Gabby's Trap

*Nathan's POV*

It was Ry and Ivy's turn.

And I was watching her play.

Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap pagkatapos ng nangyari kanina.

"Babe, nandyan ka lang pala."

"Good morning."

When I got out of Gab's room, nakita ko siyang nasa kusina. She's eating.

"Akala ko kung saan ka nagpunta." She said. "Nung nagising ako wala ka na sa kama."

"Sorry." Sagot ko. "Gab invited me over to their room last night. Nakatulog narin ako pagkatapos."

Excuses.

I'm already lying to her.

"That's fine." Sabi niya. "You can wash up then eat. I cooked some eggs."

"Thank you, babe."

Ilang beses ako naghilamos.

I was still sleepy.

Hindi ako makatulog pagkatapos ng mga sinabi ni Gab kagabi. Ry was even talking in his sleep.

"Inaantok ka pa ba?" She was already inside the room pagkalabas ko sa banyo.

"Medyo."

"Did you have fun?"

"This is Gab's fault." Sabi ko. "He's my cousin but I hate him."

Natawa naman siya. "Kain ka na dun sa labas para may kasabay siya."

"Sino---"

Nakapasok na siya sa banyo bago ko pa matapos yung tanong ko.

Theia?

Siya ba yung tinutukoy ni Ivy?

She's in the kitchen.

Kakain siya???

Dali dali ko siyang nilapitan at hinulog yung platong nasa harapan niya.

*clink*

Tinitigan ko siya ng maigi paglingon niya sa'kin.

She doesn't have any rashes yet.

Ibig sabihin hindi niya pa nakakain.

"What are you doing??"

Anong ginagawa ko??

I frowned at her. "Bakit mo kakainin yan??"

"Masama ba kumain?"

"Are you trying to kill yourself??"

I can't understand her expression.

Mukhang hindi niya alam kung anong meron sa kakainin niya.

"You can't eat cheese right?" I said. "Ni hindi mo alam na pwede kang mamatay sa pagkain niyan!"

***

"Nathan!"

I stopped walking.

I didn't notice na ang layo na naming dalawa. I took her out of the cottage after what happened.

"I'm sorry.."

I was too angry.

"Ano ba nangyari? Nag-away ba kayo?"

"It was her fault." Sagot ko. "Balak niya pa kainin yun."

"Why not? I told her to eat."

What???

I looked at her. "Why would you do that??"

"May masama ba sa ginawa ko?"

"Nilagyan mo ng cheese yun diba?"

She nodded. "Alam mo namang gusto kong may cheese yung scrambled eggs."

"Babe!"

"Bakit? Ano bang nagawa ko??"

"She's allergic to milk."

"So?? Wala namang gatas yun."

"Cheese is made out of milk." I said. "Hindi siya pwedeng kumain ng kahit anong may gatas."

"..."

"Bakit mo kailangang ibigay sa kanya yun?" Tanong ko. "Paano kung may nangyari sa kanya?"

"Hindi ko naman alam na allergic pala siya."

"Nagtanong ka manlang sana."

It's too dangerous for her.

"Baka nga sinadya niya pa kainin yun para mag-alala ka."

I frowned at her. "Bakit ba ganyan ka mag-isip?"

"It's a joke, Nathan."

Paano niya nagagawang magbiro??

"She could've died, Ivy!"

"But she didn't!" Sigaw niya. "Nakain niya ba? Hindi naman diba??"

Nag-aaway na naman kaming dalawa.

This is what I was trying to avoid pero bakit nangyayari parin?

"Do you like her?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "Hanggang ngayon ba, yan parin yung iniisip mo??"

"Yes!"

"Ivy--"

"If it's too hard for you, I'll change the question." Sabi niya. "Do you love me??"

"Of course. I---"

Hindi ko maintindihan.

It was even harder to answer.

Alam kong mahal ko siya pero bakit ganito?

Magka-iba sila ng nararamdaman ko..

She walked away from me.

Is this what Gab wanted?

Mag-away kami ni Ivy at pagtulakan kami ni Theia sa isa't isa??

He paired us up and she doesn't even looked okay about it.

"Be ready tomorrow. Make sure you won't back out."

Is this what he meant?

Sigurado ba siya dito??

"Let's go."

"Nate--"

I took her to the first stage and started warming up.

