Faded Friendship

Terrenz saw Llanie walking towards the construction site. She figured out that Llanie was looking into the project like a true owner could been. Technically, kung engaged ito kay Red, this projects is hers in the future. Napatingin ito sa kaniya. Mabilis niyang binaling ang tingin sa perspective na hawak niya.

Simula nang dumating ito sa island, she tried her best na hindi makasalubong ito or si Red. She hadn't been seeing Red lately. She heard that Red is leaving the island every night to stay in a nearby resort. While Llanie has been staying in the cottage with her. But she managed not to come across her every day. So far, in 3 days ngayon niya pa lang ito makikita ulit.

Llanie might have been avoiding her for 3 days as well but it seemed that this time she was approaching her. She is thinking fast pano ito iiwasan but she just let it be. She wanted to keep her pride once again. Besides, she is there as the architect of this project. She will be a professional to handle this.

"You designed all this," Llanie asked nang makalapit ito sa kaniya.

She gave her a slight glance. "With Red's approval," simpleng sagot niya.

" I must say, this is really beautiful," tila sinsero ang komento nito. "I've always known how good you are sa mga projects natin before. But I have never seen your actual work. This is beyond what I expect." She was looking around as if nagugustuhan ang buong desinyo ng proyekto.

Terrenz smiled weakly. Na-appreciate niya ang sincerity nito. "I'll take that as a compliment."

For a second, she felt that she is talking again with her best friend. It was light and sincere. Somehow, she missed her best friend. In different times, siguro excited itong makita in actual ang talento niya. In the past, she was her number one fan if she exceeded the expectations ng mga professors nila. She is her most devoted cheerleader kapag hindi siya makakuha ng inspirasyon. She remembered how Llanie would honestly admire her art. There was even a time na sabay silang bumuo ng pangarap.

Ngumiti din ito sa kaniya. Pagkuwa'y bumuntong hininga. "But to tell you frankly, I don't know if I'd be happy knowing na ikaw ang gumawa nito. Honestly, it's insulting on my part."

Her hopes that her best friend is back had crashed down that instant. She was back to hating her old friend.

"Don't be insulted. I am just doing this for the sake of professionalism. Besides your fiancé is paying our company millions for this project. I did this with no personal feelings included."

Llanie didn't respond but she grinned sarcastically. Hindi na niya inabala pa ang sariling pilitin ito. She could feel whatever she want to feel. She don't want to waste her efforts to make her believe. Her friendship ended five years ago. Wala na siyang obligasyong papaniwalain ito sa mga nararamdaman niya.

Muli niyang binaling ang tingin sa perspective na hawak at pinilit na abalahin ang sarili sa mga gawain. The more she wanted to finish this project as soon as possible kahit pa hindi na niya matapos ang ika-anim na buwan.

In fact, they are now down to last 2 months. Halos mabubuo na nila ito. By the final phase, Terrenz knew that she could leave. Hindi na niya kailangan manatili roon.

"I don't know if you wanted to hear this," biglang sabi ni Llanie. "Red and I are just passing thru a rough patch but it doesn't mean that I am giving him up. That's why I'm here."

Hindi siya tumingin dito but napairap siya. " I don't think I needed nor wanted to hear that. That's between you and Red. Wala naman akong kinalaman dun."

"I know. But still, I just want to let you know in case Red had made you feel whatever these last months. Siguro naman naiintindihan mo how I feel. You and Red had a thing in the past and I'm guessing, you didn't have any proper closure. I just didn't know that Red took your service."

Terrenz is mustering her hardest not to burst out her anger. She breathes in to control her anger. Wala siyang balak patulan ang pagsisintir nito about their past. Tama nang kahit papano may insecurities ito about hers and Red's past. But then she doesn't want to add more fuel to the fire. Llanie should've known how hurt she was nang agawin nito si Red sa kaniya but she is not that childish para ipagsisikan ang sarili sa taong iniwan naman siya in the first place. Kung anuman ang rason ni Red at Llanie before, ayaw na niyang pag-aksayahan ng panahong intidihin. She must moved totally.

"May kailangan ka pa ba in relation sa trabaho ko? Because if you don't need anything, I'm leaving. May kailangan pa kong mga gawin eh," pag-iwas niya rito. Tinitigan niya ito ng tuwid and waited for her to respond but Llanie just stared at her.

Pairap na lumakad na siya palayo rito.