DEIGHLAND POV
I woke up early to cook Shant's favorite breakfast.
After preparing everything, I went to her room, pero siyempre, tulog pa siya. Hindi ko siya ginising agad, kaya't iniwan ko na lang ang note sa table niya, katabi ng pagkain.
"Hindi man lang kumain kagabi. Kasalanan ko talaga to. Sana magustuhan niya this time."
Pagdating ko sa office, ang dami agad ng trabaho.
After an hour, nag-decide akong tumawag sa bahay. Baka umalis na si Shant.
(Mom answered) "Hello, good morning!" "Good morning po, si Deighland po."
"Oh, ikaw pala! Bakit anak?"
"I just wanted to check if Shant already left."
"Oo, kanina pa. Parang nagustuhan niya ang niluto mo. She was smiling earlier when she left."
"Really? That's a relief. Thanks, Mom. Bye!"
"Sige, anak. Take care!"
Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na mag-relieve. At least, nagustuhan ni Shant yung niluto ko.
Pero, as usual, Jake barged in.
"Hey, coffee?" tanong niya, may ngiti sa mukha.
"Sure, why not."
Pumunta kami sa coffee shop, pero hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip tungkol kay Shant. Pagod na ako sa attitude niya.
"So, kamusta na si Shant?" tanong ni Jake habang umiinom ng kape.
"I don't know, she's... fine, I guess. Pero, alam mo naman kung minsan suplada talaga. And I know, partly my fault."
"Ayan ka na naman! You're letting her get away with being spoiled! You need to stop coddling her or she'll never learn." sabi ni Jake, halatang inis na.
"Jake, I can't always be hard on her. She'll figure things out eventually."
"Sure. Let her turn into a brat, I don't care."
"Just let it go, okay? Maybe she'll grow up eventually." sabi ko, pagod na sa kakasaway.
"Bahala ka na nga. I'm getting tired of this!"
Sinabi ko na lang sa sarili ko na wag nang magpa-apekto. Ang stress ko, sobrang taas na.
Hapon na, at siguradong naghihintay na yun ng tawag ko. It's already 5 o'clock at yun, she test my patient again!
Bago pa ako makalabas ng office, bigla na lang dumating si Beatriz.
"Hi, Deighland! Let's grab meryenda together?" tanong niya, may ngiti.
Perfect timing. Just what I needed. Kailangan ko na yata magplano kung paano ako makakalabas sa sitwasyong 'to.
"Sorry, Beatriz. I was planning to eat with Shant, actually."
"Isama mo na!" sabi ni Jake, sabay tawa.
"Fine!" bulong ko sa sarili ko, medyo naiinis na.
"Thanks, Deighland! I knew you'd agree," sabi ni Jake, grinning from ear to ear.
Nahihiya akong tanggihan si Beatriz. Paano ko ba 'to ipapaliwanag kay Shant.
Nakaabang na siya sa labasan ng school. Kinuha ko ang bag niya, at sinubukan mag-start ng conversation. Pero ang sagot lang ay malamig niyang katahimikan habang sumasakay siya sa kotse.
Hindi na siya umupo sa likod—lagi niyang pinipili ang harap, pero dahil nandiyan si Beatriz, walang choice si Shant kundi sa backseat.
"Shant, saan mo gustong kumain?" tanong ko, hoping na maging normal ulit.
"Up to you. Why don't you ask your friend there?" sarkastikong sagot niya, boses matalim.
"Beatriz knows a good place." sabi ko, trying to lighten the mood.
Pumunta kami sa restaurant na recommended ni Beatriz.
Hindi na nga tumingin sa menu si Shant. Patuloy siya sa pagmumukmok, mukha niyang hindi satisfied sa kahit ano.
Dumating ang waiter at binigyan kami ng menu. Tinry ko ulit tanungin si Shant kung anong gusto niya.
Wala siyang sinabi.
Ano na nga bang gagawin ko? Hindi siya magkausap.
"Shant, you should try the pasta here, it's really good." sabi ni Beatriz, trying to be friendly.
"I'll just have a small sandwich. I lost my appetite," sagot ni Shant, parang may galit.
Lumipas ang mga minuto, at thick ang tension. Hindi man lang siya kumain, puro phone na lang ang hawak.
"I'm really glad I got to meet your sister, Deighland," sabi ni Beatriz, trying to break the silence. "And congrats on your graduation soon, Shant!"
Wala pa ring sagot si Shant.
"Yeah, Beatriz, and she's moving to college next year," sagot ko, parang ako lang yata yung nagsasalita.
Nag-smile si Beatriz. "I'm really happy for you, Shant... I should head out though, don't want to keep you guys too long."
"Do you want us to drop you off?" tanong ko, looking for a reason to leave.
"No, it's okay. I'll just grab a taxi. I'm sure you two want some time alone," sagot niya, mabilis na umalis.
Hindi ko na alam kung na-bother si Shant o na-relieve. Basta, ayoko nang pilitin pa.
Sinimulan ko nang magmaneho, at hindi ko na kaya. Ti anong ko si Shant.
"Shant, are you okay?" tanong ko, medyo inis na.
"Yes."
Tuluyan na siyang nagmumukmok. Ang kilay niya, parang hindi mapakali.
"You sure? Kasi kanina lang excited ka, pero ngayon? Anong problema mo? May issue ka ba kay Beatriz?" tanong ko, naiinis na.
"I told you, it was supposed to be just the two of us! You didn't even mention she was coming!"
Sobrang inis ko na. "We just ran into her, okay? She wanted to meet you, so I brought her along. What's the big deal?"
"I don't like her!" sagot ni Shant.
I was done. "Come on, Shant. Be reasonable. Beatriz is nice, and you need to stop acting like this. You can't go around scowling at everyone. You're going to get wrinkles if you keep this up, you know?" sabi ko, trying to joke, pero naiinis na ako.
"Kuya!" sagot niya, parang inis na inis din. Tumingin siya salamin at tiningnan ang mukha. "Wala naman ha!"
"I'm just saying! Lighten up, will you? I'm sure you're overthinking things. You're more worried about your face than your attitude. Maybe that's why you're wearing all that makeup now. Trying to impress someone?"
"Kuya, there's no one I'm trying to impress!" sagot ni Shant.
"Well, you should! Take care of yourself, but stop acting like everyone is out to get you."
"Kuya, wait... Are you dating Beatriz? Is she your girlfriend now?"
What? She really asked that?
"No, Shant! Beatriz is just a friend, and I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now. I don't have time for that."
"Really?" tanong niya, parang hindi pa rin convinced.
"Yeah, really."
"Well, if you had a girlfriend, you wouldn't care about me anymore," sabi niya, parang malungkot.
I almost lost it right there. "What are you talking about? The only girl I care about is you, Shant. You'll always be my priority."
Wala siyang sinabi.
Hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyayari sa kanya. Natatakot ba siyang hindi ko na siya papansinin pag may girlfriend ako?