Watch

Chapter 6. Watch

"WHY are you with Hapi?" maarte at nakataas ang kilay na tanong kay Rellie ng kaibigan niyang si Jolene Bucu nanh makalapit sa pwesto niya. Maiksi ang buhok nito, may kapayatan, at may katangkaran. Nakilala niya ang huli sa ilang mga summer camp na in-attend-an niya noong bata pa siya. They happened to take up the same course now, too—Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design.

"Oo nga, Rellie. Tapos na rin naman ang project ninyo kaya bakit kasama mo pa?" It was Charmaine dela Paz, pinsan ni Jolene sa ina at naging kaibigan na rin niya. Mas mahaba lang ng kaunti ang buhok nito sa kanya at may kalusugan ang katawan. Nakilala niya ito nang ipakilala ni Jolene sa kaniya back in their freshman year. Charmaine was in the modeling industry as well that's why she came to get closer with her easily. Fashion Marketing naman ang major nito at ka-block ni Hapi.

"Why? Am I not allowed to be with other people?" mataray na tanong niya sa mga ito.

"Hindi naman sa gano—"

"But that's Happiness Louise! You know how much do I hate her for seducing my boyfriend." Jolene interrupted Charmaine.

"Your ex-boyfriend," she corrected her. That's the reason why the two got bad blood-it's because of that rumor wherein Hapi secretly dated Jolene's ex-boyfriend, Alistair Ty, last year.

"Let's not talk about it anymore," awat ni Cham. Cham ang palayaw ni Charmaine.

"Lumipat tayo ng pwesto. Ayaw kong upuan ang inupuan ng malanding impakta iyon."

Napapailing na pumayag na lang siya para tapos ang usapan.

"Anyway, I know you're following Governor Devila's case..."

Napaangat siya ng tingin kay Jolene nang banggitin iyon. Nakapwesto na sila ngayon sa kabilang kiosk. "So?"

"So, why don't you watch their next trial? Tapos mo na rin naman ang lahat ng requirements na kakailanganin, hindi ba? Tapos na rin si Cham."

"Why, you're so bright, my dearest friend!" She honestly didn't think of that before.

"It's settled, then! Cham, alam mo na!"

"Huh?" Nagtatakang bumaling siya kay Cham na nasa tabi niya habang si Jolene ay nasa tapat nila.

Cham said, "Gusto niyang isama kita para manood ng next trial ni Kuya—"

"Wait, what 'Kuya'?" naguluhang tanong niya.

"That's my cousin." Ngumuso ito sa cellphone niya kung saan ginawa niyang wallpaper ang nakuha niyang larawan ni Attorney sa internet.

"Y-your cousin? Hindi niya cousin?" Ang gulo ng tanong niya, ha.

"Yup! His mom and my dad are siblings. And I asked Kuya Sinned if could I watch the next trial. Sabi niya, bahala raw ako."

"This isn't a joke, is it?" What a small world! Kaya pala ang daming alam ng ni Cham tungkol kay Attorney noong magtanong-tanong siya, iyon pala ay kamag-anak nito!

"Nope."

"Baka mamaya, prank pala ito, ha!"

"Why would we prank you? It's not even April Fool's Day," si Jolene na pinagtaasan siya ng kilay. "I was the one who thought of this idea, so, you owe me this."

"Seryoso? Talaga?"

"Oo nga. Basta sabihin mo sa kuya mo, ipinta niya ako nang nakahubad. I waxed..."

She wanted to roll her eyes upon hearing Jolene's request.

"I'm serious, Rellie. I've been dying to be with him but I bet, he doesn't even know me. Pero kung mag-modelo ako sa kaniya, baka-sakaling tapunan niya ako ng tingin."

"Bakit ba patay na patay kayo kay Kuya? Eh, napaka-torpe kaya no'n!"

"Hindi bale nang torpe, mag-iiba naman kung makaka-relasyon ko siya. Ako ang gagawa sa lahat."

"You would settle for that kind of relationship? Iyong ikaw lang lahat?"

"Basta ba ang kuya mo ang magiging boyfriend ko."

Iiling-iling si Cham at ganoon din siya.

"Minsan, hindi ko maintindihan kung paano tayo naging mag-pinsan, Jol," saad ni Cham. "Ang hilig mong mag-first move, wala namang ganyan sa atin."