If this was Gab's plan, this would work right?

"Hindi ka naman madadapa diba?"

"Huh?"

"Tara na."

"Ha??"

I won't back out, Gab.

Nalagpasan namin yung bawat stage and we were already in the last.

Our hands were already tied when I noticed something.

"Theia."

Tumingin naman siya sa'kin.

"You can't eat donuts."

Her eyes widened.

Bakit ba napakapabaya niya pagdating sa sarili niya??

"We don't have to win." I said. "Let's just stop."

"Pero.."

"Sasabihin ko nalang kay Gab that we'll back out."

"Wait! We can do it." She said and whispered something to me.

"Sigurado ka ba?"

"Of course." Ngumiti siya. "We'll win."

"Pero.."

"Let's just do it, Nate."

Mukhang gusto niya manalo.

"Okay."

"KONTI NALANG!" Charm screamed. "KAYA NIYO YAN!!"

*chup*

I was trying my best not to get that close to her lips pero iba yung nangyari.

Bago ako lumayo, namulat siya.

Nagkatitigan tuloy kaming dalawa and looked away at the same time.

"WAAHHH! WE WON! WE WON!!"

Charm ran and hugged her.

"Great job, bro!" Gab tapped my back.

"Mag-uusap tayo mamaya."

"I know." He whispered back while smiling.

*fweet*

***

Pagkatapos ng game, Gab told me to come to his office before lunch.

"Silvia." She was still his secretary.

"Sir James." Sagot niya. "Sir Gab is expecting you."

"Thanks."

Gab was on his desk habang nakatitig sa laptop.

"Sit." He said. "May tatapusin lang ako saglit."

After 5 minutes, he finally stood up and sat on the couch in front of me.

"Sorry." Sabi niya. "There were things na kailangan ko asikasuhin."

"Is that a part of your plan??"

"Possibly." Ngumiti siya. "Do you want anything? Water, coffee, juice, tea or Theia?"

I clenched my fist.

Tumawa lang siya. "Scary."

"Is this a joke to you???"

He stopped laughing. "Of course not. There's no time for that."

"Then what are you doing???"

Tumitig ako saglit sa pintuan.

Silvia might hear me shouting at her boss and ask me to leave.

"You finally noticed."

"Because it's too obvious to be a coincidence."

Yung accident sa cottage.

Yung last stage sa game.

It was all his plan.

"Ano ba sa tingin mo yung ginagawa ko?"

"I don't know." I said. "Malay ko ba kung anong pumapasok dyan sa isip mo."

"My plan is brilliant, Nathan--"

"I don't care how brilliant it is!" I cut him off. "Why would you risk Theia's life? Gaano ba kaimportante yung alaala ko at dinadamay mo siya dito??!"

Hindi ko na mapigilan yung galit ko.

I pushed her away because I don't want her to get hurt anymore.

My feelings doesn't matter.

Kung hindi ko rin maaalala, masasaktan lang siya.

Gab started laughing.

"I'm not that heartless." Sabi niya. "Ginagawa ko nga  'to para sa kanya and you think I'm trying to kill her?"

I was confused.

"Nathan, before she became yours, kaibigan ko muna siya."

"Then what are you doing, Gab??"

"That was a trap, Nathan." Sagot niya. "A trap that I planned for you."

"Trap??"

"You didn't forget Ivy." He said. "So I used your memories about her instead."

"She doesn't have--"

Tumango siya. "Any allergies."

"So the game and the accident--"

"Was all planned."

"Pero paano kung hindi ko napansin??"

Edi namatay nalang siya sa harapan ko??

"Nothing will happen to her, Nathan." Sabi niya. "I made sure my plan won't even affect her."

"..."

Lahat ng pag-aalala ko..

Were all useless.

"I just wanted to make it look like she's in danger kahit hindi naman talaga."

"You're crazy, Gab.."

I didn't imagine he'd think that way.

Of course.

Afterall, she's his bestfriend.

Like Ry and Charm.

"Because of what was happening, kaya kong gawin lahat para sa kanya.."

"What was happening?"

"You're not in the position to know yet, Nathan."

May tinatago pa siya sa'kin?

"The last game will predict your ending." He said. "Do you still want to join?"

Hindi ko maintindihan yung plano niya but when the game was about to begin, I found myself doing it.

"I'll do it."

******