XVI. The Meeting Of Friends

Hinihintay ni Marsden si Trisha sa loob ng sasakyan while searching a good music on his phone to play in the car radio.   Nang marinig niya ang pagsirado ng pinto ay napalingon siya dito.  Natigilan siya nang makita ang papalapit na kaibigan.  Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin niya mapigilang humanga sa ganda nito. She radiated light in every turn and Marsden can’t stop the sudden sensation caressing his heart.   She wore a yellow floral beach minidress.  It surrounded her like a petal in bloom.  He was attracted to her.  No matter how he refused to admit it, the attraction lingered there whenever their together.  Remembering their almost kiss and the urge to kiss her yesterday when he saw her playing with her lip took a lot of his self control.  He sighed.  I needed to date, and fast.  She’s a friend Marsden, always remember that. Paalala niya sa kanyang sarili.

“Hey!” Umupo na ito sa passenger seat at ibinigay sa kanya ang isang brown paper bag na naglalaman ng chicken sandwiches.

“Brilliant!” aniya sabay kain ng paborito niyang chicken sandwich with lettuce and coleslaw.

Natatawa si Trisha sa takaw nito and unconsciously wiped the smudge of mayonaise in his lower cheek just above his lips with her thumb and then put it in her mouth innocently.

Marsden swallowed hard and got the urge to close his eyes and erased the images she presented by just doing such an innocent thing.  But Marsden’s imaginations were not innocents and he felt like a jerk. 

Tinapos na niya ang pagkain ng dalawa at ibinigay ang natitira kay Trisha.   Pinatugtog niya ang paborito niyang banda (Linkin Park).

Kinalaunan nasa highway na sila sumasabay na si Marsden sa pagkanta.

“I've become so numb

I can't feel you there

Become so tired

So much more aware

I'm becoming this

All I want to do

Is be more like me

And be less like you.”

Feel na feel nito ang pagkanta.

“In fairness maganda ang boses mo,” aniyang natatawa.

“Parang si  Chester Bennington lang diba?” sabay kindat sa kanya.

“Kapal hah! Dream-on.”

“Ouch! Where’s the loyalty babe?”

“Naiwan sa apartment dear, better luck next time,” panunukso niya dito.

Natawa na lamang ito sa kanya at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkanta habang nakatuon ang paningin sa kalsada.

“Tsaka nga pala.  If you’re free, you are invited sa birthday ni Jay this Tuesday.”  Naisip niya baka busy ito kaya hindi niya mapigilang mahiya.  “Siyempre I understand if you can’t.  Alam ko busy ka.”

“Tuesday?  hmmm…” Nag-isip ito.  “I think I can spare time for that day.”  Ngumiti ito sa kanya dimples and all. 

Touched naman siya sa pagbibigay nito ng oras sa kanya.  Ito ‘yong isa sa mga magandang katangian na gustung-gusto niya dito.  He made her feel important.  Naisip niya ang dating nobyo.  Akala niya sapat na ‘yong siya ang girlfriend, siya ‘yong sinasama sa okasyon, ipinakilala sa pamilya.   Hindi niya akalain na mas masarap pala kung alam mong importante ka at pinagsisikapang isa ka sa priority.  She admitted na kapag pinapili niya si Drake between work and her, he wouldn’t hesitate to choose work.

★★★

“Oh my!”

Napabulalas si Trisha nang makita ang naggagandahan at magagarang yate na nakapwesto sa maliit na pantalan.

Huminto sila sa parking lot at sumunod siya kay Marsden nang maglakad ito daladala ang overnight bag papunta sa isang yate.  Hindi niya maiwasang hangaan ang kagwapuhan nito.  He’s wearing a white short sleeve collarless shirt and and a khahi shorts .  May lalaking sumalubong sa kanila at nagkamay ang mga ito. 

She was touched nang eguide siya ni Marsden pasakay sa yate by taking her hand.  Together they boarded.  Nang umandar na ito  ay pumwesto sila sa harapan ng yate sa first deck clutching the railings. Pareho silang nakashades kaya naman naenjoy nila ang sikat ng araw at haplos ng hangin sa kanilang mga mukha. 

Trisha was enjoying the experience but when she looked at Marsden, she saw the tension probably starting to build as they neared his friends.  She squeezed his hand beside hers and smiled.  “Relax, everything will be fine.”

