Gabby's Plan

*Gabriel's POV*

"Sir Gab, okay na po lahat."

"Very good." Sagot ko. "Thank you, Ren."

Ren is our head chef.

He's a Fil-Am that I met in States. We never had a permanent chef before kaya niyaya ko siya maging head chef ng lahat ng resorts na meron kami. I was more than thankful when he accepted the offer.

He's a great chef. I enjoyed eating his own recipes and creations.

I even asked him to make donuts for the game. Alam kong hindi madali lalo na kung walang milk o dairy products na gagamitin but he was up for the challenge.

Ren was successful.

No one even noticed the difference sa donuts na ginawa niya and we kept that from everyone.

Of course, I didn't forget her allergy.

Sinigurado kong hindi makakasama kay Courts yung plano. Hindi naman pwedeng ako pa mismo yung papatay sa kanya.

"Silvia."

"Sir?"

"Dumating na ba yung order ko?" I stared at my wristwatch.

12 noon.

Dapat nandito na yun.

"Madedelay daw po saglit." Sagot niya. "Malakas daw po yung ulan sa kanila."

"Ulan?" Tumingin ako sa labas.

Medyo madilim nga.

"Make sure to have them update you for any changes." Sabi ko. "I need that in the gazebo today."

"Yes, sir."

"You may go."

She nodded and left.

I heard the door opening but when I didn't hear it closing kaya tumingin ako.

Silvia didn't leave yet.

"What's wrong?"

I finally understood why.

It's her.

"It's okay, Silvia." Sabi ko. "You can leave us."

"Yes, sir."

Tumayo ako at umupo sa couch.

I knew she would come.

"Teddy."

Lumakad siya papunta sa may bintana.

"Ako pa ba yun?"

I didn't answer and waited for her to face me.

"What were you planning, Gab?" Tanong niya paglingon sa'kin.

"We've already talked about this." Sagot ko. "You know what I wanted to happen."

"Yes." She said. "Pero sinabi ko rin sa'yo na ayaw ko."

"Until when will you say that?"

"Hangga't mahal niya ko!" Sagot niya. "Hangga't hindi niya pa naaalala si Theia!"

"Alam mong hindi na totoo yan." I said. "You've seen his reaction earlier right? He remembered her!"

"..."

"Hindi ka pwedeng magsinungaling sa'kin." Sabi ko. "He knows her allergy and it's a sign, Teddy. It's a sign na naaalala niya na."

"G-inamit mo lang ba ako?"

"Teddy.."

"Sagutin mo ko!" Umiiyak na siya.

Paano ba ko sasagot ng hindi siya masasaktan?

"..."

"Of course." Natawa siya bigla. "She's your best friend. Imposibleng makalimutan mo kung anong bawal sa kanya."

"Teddy, kaibigan rin kita." I stood up and approached her. "That's why I'm doing this."

"Kaibigan? Nagpapatawa ka ba?"

I reached out to her pero lumayo lang siya.

"Just stay away, Gab."

"Teddy, makinig ka naman sa'kin.."

"Stop calling me that!" Sigaw niya. "I don't even know who you are anymore.."

Hindi ako makaimik.

Galit na galit siya sa'kin.

"I can't believe this.." She cried. "You're my best friend. I didn't know nakuha ka narin niya sa'kin.."

"It wasn't like that.."

"Tapos ngayon, pati si Nathan?" Sabi niya. "How could you??"

"You know you have to return him."

"No!" Sigaw niya.

"Teddy.."

"He's mine!"

"Hindi na nga!" I shouted back. "He's not yours the moment you left him!"

"..."

"You were so sure that you could get him back just because he loved you diba?"

She didn't answer kasi tama ako.

"But that's not what happened." I said. "He fell in love with someone else. Kaya pwede ba? Ibalik mo na siya."

I knew her more than herself.

"You have to accept the consequences of what you did!" Sabi ko. "Hindi pwedeng habang buhay mong angkinin ang pagmamahal na hindi na sa'yo."

I decided to leave.

Imposible pang magbati kami ngayong araw na 'to.

"Kung hindi mo lang siya iniwan noon, hindi sana tayo magkakaganito ngayon."

I closed the door behind me and signaled Silvia to stay on her desk.

Kailangan niya muna mapag-isa.

Tama siya. I used her.

Ivy loved cheese.

She uses it whenever she cooks. Kaya bago pa kami pumunta, I made sure that we will not use any ingredients that can harm Courts.

I'm sorry, Teddy..

But at the end of this trip, I'll make sure he remembers her.

******

*Ryan's POV*

*fweet*

"Gather around, class."

Pumalibot kami sa kanya.

We're done with lunch and Ms. Ces told everyone to meet her in front of the maze. Tulad ng sinabi niya kanina, this will be the second game.

"I'm sure lahat kayo napagod sa first game natin." Sabi niya. "This will be a lot easier, don't worry."

"Each pair from your teams will have 20 minutes to find white ribbons inside the maze." She instructed. "We scattered it everywhere and the team with the most ribbons will win."

"Easy peasy."

"We'll win this."

"Excited na ko."

"Are you ready??"

Ms. Ces was about to blow the whistle when Gwen raised her hand.

"Yes, Gwen?"

"Paano po kung may kulang sa'min?"

"Then we'll have to lessen the pair that will go inside the maze." Ms. Ces said. "Bakit? May kulang ba sa inyo?"

"Si Ivy po." Steph answered.

"Do you know where she is?" Ms. Ces looked at us. "Gab? Ry?"

"She's not feeling well, Ma'am." Sabi ni Gwen bago pa kami makasagot. "Napagod yata po siya kanina."

"Ganun ba? Hmm.."

"Paano na yan?"

"Sinong hindi sasali sa'tin?"

Some of our classmates were already planning kung sino yung pair na hindi maglalaro sa grupo nila.

"Ganito nalang." We stared at Gab when he spoke. "What if only one pair from each team will enter the maze?"

"One pair?"

"Yes." Sagot niya. "It's easier. Para mas mabilis rin matapos yung laro. Tutal we still have games on the pool."

"Is that okay with you guys?" Tanong ni Ms. Ces.

"Okay."

"Tama ganun nalang."

"Sige."

"Thank you, Gab." She said. "You can now plan which pair will join the game and then we'll start."

Everyone made their own circles para mag-usap usap.

"Sino sa'tin?" Charm asked.

"Theia?" Gab looked at her.

"Ako?"

"Ayaw mo ba?" Tanong niya. "First time mo lang kasi sa ganito."

"Okay lang naman pero.."

I looked around.

Wala nanaman si Nathan.

"I'll pair up with you, Theia." Sabi ko.

I want to make sure Gab will not use anymore tricks. Ayaw kong mapahamak siya.

"Sig--"

"That's not possible."

"Pwede."

"Ry, we can't change pairs."

"Walang rule na ganun, Gab."

Nagkatitigan kami parehas.

Ano nanamang binabalak mo?

"Ry." I looked at Theia.

She was holding my arm.

Tsaka ko lang napansin na nakatingin silang lahat sa'ming dalawa ni Gab.

"I'll do it." Someone said behind me.

I turned and saw him.

Nathan.

******