05 || Friend...

Alliyah's POV

Finally, the class is over and thank gosh it's friday. I get to rest for the weekends. "Aya, baba na kami ah... We'll wait for you in the Quadrangle, okay?" I gave them a thumbs up while I'm putting some of my stuffs in my locker.

As soon as I got out to the locker room, I immediately called my driver and told him to pick me up.

Then suddenly I heard Anndrea shouting my name. I look at them, but someone grab me. And put a towel on my nose. I felt dizzy and my vision got blurry. The last thing I heard was...

"Sleepwell, Princess"

***

Aifa's POV

Someone called me to go immediately sa basement nang school. Dahil importante daw yun. I lazily walked down to our secret passage. And unlock the door.

Pagpasok ko bumungad sakin si...

"Alliyah?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa sarili ko.

"What is she doing here?" Tanong ko sa kanila. At lumapit dito. "Why is she unconscious?" Tanong ko ulit dito.

"Utos ni Boss eh..." Sambit ni Jonathan na nagkibit-balikat.

I look to them still confused. But I just rolled my eyes on her.

'Tsk... Trouble-maker... Just like your sister'

.....

Minutes past... That bastard hasn't come in yet.

"Where the heck is he? Ano hinihintay natin dito? Pasko?!" Natatawang sabi ko pero alam nila na naiinip na din ako.

"Parating na sya kaya bumalik ka nalang sa upuan mo" malamig na sagot sa akin ni Lorraine. I just rolled my eyes on him annoyed.

Then...

"Urgh... W... what the---"

I look on Alliyah shocked. I stand up on my seat that I'm pretty sure made her flinch.

"A-aifa? L-lorraine? Guys? Um... A-anong ibig sabihin nito?" Nagtatakang tanong nito at sinusubukan maka-alis sa tape na inikot sa kamay at sa paa nito.

"Don't be afraid. Wala kaming gagawing masama sayo. Just chill out" I blankly said to her. And she just look at me still confused.

"Gising ka na pala" We all gasp by his sudden appearance.

"What the hell? Just coming out there? Ano to---"

"Cut it. All of you can go now." Malamig nyang sabi sa amin.

We can't do anything so lahat kami isa-isang lumabas. I'm the one who have tha chancr to get out last. I took a last glimpse on Alliyah, and I look at her suspicious...

I closed the door behind me without any words coming out on my lips.

***

Alliyah's POV

'W-what is happening?'

"Did I do something?" I straightforwardly asked. Justine smiled at me. And shaked his head.

After that he took one of the chairs and sat infront of me. Kinuha nya ang kutsilyo sa pocket nito at tinanggal ang tap sa kamay ko at sa paa ko. And looked at me deeply in my eyes.

....

"Bakit ganyan ka makatitig?" I asked again. And he cut our eye contact.

"Masama ba?" He joked a little. I chuckled a little. "Hindi naman... It just feels like... Your reading my mind with those stares" I said to him.

"Sorry 'bout that"

"No, you're fine. Pero bakit mo ko pina-ano dito?" Tanong ko ulit sa kanya.

And in that question... Silence is slowly taking over us. But before that happened, a cold voice disrupt it.

"Bakit di mo sinabi?" Tanong nito pabalik.

"Yung ano?"

"That your Trisha Cassandra sister's... Bakit di mo sinabi sa akin na kapatid mo sya?"

"Whaaat? Sorry di ko gets... What are you trying to tell me?"

"Trying hard, Aya? I see..."

"I asked why didn't you told me na kapatid mo si Trisha Cassandra Lee?!" Tumayo na ito sa kanyang kinauupuan. At paniguradong galut na galit ito. Pero bakit sya nagagalit?

"Bakit ka ba nagagalit, ha? Ano ba tayo?"

"Magkaibigan tayo Aya... We're friends"

"Friends... HA! Friends, I see..." Napatigil ako dun ah. HAHAHA...

"Matagal nang nawala yung pagkakaibigan natin Justine. Our friendship has been forgotten and it's been put behind. Wala ka nang pakialam sa pamilya ko. Even though both of our parents are business partners." I coldy said to him. At tumayo na din sa kinauupuan ko. He take a step back.

"You will never do that to us, Aya. You will never ever do that... But especially, before I forgot... I take a background check on you in this few years."

'What. The. Actual. F*ck?'

"What did you just say? A background check about this few years? Why? Why do you have to do that thing?"

"Why? Because I'm freaking worried about you? Can't you see? Mahalaga ka sa akin. Pero bigla ko nalang nabalitaan na nasa Canada ka, at nagstay ka don dahil sa aksidente ni Vernon."

"Vernon? Aksidente? Canada? How did you know na na-aksidente si Vernon? As far as I know you cut your connections to him since we're in Pre-school. Don't tell me---"

"Fix yourself Aya, wala akong alam sa aksidente nya"

"Lier!"

"I will never lie when it comes to you"

"Hold it... I have to go" Akmang aalis na sana ako kasi hinawakan ako ni Justine sa wrist. Medyo mahigpit ito kaya napa-aray ako.

"Why? Why can't you let me explain?"

"Basta!" sabi ko dito habang nagpupumiglas sa hawak nito.

"Sabing bakit nga eh!" Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak nya.

'Damn it...' Napapaiyak na ako sa sakit. But he still doesn't want to let go of my wrist.

"DAHIL AYOKO KO SYANG PAGUSAPAN! KAYA BITAWAN MO NA AKO! DAHIL MASAKIT NA PUTANGINA!" Halos mapiyok-piyok yung boses ko para lang masigaw ko yun sa kanya. At binitawan nya din yung wrist ko. As by that, tears are starting to stream into my eyes.

"Ganto nalang ba palagi?" Tanong ko sa kanya. I break down. Nanghihina na ako... I took my meds earlier, I should be fine.

"I thought you've changed... But you just become worse"

"Kaya pala lumayo ka sa'kin? Para magbago ako, ganun ba?"

"Di ako lumayo Justine..."

"You and your parents are the one who moved out in town... You're family is the one who broke our connection."

He laugh hysterically, "You're kidding right?"

I snickered and finally made an eye contact to him. "Why would I? Huh? ..."

"At kung paguusapan lang natin toh... Aalis na ako."

As I opened the door, a question popped out on my head. 'I have been wanting to ask you this question'. Sinara ko muna ang pinto, but I still did not faced him.

"Before I leave... May gusto akong itanong" He looked at me. "Ano yun?" Tanong nito na parang bang wala na syang gana pang magsalita.

"Mahal mo ba-- I mean... Minahal mo ba ako? Or... your love for me is just a token of our friendship?"

Seconds and few minutes past he still didn't answered. I take a quick glimpse to see his reaction but... I just a saddened face.

'I knew it'

Syempre... hindi. Si Aifa lang naman ata minahal nyan eh. Yung babaeng pinagkatiwalaan ko nang sobra-sobra. Pero, I realized na ginagamit lang pala ako. Tanginang buhay noh?

As I slowly opened the door, someone hugged me from the back.

The warmth that I did miss. I want to hug him back but my body resisted. "I Loved You, p-pero di ikaw ang naging huli" and the voice of his... that always makes me flutter, back then. But now, it made a tear to escape my eyes again.

"L-let's forget the past. And focus to the future instead with new experiences and a new life to begin with. Because after all... Nangyari na, we can't go back."

Then I break his back hug, and immediately got out of that d*mned room.

'Pucha... Ang sakit pala... HAHAHA'