Ngumiti ito and turned his hand palm up so their hands clasped and enjoyed the beauty of the sea.

★★★

Papunta sila sa isang malaking isla na malayo-layo rin sa siyudad.  Napansin niya ang naglalakihang mga bahay na nasa higher part.  Sa tingin niya private resthouse ang mga ito.  Magkakalayo at may mga sariling pader. 

Nang malapit na sila sa pribadong daungan, saka pa lang binitawan ni Marsden ang kanyang kamay.  Ngayon niya lang naalala na magkahawak pa  pala sila ng kamay.  Para kasing nasanay na siya, na para bang normal na lamang sa kanilang dalawa ang ganito. 

Nang makababa ay sabay na silang naglakad papunta sa rest house.   As they walked, Marsden’s hand was laid at her back.

Marsden was starting to doubt kung dito ba gaganapin ang party.   Napakatahimik ng paligid na tila ba walang tao.  Walang phone reception dito kaya naman hindi niya macontact ang kanyang secretary to check kung dito nga ba ang tamang lugar.

“Ahmmm…napakatahimik ata,” saad ni Trisha.  She loved the white sand and the water was calling into her, napakalinis nito.

“Baka maaga lang tayo.”

“Maybe they are inside?”

“Com’on, I’m hungry.”  He led her towards the house.

Trisha smiled.  Gutom na rin siya.  One hour and 30 minutes din silang nagbyahe and the sandwiches were not enough for their gluttonous stomachs.

Nang paakyat na sila sa stone stairs at the entrance of the house ay bumukas ang malaking tinted glass door at lumabas ang isang matandang babae.

Umaliwalas ang mukha nito nang makita sila.  “Señorito Marsden.”

“Manang Anet?” Walang kiming niyakap ito ni Marsden. “Hindi kita nakilala, bumata ka ah!”

Natawa ito.  “Eh kasi naman po si Señorito Max pinipilit akong magpakulay ng buhok at magpafacial.  Kaya heto gustung-gusto ng manong Lobreng mo.”  Kinikilig itong tinapik ang balikat niya.

Natawa rin si Marsden at tumingin kay Trisha.  “Manang si Trisha kaibigan ko.  Trish si manang Anet.”

Kinuha ni Trisha ang kamay nito at nagmano.  Medyo nagulat ito sa ginawa ng dalaga ngunit makikita ang ngiti nito na parang sinasabi kay Marsden na mabait na bata.

“Si manang at ang asawa niya ang caretaker dito.  Kolehiyo palang kami dito na kami namamalagi.”

“Hello po, ikinagagalak ko pong makilala kayo,” masaya nitong bati kay manang.

“Ako rin hija.  Naku! Bakit ba tayo dito sa labas, halikayo at dito tayo sa loob.”

Pumasok sila sa loob at napansin ni Marsden na wala ring tao kahit dito sa loob ng bahay.

“Manang, wala pa ba sila Max?”

“SURPRISE!”

Nagulat sila nang biglang lumabas ang mga kaibigang may dala-dalang party poppers. 

They both laughed when they realized na ito pala ang plano ng mga ito. 

Max went to Marsden first and they fist bumped.  Nang mapansin nito si Trisha ay napangiti ito.

“Trisha?” turan nito.

“Yes Max, ako nga,” natatawa rin nitong sagot.

Nag-usap ang mga ito pero hindi na narinig ni Marsden ang pinag-uusapan nila nang lumapit sina Drazen at Dave.  They fist bumped and laughed when Drazen popped the party popper directly in front of Marsden.  “Hindi ko napaputok kanina.”

Beyond Drazen nakita niya ang mga babae niyang kaibigan.  They were hesitant to approach him.  Hindi sila kailanman nagkausap for more than four years dahil siya mismo ang hindi nagreresponse sa mga ito.  Hindi rin niya alam kung hanggang ngayon gusto pa rin ng mga ito na ibalik ang dati nilang closeness.

He is matured now and he wanted to bring back the closeness so he widen his arms and smirked expecting a hug.     Tumakbo agad ang mga ito at niyakap siya habang umiiyak.  Elise, Rheanne, Suzette and Myrtelle…lahat sila namissed niya.  They were his little sisters.  But he was glad he had waited five years so he could mature enough.

