they were together palagi itong nakangiti, palagi siyang tinutukso at palagi rin siyang may nababanggit na alaala noong mga bata pa sila.  Without knowing when he was alone he was fighting a battle  brought by just being with her.

Bago paman may makakita sa kanya dahan-dahan siyang bumalik sa kanyang kwarto at malungkot na humiga sa kama.  Is it really good to further their friendship or is it better to stop?  She wanted to cry because for almost two months their friendship has already became a big part of her life.