CHAPTER 18

                                    

                                          
*3 years later*
"Chan!" Kagagaling ko lang sa trabaho pero dito ako dumeretso para narin dalhin ang ibang gamit ni Chad and his snacks. David help me carry those bags.
"David, where's Chad?"  Hays baka tulog na yun, kakalaro napagod.
"He's having a nap in my room" As usual, that kid can't sleep alone. 
"You're leaving?" Actually, may pupuntahan pa akong place. Nag chat Kasi si Jessica na mag kita daw kami since it's been a while and kakarating nya lang galing America.
"Yes, I just dropped by to check Chad, akala ko gising pa eh. Ilalagay ko nalang sa ref ito" I don't wanna tell him where I'm going because knowing him? He's strict kala mo tatay mangsermon at mag bawal but it's fine with me, I know he's just concern.
Umakyat na ako sa taas para mag palit ng damit, alangan namang pumunta ako doon ng nakasuot ng pang office attire noh. Nang matapos kong magbihis ay dumeretso na ako sa room ni David kung saan natutulog kasalukuyan si Chad. 
My lips rose up when I saw him sleeping while hugging his favorite stitch teddy bear. He's so adorable lalo na at suit nya ang onisie nya na stitch din. Habang may chance ay I took him a picture, ang cute nya Kasi. As I stare at him while brushing his hair with my hand, I can't help but to notice his features, from his thick lashes to his chubby cheeks and rosy lips, his hair is also blondish with a touch of brown ,more like chestnut brown which remind me of someone. I can't deny that he just looks likes his father.
I kissed him on the cheek and forehead, inayos ko narin ang higaan nya at dahan-dahang lumabas ng kwarto, baka pag nahuli ako nun ay hindi na ako maka labas eh.
I sip the coffee that he's drinking a while a go and prepare my things, Wala naman syang reklamo na ininom ko ang kape nya, suntukan nya lang mag reklamo mag boboxing kami.
"Sure, hahanapin ka nun" Yea, sure na hahanapin nanaman ako nung batang iyon.
"Just tell him that I go to work" kahit na pupunta lang ako para mag liwaliw, hay nako Kasi si Jessica eh.
"Yeah, be careful alright?" I kissed his cheek and go.
"I'll be" I can't help but to smile, it's been 2years since Jessica left the country for some reasons. I was surprised that she messaged me earlier na nandito na sya sa Pilipinas, ang babaeng yon, Hindi manlang nagsabi para sana nasundo ko sya.
I go to the location that she sent me, As I go out the taxi, I spotted her.
"Omoo! Chan!" We hugged each other, geez! I missed this girl.
"Hey!"
"I missed you" 
"Miss you too, how have you been?" She smiles and show her thumbs up.
"Been good"
She held my hand and drag me in the entrance.
"Tara na, everyone's waiting for us" Nagtaka naman ako Bigla, I thought it's just the two of us Hindi ko alam na may mga kasama pala sya.
"Everyone?" I gave her a confuse look, she return it with a grin.
"You'll find out soon" Nagpatangay nalang ako sa hila nya.
I was stunned to see Lyka, Kyla, Lawrence, Lance, Honey Rose, and Ashley, Hindi ko nga lang Nakita si Enricko but they're all here except that guy. When they finally saw us, natahimik Sila so Lyka broke the silence.
"Uhmn, Hi?" 
"Hi" i blink in surprise to see them here, Hindi parin ako makapaniwala, Jessica nudge me.
"Long time no see" I smile, yes..it's been quite a while.
"Yea, it's been a while since that...day" Napayuko ang iba, ang iba naman ay nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Look, we're sorry, for all that happens" Lyka do the first move
"Sa tingin nyo may mababago yang sorry nyo?" I scoffed, ang tagal na nun tapos ngayon lang nila naisipang mag sorry? After what happened to me.
"We're here to explain" yeah right, I'll let them explain, Hindi ko ipagdadamot ang chance na ipaliwanag nila sa akin kung bakit nila ginawa iyon. There's still part of me na naniniwalang may malinus silang intensyon kung bakit nila ginawa o may malinis Silang dahilan.
Umupo ako sa katapat na couch sa kanila, Jessica's sitting beside me surprisingly quiet.
Ashley held my hand and said;
"We understand kung Hindi mo tatanggapin ang sorry namin" hearing her soft voice na minsan lang marinig dahil sa pagiging tahimik nya. Her voice laced with guilt and pain.
"Baka iba ang isipin mo samin" Lance looking at me
"Oh what do you guys mean? Iba?" Iba? O Mali ba ang mga iniisip ko tungkol sa kanila? Sana nga Mali ang mga nasa isip ko tungkol sa kanila. Sana maliwanagan ang utak ko.
"Can you listen to us first?" I heard Lawrence sights as he look at me in serious face.
"We planned it all along" It was Kyla who talked this time, Akala ko itatanggi nila.
"Obviously, but you know what? Ilang beses pumapasok sa isip ko yan pero hindi ko parin matanggap na nagawa nyo Sakin ang bagay nayun." I smiled bitterly, I felt a hand rubbing my back to comfort me and saw it was Jessica, ofcourse it's her.
"You wouldn't understand" Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Lance, Hindi ko talaga maiiintindihan kung Hindi nila iappaliwanag sa akin. I'm giving them a chance to explain..after all, they're still my friends.
"Then, enlighten me"
"Damien and Damon asking our help, they love you Chan, but you're too blind to see it" I remember them again..It pained me, remembering how I suffered in their arms. Kung paano ako masakal sa kanila, kung paano ako pagtulungan.
Lawrence seems to notice my mood but he still continue it.
"I know their condition, that's why kapag may chance ako...I'm taking pictures of you..I'm not sorry for that" I was frozen at his sudden revelation.
"Pa-paano mo nagawa Yun? I trusted you!" I suddenly have this urge to slap him so I did. Walang umawat and I'm thankful for that.
"The twins, they were suffering. Hindi ko kayang makita ang mga kaibigan ko na miserable, Chan!" 
"Bakit ako? Am I not your friend too? Kaibigan mo rin ako Diba? Yet you let me be miserable for them!" I felt my eyes getting hotter as I looked at him, at them. Kaibigan din naman nila ako pero bakit ganito ang ginagawa nila sa akin?
"They're keep on following you, looking at you from afar. Naghihintay sila sayo, they're waiting for you to help them, to understand them, to remember them pero pilit mong kinakalimutan ang lahat!" It strikes me..hard 
"I didn't!"
"You fvcking did!" 
Pilit konga bang kinakalimutan? Kahit ano ngang Gawin ko Hindi ko makalimutan eh.