“I hated you so much.  You made me missed you this much,” saad ni Elise na hanggang ngayon napapaluha pa rin habang yakap-yakap si Marsden.

“I’m sorry pet,” aniya dito.

“Namissed ka talaga namin kuya Mars…para akong nawalan ng kuya when you left,” saad naman ni Myrtelle na nakakapit sa braso niya.

“Hey, hey, hey…eh anong tawag mo sa ‘kin little sister?” Pabirong nagtatampo si Drazen sa kapatid.

“Alam mo naman kung sino ang paborito ko bro,” ngumiti ito kay Drazen.  “Siyempre si kuya Mars,” sabay higpit ng yakap sa kanyang braso.  Hindi parin siya binibitawan ng mga ito.

Natawa silang lahat nang natawa na lamang si Drazen sa tinuran ng kapatid.

Pati si Trisha natatawa rin sa mga ito.  They all looked wonderful.  Hindi na pala siya kailangan ni Marsden dahil naging maganda naman ang reunion ng mga ito.  But when their eyes met after the girls stopped crying and let go of him,  nahinuha niya ang tensyon sa mga mata nito.   She knew he was afraid na bumalik ang galit and the shadow of betrayal just like when he met his ex-bestfriend.

“By the way guys.  I wan’t you to meet my friend Trisha,” lumapit ito sa kanya and lightly laid his hand at her back. 

“Hi!” sabay ngiti at kaway sa mga ito.  Medyo nahihiya siya at kinakabahan. 

Gusto rin niya na kahit papaano tanggapin siya ng mga ito sa kanilang circle.  Marsden was trying his best no matter how anxious he was and  Trisha didn’t want to start the awkwardness.

Sandaliang tumahimik ang buong bahay.  Nahinuha ni Trisha na ngayon lamang siya napansin ng mga ito. 

“Max, you already knew,”   saad ni Marsden kay Trisha.  “Drazen, his little sister Myrtelle, Dave, Elise, Rheanne, Suzette and nasa’n nga pala si Arthur?” tanong niya habang nakatingin kay Elise.

Ngumiti ito.  “Well, nasa’n na nga ba ‘yong gwapo kong nobyo…I think nasa Palawan for a lock in taping.  They’re behind the schedule kaya patay siya ‘pag nag-absent siya.”

“The Arthur Mendez of Amazingly Yours?  Oh my!  Idol siya ni Chlo,”  nangingiting bulong ni Trisha kay Marsden.  Alam niyang set in Palawan ang teleseryeng kinababaliwan ng kaibigan.

He smiled at her and whispered.  “When is her birthday?  I think you already knew what to give her.”

Hindi mapigilan ni Trisha ang excitement and Marsden surely saw it.   They were still smiling nang may narinig silang clearing of throat.  It was Max who was nearest to them and probably heard their conversation.   Namumulang humarap si Trisha sa mga ito but relief came when Elise hugged her and did the beso beso. 

Nakangiti ito and Trisha believed it’s genuine.   She’s like a modern Snow White.  Mas matangkad siya dito but Elise was slim and elegant even in a simple pink minidress.

“It’s nice meeting you Trisha.  Forgive us for not noticing you kanina.  We are just so excited and happy to see him again that we forgot our manners.”   She chuckled.

“No it’s fine, I understand and Max actually entertained me well,” ngumiti siya kay Max.

“Of course, I’m the best host in town,”  mayabang na turan nito na nagpatawa sa mga kaibigan.

“The best asshole I’ve ever known,” saad ng napakatangkad at slim na si Suzette.  Para siyang modelo, very sophisticated in a long maxi dress.  Nginitian niya ito when she winked at her after she hit Max with the joke.

“But you love me darling, all of me,”  Max seductively said.

“Oh please, give me some medicine I’m going to be sick,”  Suzette said with all the dramatic effects and everyone laugh. 

★★★

Nagsimula na silang kumain ng brunch sa itaas na terrace after the initial introductions.  The place was so refreshing, it’s fronting the wide span of the shore and the sea reflecting the blue sky.   Trisha was so touched and comfortable dahil talagang inaasikaso siya ni Marsden and always included her in any conversations.  Hindi rin siya nito iniiwang mag-isa.  When he needed to talk to his friends he let Max talked to her in his behalf.

“Wow, hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na magkakilala kayo,” saad ni Max nang lapitan siya nito after she ate and was now relaxing at the railings enjoying the breeze.

