Are We Just Friends? (Chapter 27)

" MM, (knocks) MM, (knocks again)" walang sumasagot. " What happened to that girl again?" iritang sabi ni DD habang binubuksan ang pinto.

Pinasok niya ang kwarto at hinanap ng kanyang mata si MM.

Nakita niya ito sa isang sulok. Tulog at fresh pa sa mga mata nito ang mga luhang iniiyak kagabi.

Niyugyug niya ang katawan ni MM.

" Em, bakit ka dito natulog at bakit parang umiyak ka?" sabi niya habang unti unting nagigising si MM.

Nang tuluyang magising si MM at napansin niya na nakita ni DD na may bakas pa ng luha sa mukha niya, bigla siyang tumayo.

" Bakit ka nandito sa kwarto ko?" tanong niya bigla.

" Your late sa trabaho mo." sabi sa kanya ni DD.

Kahit malayo ang orason ay naaninag niya ang mga numerong nakalagay.

10:30 am.

" Sheyt!" biglang nasabi ni MM.

Nagmadali siyang pumunta sa banyo.

" Lumabas ka na!" iritang sabi niya.

Confused with the situation, but he go.

" Why does her face looked like she cried earlier?" tinanong ni DD sa sarili niya.

Pababa na ng stairs si DD ng biglang sumulpot ang mommy niya.

" Dee!" panimula niya. Nagulat siya.

" Ma, naman...." sabi ni DD habang hawak ang dibdib.

" I'm planning to give you a test. I and your father are getting old na. We need someone to pass down the company to someone who can handle it." sabi ng mommy niya.

" Then, I'm your son right." sabi ni DD.

" Oo, pero kailangan dapat sapat yung kaalaman mo sa pagpapatakbo ng malaking negosyo. Pinaghirapan din naman naming itayo ang lahat ng atin ngayon kaya ayokong bumagsak ito bigla dahil kulang ka sa training." sabi pa ng Mama niya.

" Ma, you don't trust me?" iritang tanong ni DD.

" It's not that. Ayaw lang namin na bumagsak ang negosyo. Dee, anak, kung hindi mo gagawin ang test baka mapilitan ang Daddy mo na ibigay ang negosyo kay Quen Smith. Halos kasing tanda mo lang rin siya pero napakagaling niyang mag handle ng mga negosyo, kaya nga biglang tumaas ang sales ng iba nating negosyo, dahil sa kanya. Ayokong ibigay ng daddy mo ang negosyo sa kanya. Lalo na hindi natin siya kaano-ano. Dee, gusto sa loob ng isang buwan magtrabaho kila MM at pag-nag-proprogress ka everytime, mas high ang chance mong mapili. Dee, please take my offer......" mahabang paliwanang ng mommy niya.

All he can say is to agree. He also doesn't want to business to take over by a stranger. He will do his best. But if he will work everyday, he and Emily will have a short time of having dates.

Biglang bumukad ang pinto. Iniluwa nito si MM.

" Bye Tita, alis na po ako..." paalam ni MM habang nagmamadaling bumaba ng stairs.

" Iha, aren't you going to eat?" tanong ng Tita niya.

" hindi na po..." she replied.

***
" Emmms, answer my call. Answer me...." sabi ni Tee habang nagpapanic dahil hindi sumasagot si MM sa mga tawag niya.

At MM's office

" Sheyt! Nakalimutan ko yung phone ko!" sabi ni MM sa sarili ng makumpirma na wala sa bag ang phone.

At the house

"My phone, I think I left it at MM's room earlier." DD thought.

When he opened the door, he heard a phone ringing. It's MM's phone, and it's Tee calling.

" Hello," panimula niya. " Walang naman sigurong problema kung sasagutin ko..." he thought.

" Hello, who is this I'm talking to?" tanong ni Tee.

" This is Dee, MM left her phone in the house." DD answered/

" Oh, if she came home text me, you have my number right?" tanong ni Tee.

" Yeah" tipid na sagot ni DD.

" Thanks man!" yun ang huling narinig niya bago mag off.

***
By the time MM was home, she took her phone and saw 10 messages.

Mainly from Tee.

Saying,

" Emms, answer your phone."

" Emmms, why aren't you answering?"

" Emmms, are you mad?"

" Sweetheart, you there?"

and so on....

" Serves you right!" she said.

" Mag-alala ka ngayon!" sabi pa niya.

Then bigla na lang nagring yung phone niya. Sa gulat niya napindot niya and accept button and loudspeaker.

" Hello, sweetheart, Dee texted me that you are home. Please talk to me, I don't like that kind of silence... Em, please... What you heard is not true." sabi ni Tee.

" Oh, yeah? You really looked so sweet. Well, if  your sick of me already, why don't you tell me, so that I won't get hurt so bad..." tuluyan nang bumagsak ang mga luhang matagal ng pinipigilan.

" MM, I'm not sick of you, I still love you. What you heard is not true, please, believe me..."

" Tee, you know when I saw the pictures, there is no doubt that you are really happy with her, How do you expect me to believe you. That time, in my mind I wished that it could be me, that should be me holding your hand, that should be me making you laugh not her.... If you want to break up with me now, tell me, so that I can move on starting now... Please don't let me suffer any harder...." iyak ng iyak si MM. Nagcollapsed na siya sa floor.

" Please MM, I love you... Please....I admit, I needed you, but you were not there, She looks like you and I tried to, In the end she was not you, Her and you are completely different. I love you more than her... MM forgive me, i still love you.... Don't leave me..." pagmamakaawa ni Tee.

" So its true," she said natatawa while she was removing her tears. " Tee, if you really loved and care for me, why did you dare look on others, I'm your girlfriend right, then why you bothered. Taylor, you're just hurting me more."she said, more tears flowing down from her eyes.

She had enough for now. She turned off her phone again...