Chapter 27

"Tito Tristan, si Tripp po?"

It's been days simula ng iwasan ako ni Tripp. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya ako iniiwasan. Siya naman 'yung nasunod, di ba? Hindi ako pumunta kay Drake kahit na gusto ko. Siya yung pinili ko pero bakit ginaganito niya ako?

Pumunta ako sa bahay nila to check on him. Wala siya sa office niya, wala siya kila Tofer. Hindi ko alam kung san ko siya hahanapin, ni hindi siya sumasagot sa phone.

Tito Tristan looked at me na parang naguguluhan siya. "Si Tripp?" he asked.

I nodded at him. "Opo. Where's he?"

He cocked his head and then sipped his coffee. Umaga pa lang kasi, mas inuna ko pa ngang pumunta dito kaysa sa trabaho ko, e. I've been really sleepless these past few days. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang gagawin ko, parang wala akong choice. Hindi ko makausap yung pinili ko, hindi ko maiharap yung mukha ko sa iniwan ko. It's like I'm bound to be doomed. 

"He's in New York, Alys. Last Tuesday pa siya nandun. Akala ko naman nasabi niya sa'yo."

My world felt like falling apart. He left? 

"A-ano po?" My voice was shaking. All these raw feelings rushing back to me. Tripp left... pagkatapos niya akong papiliin, iiwan niya rin ako? And he didn't even give me the courtesy of goodbye. Wala lang ba yung almost five years na pinagsamahan namin? It will all be put into waste? 

He nodded and gave me a small smile. I could see pity in his eyes. Siguro naaawa siya sa akin kasi iniwan ako ng wala man lang pasabi. Oo nga, nakakaawa nga naman talaga ako. "Sorry, Alys. I thought he informed you. Biglaan kasi 'yung project. Hindi ko naman ineexpect na kukunin ni Tripp kasi good for one month 'yung project."

Just when I thought I've had it all coming, mas lalo pang tumindi. One month? E yung few days nga na hindi kami nag-uusap halos mabaliw na ako sa sama ng loob at guilt! Pano pa yung one month?!

"One month?" I asked, disbelief evident in my voice.

"One month, Alys. I'm sorry. Kung gusto mo ibibigay ko sa'yo yung number ng hotel na tinutuluyan ni Tripp?"

I bit my lips to prevent myself from crying. I can't cry in front of his Dad. Damn, ayoko ng umiyak! Sawang sawa na akong umiyak!

"'Wag na po, Tito... Sige po, aalis na ako."

I turned my back on him and started crying.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ko pa kinukuha lahat ng luha na lumalabas sa mata ko. Akala ko ubos na, akala ko naubos na ni Drake at ni Tripp pero akalain mo capable pa pala akong umiyak.

I hastily opened my car and sat on the driver's seat. Mabuti na lang at heavily tinted 'yung sasakyan ko. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko pa ba pati kahihiyan. Lahat na naramdaman ko. 

I got my phone and dialed Tripp's number but to no avail. Ganyan ka ba kagalit sa akin, ha? Akala ko ba mahal mo ako? Bakit mo ako ginaganito?!

Instead of calling him, I composed an email. Sana mabasa niya.

'Tripp, please wag na tayong mag-away. Wala si Drake, nakita mo naman, di ba? Tinigilan niya na tayo... pero bakit ka naman ganyan? Was I your trophy? Kasi gusto ako ni Drake kaya gusto mo rin ako? Ngayon na hindi niya na ako gusto, iiwan mo na lang ako? Wag naman, Tripp...'

Sana kung ganito lang ang gusto mo sa akin, sana sinabi mo. Tripp, you made me fall for you! Minahal kita tapos gaganituhin mo ako?! You'll drop me like a hot potato now that the competition is done? Wala ba akong halaga sa'yo?

Monday rolled in fast. Akala ko hindi na matatapos yung weekend ng buhay ko. It's been a week since Tripp walked out and left and I still feel the same crushing feeling I've had when I learned what he did.

Everything seemed to hurt. I can't think. I don't know what I'm supposed to think.

"Alys!" Tofer stormed into my room without even giving me the courtesy of knocking.

I looked at him using my tired eyes. See? Even looking at someone tires me. My life has turned from wonderful to train wreck. 

"What?" I said, using all my will to even utter a single word.

He sat on the edge of my bed and then bit his lip. Hinawakan niya yung kamay ko and then asked me. "Hey, okay ka lang ba? Nag-aalala ako kahit hindi halata!"

I tried to smile but I think it turned into a grimace. 

"What do you want?"

He pouted at me. Buti pa si Tofer nag-aalala sa akin. Si Tripp kaya naaalala ako? Ni isang text o tawag wala man lang akong natanggap. Sana kahit isang text lang o kahit 5 seconds call lang magiging masaya na naman ako, e. Wag naman 'yung ganito... Pakiramdam ko kinalimutan niya na ako, lahat ng pinagsamahan namin.

"Sabi ni Tito Tristan wala raw si Tripp e so ikaw muna ang guguluhin ko!"

My face fell into a frown. Akala ko immuned na ako. Masakit pa rin pala pag naririnig ko na iniwan niya ako without even a sentence of goodbye or explanation.