“Napakaliit ng mundo diba?  Hindi ko rin akalain na magkaibigan kayo.”  Nginitian niya ito.

“Well, handsome men flocks together, you know!” anito sabay kindat sa kanya.

Napatawa siya sa sinabi nito.  Well, gwapo nga naman talaga sila. 

“How’s Drake by the way?”  tanong nito and leaned at the railings besides her.

Natigilan si Trisha sa tanong nito.  Nawala sa kanyang isipan  na kukumustahin nito ang dating nobyo.  Nagkakilala nga naman sila ni Max nang isama siya ni Drake sa thankgiving party ng isang mayamang kliyente nito.  Colleague ang dalawa sa case na iyon.

“I don’t know.  Wala na kami,”  aniya na pilit pinapakalma ang sarili.

She wanted to show she’s not affected anymore pero hindi pala madali dahil hindi pa rin niya maalis sa kanyang isipan kung ano ang nawala sa kanya…not Drake entirely, but the future she had instilled in her mind.  The dream or the goal of having a family of her own in the near future.  It was all ruined by his betrayal.

Matagal rin ito bago nagsalita.  “So the rumor was true!”

Tinitigan niya ang mga mata nito.  She can see the curiosity in his eyes but surprisingly she didn’t felt judged.  When she saw the moment he glance at Marsden nahinuha niyang nakita nito ang picture.

“Not all rumors were true.  It’s not what you think, he has done nothing wrong,” sabay sulyap kay Marsden na masayang nakikipag-usap kay Elise.  She smiled dahil okay na ang mga ito.  “He just helped me in a lot of ways and what I did was to drag him in the mess,”  nasabi niya.  Ano kaya ang iniisip ng mga taong nakakilala kay Marsden sa picture.  They might be judging him too.

“You don’t have to defend yourself from me,”  ngumiti ito sincerely siguro nahinuha rin nito na inosente sila ni Marsden.

“Well, you’re an attorney after all.”

Napatawa ito ng malakas na nagpatigil sa usapan ng lahat and everybody looked at them curiously.

Nakita niya na nakatingin sa kanya si Marsden wearing that devilish grin but one eyebrow raised and his eyes were saying she was charming his friend or maybe flirting?  Tumayo ito at lumapit sa kanila.  Bago pa man ito makalapit Max got her attention by slightly patting her shoulder.

“By the way, you don’t have to defend him from me.  I knew him well and it’s good of you to defend him first,” bulong nito.  “You’re one loyal friend.”

“Because he deserved it,” aniya.

“Don’t charm Max too much,”  saad ni Marsden nang makalapit sa kanila.  “Paano nga pala kayo nagkakilala?

“Please don’t tell him I’m begging you,” seryosong pakiusap ni Max.

“Mas lalo tuloy akong nacurious,”  saad ni Marsden.

Smiling playfully she said.  “Oh my I’m sorry!  It’s not my secret to tell.”

“Oh I love you already sweetheart,” ani Max sabay hawak sa kamay niya and kissed her knuckles.

“You doubled the curiosity Gummy.”

Trisha smiled at Marsden.  Nahinuha niyang naiinis ito dahil tinatawag lang siya nitong Gummy kapag naiinis ito sa kanya.

“Com’on bro don’t be jealous,” panunukso ni Max.

“I’m not!” agad namang turan ni Marsden.  “I just can’t fathom na pumatol ka dito,” sabay turo sa katabi.

“What?  Never!”  bulalas naman ni Trisha.  So this guy was thinking na naging sila ni Max? Unbelievable!  Medyo naasar si Trisha kanina sa sagot ni Marsden na hindi ito nagseselos.  She doesn’t know why basta nakaramdam siya ng inis.

“Ouch honey!  That hurts,” sabay hawak ni Max sa may puso nito.

Marsden smirked and he looked at her triumphantly as if he had intentionally said it to shake her composure.  She breathe and relax herself at the railing.  “ And besides I have my standard.  No offense Max.”

“Oh your cruel,”  Max said.

Marsden laughed and take her arm.   “Com’on let’s take a rest.  Have pity Trish, he’s already bleeding.”

“So I’m Trish now, huh?”

“Of course,”  and Marsden laughed while they ascended the stairs towards their rooms.