Chapter 24

Nang makaalis na si Jade ay hindi na muna siya umuwi sa kanilang bahay. Nag-drive lang siya sa kung saan-saan at ng bandang alas otso na ng gabi ay saka pa lamang siya umuwi.

"We're sorry, Jade."

"Yeah, we really are." Kaagad na saad nina Zhyryl at Gwen ng makapasok siya sa loob ng bahay. Tiningnan lamang sila ni Jade at umiwas na ito.

"I'm tired. Let's just talk tomorrow," saad ni Jade at nagtungo na sa kaniyang kwarto.

Sa kabilang banda ay nag-usap-usap naman sina Zhyryl, Gwen at Elle.

"I think she's really mad," saad ni Gwen at sumang-ayon naman sa kaniya si Zhyryl.

"Well, who don't be? Your action was childish. Why did you even do that?! Bakit ba kayo rin ang nagdedesisyon sa lalaking magugustuhan o pipiliin ni Jade? You should just stayed quite," pangangaral sa kanila nila ni Elle.

Naging malungkot naman sina Zhyryl at Gwen. They also reflected on their actions and realize that they were wrong. They promised to themselves to not do that kind of scene again.

"Do you think she will talk to us again?" tanong naman ni Zhyryl.

"It seems that you don't know the personality of Jade... Just let her be for now because she is still pissed. Then, try talking to her tomorrow."

"Alright. Thanks, Elle."

"Come, on. Let's all sleep."

***

Nang sumapit ang umaga ay kaagad na hinanap nina Zhyryl at Gwen si Jade ngunit hindi na nila ito makita.

"Where could she be?" tanong nila sa isat-isa.

"Oh! Jade just texted me," saad ni Elle ng palabas na sa kaniyang bahay. "She said that she's in the company now. Mag-usap na lang daw kayo pag-uwi niya." Napasimangot naman sina Gwen at Zhyryl dahil sa sinabi ni Elle.

"I know it! She hate us!" bulalas ni Gwen.

"What should we do?" malungkot naman na tanong ni Zhyryl.

"She texted me again! She said that she's just busy. She is pissed but she doesn't hate you. And... explain why you did that."

"Really? She texted you that?" tanong nina Gwen at Zhyryl na animo'y hindi naniniwala. Ipinakita naman ni Elle ang text sa kaniya ni Jade kaya naniwala na ang dalawa.

"Alright, I'm going now. Bye!"

***

Maghapon lamang na nagtrabaho si Jade. Hindi niya na rin nakakausap ng matagal ang kaniyang boss sapagkat marami rin itong ginagawa. Mas mabuti na rin ang ganito kay Jade dahil wala naman siyang sasabihin sa kaniyang boss.

She started to distance herself to Greg because she thinks that it would be good for the both of them, especially now that the CEO of the rival of Greg's company want to date Jade.

As of now, Jade is thinking to give change to Denmar, after all, she think that he is a good man because he save her life. But she also thinks that it might be unfair to Denmar if she date him now because Jade still have feelings for her boss.

"Ms. Wetzel!" Kaagad na natauhan si Jade ng may tumawag sa kaniyang pangalan.

"Well, its already nine thirty in the evening. Aren't you going home?" Dahil sa tanong ni Greg ay naging mabilis ang pag-ayos ni Jade sa kaniyang gamit.

Bahagya rin siyang ngumiti sa kaniyang boss. "Let's go, sir."

Tahimik lamang silang naglakad hanggang sa makarating sa underground parking area ng kompanya. 

"Jade," pagtawag ni Greg sa kaniyang sekretarya. Kaagad naman na natigilan ni Jade at napaharap sa kaniyang boss.

"Well... I'm talking to you right now as my secretary and as a woman... You know Ms. Wetzel that Mr. Ruiz company is the rival of our company. As my secretary, you know your responsibilities and duties, right? You must never give information to him about our works and I trust you for that..."

"Jade... You can date any man you like. Hindi ako magiging hadlang because you have that rights. And... I will just support you." Nakatitig at tahimik lamang si Jade habang nakikinig sa sinasabi ng kaniyang boss. Ang huling sinabi nito ay nagdulot ng kaunting kirot sa kaniyang puso.

"Alright, sir. Thank you" tanging sinabi ni Jade. Nagpaalam na rin sila sa isat-isa.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay nakarating na si Jade sa kanilang bahay. Nang makapasok siya sa loob ay nadatnan niya kaagad ang tatlong kaibigan na nakaupo sa sala. Napansin niya naman ang nagsusumamong tingin nina Zhyryl at Gwen, napabuntong hininga na lamang si Jade.

"I'll just get change," saad niya at nagtungo na sa kwarto. Pagkatapos magbihis ay kaagad din siyang nagtungo sa sala.

"We're sorry, Jade! We really are!" kaagad na sabi ng dalawa habang nakayuko pa.

"Explain!" saad ni Jade habang umuupo.

"Me first!" saad ni Gwen habang nakataas ang kanang kamay. Hinayaan naman siya ni Jade na magsalita. "Well, that man named Denmar... I really like him for you because even though he looks like a bad boy he have a good heart. He just save your life! Wala siyang pakialam kahit na masaktan siya mula sa nasusunog na cottage na 'yon. And his adorable, especially when he is telling how he first meet you. It just melted my heart therefore I totally agree that you should date him," nakangiting saad ni Gwen.