I adjusted myself on the bed to occupy him. Inabot ko rin yung water ko sa table and drank. Feeling ko konting konti na lang maddehydrate na ako. 

"Then sundan mo siya sa New York," I suggested with my voice sounding really cold. 

"Alys naman... wag mo naman akong idamay sa away niyo ni Marco! Best friends forever kaya!" he said and then enveloped me in a hug.

I smiled at his gesture. He's right. Wala dapat madamay sa nangyayari sa amin ni Tripp. If I'm really losing him, hindi ko na afford na may mawala pa sa akin. I can't afford to lose Tofer. I can't live without my family and friends. Kung sila rin iiwan ko, I'll lose my sanity.

"Sorry for being moody. Let's eat outside?" I offered. Maghapon na akong nakakulong dito sa bahay, I need to go out. Mababaliw na talaga ako ng tuluyan.

Tofer clapped his hands and tinulak niya ako sa loob ng cr. Mukha daw akong depressed, ang pangit pangit ko na daw kaya maligo na raw ako. Tss!

Since I'm still not feeling well, nagsuot lang ako ng white shorts, cropped top, and nude pumps. Last time na lumabas kasi kami ni Tofer na naka Keds lang ako, sinabihan niya ako na mukha akong maggrocery kaya conscious na ako sa sinusuot ko.

"San tayo?" I asked him nung sumakay ako sa shotgun seat ng car niya. Buti naman! I mean, I don't have the energy and the heart to drive. Baka mabangga lang kami.

He was driving when he shrugged. "Where do you want? Early dinner then night out tayo, please?"

I sighed, giving in. "Fine."

We went to some resto and then diretso na sa The Fort. Hindi ko alam dito kay Tofer kung bakit dito pa e ang daming tao dito! And besides, I hate drinking since I went back to the Philippines. The reason why I drink when I was in Paris was because I want to forget. And now, wala naman akong gustong kalimutan... or not. No, kahit ganito kami ni Tripp, ayoko siyang kalimutan na lang. We need to talk and straighten things out.

"VIP lounge tayo!" Tofer shouted at my ears.

Tignan mo! Kaya ayoko sa bars, e! Sobrang ingay! Parang bibigay yung tenga ko any second.

I shook my head and tried to come up with an explanation.

"May kukunin lang ako sa car! I'll find you later!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Mukhang gets niya naman kaya nag thumbs up siya sa akin and pumasok na siya sa bar.

I went out and sat on the hood of his car. Damn. Miss na miss na kita, Tripp. Kung nandito ka lang e di sana nag-eenjoy tayo ngayon at tinakasan natin na sabay si Tofer.

My head was hanging low when I heard familiar voices. The night was at its peak and sobrang madilim sa paligid. I'm not worried kasi safe naman dito.

"Sorry talaga, Drake!" I heard someone said. My body automatically froze upon hearing his name. "Fier naman, stop clinging onto him like a bitch!"

I can't make a decent face of the girl who's clinging onto Drake. All I could see was figures. 

"Shut up, Cristine. Hindi naman nagrereklamo si Drake pero ikaw ang ingay ingay!" an unfamiliar voice said.

"Anong hindi! Tignan mo nga halos magdikit na yung kilay ni Drake sa inis sa'yo."

"Heh shut up! Go home na nga kung magnanag ka lang buong gabi. I'll manage Drake na lang."

"In your dreams, Fier. Takot ko lang na bigla mong rapin si Drake, no."

It was like time has froze. I was there but I felt like I wasn't there. 

I saw Drake but he didn't see me. No, I knew he saw me but it was like he didn't. 

"Uy, Drake, why did you stop walking?" the girl said. Drake stopped and so did Cristine.

Drake didn't utter a single word... It was Cristine who broke the deafening silence. "Alys..." she said as if she's guilty.

I forced a smile and stood up. "H-hello."

My eyes were glued on the woman in front of me. She was staring at me with her brows rising. "Why are you staring at me?" sabi niya sa akin.

Hinampas naman siya ni Cristine. "Fier! Wag mong sigawan si Alys!" 

Shocked registered on her face. It seemed like recognition. Kilala niya ba ako? Kasi ako, hindi ko siya kilala.

"Oh! Ikaw si Alys!" she said. "Oh, well. I think I should say thanks."

"H-ha?"

She smiled at me and rested her head on Drake's shoulder. "Thanks for breaking this man's heart. I'm here to collect the pieces."

She went near me and patted my shoulder. 

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong reaksyon. She's so cocky! Sino ba siya?!

"Sino ka ba?" I couldn't help but ask.

She smiled at me and then clung onto Drake like he's her life saver. "Marie Fier Sandoval, darling."

Cristine butted in and she looked at me with pity. My life had really crashed from almost perfect to wrecked. "Alys, sorry, ha? She's like that lang talaga. Please don't be offended."

May karapatan ba akong ma-offend? Wala naman.

I smiled at her, at them. "Non taken. Sige, baka may pupuntahan pa kayo..."

Cristine looked at me keenly. "Okay..." she looked at Drake and Fier. "Let's go na!"

And then that was it. No hi, no hello. It looked like he really meant it when he said give up.