The Old Friend

Sinalubong agad si JV ng receptionist ng restaurant. Kilala na sila roon as the people in there considered them as regulars. Mabilis siyang inasiste nito at hinatid siya sa VIP room kung saan nakareserve sa kaniya.

He was about to meet someone. Nakatanggap siya ng client invitation kaninang umaga lang. Hindi niya alam kung sino ang kakausapin but he got interested sa inooffer na business proposal nito. Thus, he made the arrangement to meet the client. The client doesn't want to go to his office so he offered this place for meet up.

Itinuro sa kaniya ng receptionist ang VIP room na reserved for his meeting. No one was there yet. He came in early though. He wants to be ready kapag nakausap niya ang kliyente. He instructed the receptionist na may ineexpect siyang someone and that he will order later. But he asked for a glass of water. Tumalima naman agad ang receptionist. He sat on a couch paharap sa pinto, he wanted to see immediately kung sino ang kakatagpuin niya. He took out his phone and read some messages. Napangiti siya when he read a message from Red sa group chat nila.

Red : Braders, I confessed.

Buboy : About time.

Matt : Did she said yes?

Red : Excited? Confession pa lang. I plan to woo her again.

Matt : Too slow.

Thor : ...and cheesy.

He was late sa usapan. But he don't want to be left out. Thus, he joined in.

JV : Let's give Red the benefit of the doubt. He needs to start over.

Thor : Benefit of the doubt, my ass! He was just being torpe for the time being.

Red : Whatever, Arthuro. Atleast I am taking it slowly but surely. You know Terrenz. She's extra-ordinare.

Buboy : Matt is right, still too slow. Remember 60kph ang minimum sa expressway.

Napapailing na lang si JV sa komento ng mga kaibigan. He wanted to talk to them but the VIP door opened once again. Napaangat siya as the receptionist came in.

"Sir, andito na po ang bisita niyo," the receptionist informed.

JV waited for the person to come in. His smile faded. He was caught off guard. He didn't know if mangingiti in sarcasm o maiinsulto. He couldn't say any word.

"Hello, JV," the woman greeted gloomily.

JV smirked. "Is this some kind of a joke? You sent me a business proposal just to meet me? Anong kalokohan na naman 'to Llanie," iritableng turan ni JV.

"Jayvz, I'm desperate. I don't know what to do," there was pleading in Llanie's voice. She was indeed desperate. "No one from all of you is answering my call. Hindi ko alam kung nasan si Red. He blocked me off. I need to see him."

"Llanie, kailan ka ba titigil? Red is trying to live his life. You have been pestering him for years. Pati kami. When will you realize that Red can't love you?"

JV was exhausted with all this. Llanie is a major pain in their ass. Kahit anong iwas ni Red dito, she will always find a way to get him. Kapag hindi nito mahagilap si Red, sila ang ginugulo. She was so desperate that wala itong pakialam kung makaabala ito ng iba.

Llanie was Terrenz' old friend. In fact, best friend ito ng dalaga. They have known her since college days. She used to care for Terrenz and never itong nagpakita ng love interest kay Red or even sa kanilang apat. But one day, bigla na lang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin and Llanie pursued Red. She became so clingy sa kaibigan niya and didn't care kung nasasaktan na nito ang ex-best friend. She followed Red anywhere. Red tried to ran away from her and moved abroad pero sinundan pa rin nito iyon. And when Red came back, sumulpot din itong bigla.

"JV, please..." her pleading got even better. Nagsisimula na itong maluha.

Napapikit si JV in frustration. Nahilot nito ang noo. He hates to see woman crying. He pitied her. But he couldn't give in. This is just one of Llanie's old tactics. They are getting used to it.

"Just so know, Red is pursuing Terrenz again," He wanted to make Llanie feel that it is time to give up. But she gave her a more desperate pleading look. Napailing-iling pa ito as the tears flowed down from her eyes.

"He can't do this to me. We are getting married."

"No he won't. He never loved you. Kahit anong gawin mo," turan ni Red.

"Nagiging ok na kami. He stayed with me in Paris for a year. We are already planning it," ani Llanie in a rush.

"He stayed with you because you are threathening him that you'd kill yourself. He thought you needed professional help. He helped you get through it. But you misinterpret it."

Red did help her. He arrange a therapy session for Llanie. Iniisip nilang kailangan lang talaga nito ng professional help. But little they know, hindi pala ito nakikipagmeet sa psychologist nito. She was even acting that she no longer care for Red.

When they were in Paris, sa umpisa lang ito nagiging clingy kay Red. Eventually, she was just acting like an old friend. She was living her life there. Yun pala she was just doing it as long as Red stays there with her. When Red left Paris, nataranta siya and immediately followed him back.

"All I wanted was to talk to him," Llanie said in between sobs. "I know he still loves Terrenz. But let me talk to him."

"For what? Llanie, Terrenz is your friend. Bakit mo ba ginagawa 'to?"

Llanie didn't respond but she cried harder. She was sobbing as if she was really hurt and this is too difficult for her. Napabuntong hininga si JV. Kahit alam niyang, Llanie might just be acting up, hindi pa rin niya maiwasang maawa rito. After all they used to be friends.

It took awhile bago ito tumigil sa pagpalahaw. But she was still sobbing. Sinalinan ito ni JV ng tubig sa baso at dahan-dahang itinulak palapit rito. She was shaking when she reached it. She drink it hard.

"I-I'm sorry. Please understand that this is so painful for me," pagkuwa'y sabi nito. She had her head down but JV could feel her dejection. "Can I just talk to Red one last time? I think I just need to see for myself that he really is pursuing Terrenz back. Siguro, it will be enough for me to admit defeat if I could see it in reality. It's hard for me to believe that now." Her voice was getting pitchy in between sobs.

JV was in doubt but he thinks that Llanie might got a point. JV thought she needed a closure. Besides, Terrenz is there. Once and for all, kailangan din mag-usap ng dating magkaibigan. At kung anuman ang mangyari, Red knows what to do. Hindi hahayaan ni Red na masaktan ulit si Terrenz.

"Promise me one thing," ani JV. "You will stop after this."

Humarap si Llanie kay JV with her pleading eyes then slowly nod her head. Bumuntong hininga si JV. Stood up and humarap sa kaniya sa huling pagkakataon.

"Fix yourself first bago ka lumabas. I'll send someone to pick you up and ipapahatid kita kung nasan si Red and Terrenz," he said and walked out through the door.

Once JV was out in the room. Napabuntong hininga si Llanie and napairap. Napasandal siya sa couch in exhaustion. Sa totoo lang, it gets harder to act up habang tumatagal. The boys of warrior five have been difficult to plead lately. All through the years, tila nakakasanayan na ng mga ito ang mga arte niya.

She took out her mini make up pouch sa bag. She wiped out her tears and retouched her make up. Napangiti siya as she sees her reflection on the mirror.

"Llanie, kailangan mo na ng best actress award," aniya sa sarili. "So magkasama na pala sila ngayon?" she added as remembering what JV had told her. "Let's see. Kumusta na kaya ang ex-best friend ko."

She reapply her lipstick and smack her lips a few times. When she feel she was somewhat beautiful again, she stood up and left the VIP room as if walang nangyare.