"Hindi ka pa kasi nagkaka-boyfriend kaya ganyan ang nasa isipan mo."

"Kung minsan, hindi ka nakakatuwa!"

Natawa silang tatlo dahil palaging ganoon ang sagot ni Cham kapag nababanggit ang pagiging NBSB nito, o 'No-Boyfriend-Since-Birth'.

"But you know what? I would never settle for that kind of relationship," dagdag ni Cham na bahagyang sumeryoso; naging abala ito sa pag-browse sa cellphone. May ka-chat siguro.

"Why?" si Jolene.

Tahimik na naghintay rin siya ng sagot.

"Because a relationship should be a give and take. Hindi give nang give; o take lang nang take. With both partners working together to provide support, encouragement, and compassion during times of challenge, sadness, or problems. In a healthy relationship, the couple flows between the role of being the supporter and being supported, providing a natural response to big and small issues in their life together."

"Wow, are we hearing you preach about a healthy relationship? I've never heard about that thing before," namamanghang komento ni Jolene.

Cham only shrugged and proudly took a glance at them. Then, she continued, "In some cases, and often when one partner has addiction problems or when he or she is a narcissist, this give and take ends very quickly in the relationship. The addict or narcissist becomes the central figure, with the other partner relegated to providing all of the support. The relationship is no longer balanced, and it is also no longer emotionally or mentally healthy for the partner required to do all of the giving."

Rellie's eyes narrowed when she noticed her friend's gazes were fixed on her cellphone screen. Si Jolene naman ay nakapangalumbaba habang nakatingin sa kabilang direksyon. Tumatango-tango sa litanya ng pinsan. Then, Rellie waited for Cham to talk more about relationships.

"These relationships are sometimes known as enmeshed relationships. The word enmeshed is defined as becoming entangled in something or becoming involved in a problematic situation where escape is complicated. In enmeshed relationships, one individual gives up her or his identity, sense of self, and even their happiness to try to satisfy the demanding partner. Of course, the more attention and support they provide, the more the addict or the narcissist demands. This cycle continues, with the ability to pull away from the relationship, decreasing the longer the couple stays toge—"

Iiling-iling na tinapik niya nang malakas ang balikat nito upang matigil na ito sa pagbabasa ng isang article. Todo-bigay pa ito sa Australian accent habang nagbabasa, akala tuloy nila ay natural ang pagsasalita nito.

"Akala ko pa naman, seryoso ka na! 'Kaloka, ha? Ano ito, recitation?" bulalas niya.

Bumaling naman si Jolene sa pinsan nito. "You were reading something?" "Bwisit ka, akala ko pa naman, based on experience ang sinasabi mo!"

"Paanong based on experience, eh, NBSB nga ako?"

"Mga kalokohan mo talaga," Jolene added while shaking her head.

"But I'm serious!" nakangising bulalas ni Cham. "Pero ang galing nitong site na ito, ha? Ang dami kong natutunan tungkol sa relationship. You should look for this address: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-and-recovery/202007/are-you-in-relationship-no-give-and-take."

Kahit pinipigilan na nila ito sa pagre-recite ng web address ay hindi ito nagpapigil. Tatawa-tawa ito pagkatapos basahin ultimo ang symbols na nasa address ng website.

"Ang corny mo, Cham," she commented.

"Why? Where do you think will I get that? 'Di ba nga, NBSB ako?"

"Paulit-ulit? O, sige, ako rin naman, NBSB."

"As in, 'No-Boyfriend-Since-Breakup'?" si Jolene.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay at lumingon dito. "Ano'ng breakup? Never pa talaga akong nagkaroon ng relasyon."

"I don't believe you. Madrigal was telling everybody that you're his ex."

"Madrigal?"

"Jeremy Ross."

Napatango siya. "He only tried to court me but I said being in a relationship's not my priority yet. 'Kita niyo ngang halos mag-hiatus na ako sa pagmo-modelo."

"Kasi nga, nahumaling ka sa painting. And speaking of, please tell your brother to paint me, too, okay? Pilitin mo."

So, they're back at that topic again. She then remembered that she'd watch the next trial of that murder case. Though, Jolene was still saying something; she became preoccupied with the thought that she might meet the lawyer she's adoring for weeks now, so, she was totally looking forward to it! And now, her heart was already pounding crazily!