"Okay. I'll explain my side too," saad naman ni Zhyryl. "I heard that your boss like a girl for a long time. But I don't mind it because the present is more important. I can feel that Greg is a good man, he can take care of you, and the way he look at you that time when I first saw him. I can feel something from that look... Its like he adores you. Maybe, I just assumed that he will want to date you." Nanatiling tahimik si Jade habang nakikinig sa sinabi ng dalawang kaibigan.

Napaisip din siya sa sinabi ni Zhyryl. 'He... adores me?' tanong niya sa kaniyang isipan. A glimpse of hope rise in her heart pero kaagad din niyang iwinaksi ang isipin na maaaring magustuhan din siya ng kaniyang boss sapagkat hindi pa nga ito nakaka-move on.

"Alright. I forgive both of you just don't make a scene again and don't fight because of that two man."

"Yes, we promise!"

"Thank you, Jade."

Naging maayos na silang tatlo kaya napangiti naman si Elle habang nakatingin sa kanila.

"By the way, why didn't you tell us that a guy asked you to date him?" pag-usisa naman ni Elle. Sapagkat kung hindi nila narinig ang usapan nina Jade, Greg at Denmar sa mall ay wala silang kaalam-alam.

"She's a secretive even when we're just kids. Do you remember that time, Gwen? May kasamang isang batang lalaki si Jade sa bahay ampunan. Akala niya ay pagagalitan siya ni sister Madonna kaya itinago niya ang lalaki, kung hindi ko nahuli 'yong bata ay hindi malalaman 'yon ng mga tao sa bahay ampunan. At ang pagkakaalala ko ay apat na araw na naitago 'yon ni Jade."

"Oh! I remember some of it! You send me a picture's and a vedio's before I lost my contact information to the orphanage. Jade was crying while hugging that boy kasi akala niya ay paaalisin nila sister Madonna ang lalaki. Haha, I remember her swollen eyes. You told me that she's crying none stop that day and she don't want to let go the boy," natatawa naman na tugon ni Gwen sa sinabi ni Zhyryl. "She protect that boy even though she's smaller compared to him."

"Bakit hindi ko alam 'yan?" tanong naman ni Elle habang nakatingin sa tatlong kaibigan.

"Oh! Actually, you were adopted that time... Gusto ka naming kamustahin pero hindi na makontak ni sister Madonna ang mag-asawa na komupkop sayo. Pumunta rin si sister Madonna sa adress na binigay sa kaniya pero hindi naman kayo doon nakatira," malungkot sa saad ni Zhyryl.

"Hey!" pagtawag sa kanila ni Jade. "Why can't I remember it?" tanong niya. Kaagad naman na hindi makapaniwala sina Zhyryl at Gwen.

"Really? But you were close to the boy. Inaasar nga rin namin kayo noon ni Zhyryl habang nag-uusap tayo through calls."

"Well, Jade is a bit young that time. She's just six years old kaya siguro hindi niya naaalala."

"But I was five that time pero naalala ko pa rin naman 'yong mga nangyari noon," saad ni Gwen. Nagtataka naman na nagkatinginan silang apat at nag-iisip ng maaaring dahilan kung bakit hindi maalala ni Jade ang nangyari noon tungkol sa kanila ng batang lalaki.

"Can you describe the guy?" magkasabay na tanong nina Jade at Elle.

"Well, he was cute, kind and shy. His body is a bit weak because that time Jade fight the children who bullied the boy. He was taller to Jade. I think he was 2-4 years older to her... I don't remember that much but I'm sure that, that boy will be handsome now."

Nag-isip naman si Jade ngunit hindi niya talaga maalala ang batang lalaki na tinutukoy ng mga kaibigan. Marami rin kasi silang mga nakasama na batang lalaki sa loob ng bahay ampunan.

Sa kabilang banda, mayroon naman na naalala si Elle kaya kaagad niyang sinabi ito sa mga kaibigan.

"I told you before that when I come back to the orphanage both Jade and Zhyryl were adopted too, right?" tanong ni Elle, tumango naman ang tatlo niyang kaibigan. Naunang maampon si Gwen, sumunod si Elle, sa isang araw naman ay magkasunod na umalis sa bahay ampunan sina Jade at Zhyryl, pero mas nauna si Jade.

"Well, I saw a boy crying in the playground of the orphanage. Akala ko ay baguhan pa lamang siya doon, ayaw niya rin na kausapin ko siya kaya hinayaan ko na lamang. But later on, I heard that the boy was looking for someone who named Allyn. And that was you, Jade, right? 'Cause you were the only child in the orphange who called Allyn," sumang-ayon naman si Zhyryl sa sinabi ni Elle.

"That boy came back to the orphanage? Nawala kasi ang lalaki na 'yon. Sinabi niya na nahiwalay siya sa parents and kapatid niya, then, Allyn found him and bring him to the orphanage. He stayed there for a few months. His parents found him the day before Jade and I was adopted," tugon naman ni Zhyryl. Pagkatapos ay tinuon niya ang tingin kay Jade. "Don't you remember that boy? Naalala ko kasi na nag-usap kayo bago siya kunin ng parents niya pero hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin kung ano ang napag-usapan niyo."

Napapailing na lamang si Jade. Sinusubukan niya rin na alalahanin ang nangyari noon ngunit hindi niya matandaan. 

"What's the name of the boy, ate Ryl?" tanong ni Jade dahil mas may alam si Zhyryl sa nangyari noon.

"I don't know... But you give him a nickname... You called him, Aga."