Friendship Until The End

"O kita mo naman, Archi, ang ganda na di ba? Kunting polish na lang tapos na 'tong mansyon ni Engineer," pabibong turan ni Sam. Nasa rooftop sila ng mala-kastilyong mansiyon para sa huling pag-inspeksyon ni Terrenz. Nasa huling linggo na siya ng pag-aasikaso sa proyektong ito kaya't minamadali na niya ang lahat ng kailangang tapusin.

Napangiti siya sa tinuran ni Sam. Kahit papano nadadala siya sa pagiging bibo nito. Madalas pa din itong nagungulit sa kaniya ngunit hindi na siya masyadong tinutukso kay Red. Siguro'y nirerespeto na rin ng mga ito ang pagdating ni Llanie sa isla. Gayunpaman, kahit alam niyang pinag-uusapan sila ng mga tauhan sa likod, hindi naman masyadong nag-usisa ang mga ito tungkol sa kanilang tatlo. Bagkus, they remained as usual as possible.

Gayunpaman, dahan-dahang nagiging seryoso ang mood ni Sam. Napabuntong hininga ito ng malalim na siyang ikinalingon ni Terrenz.

"Ang lalim naman ng sigh. Bakit biglang may pagbabago ng mood?"

Sam smiled at her widely. "Nalungkot lang ako kasi saglit na lang aalis na tayo rito. Pero syempre excited na rin ako kasi atleast malapit na yung bonus natin. Mixed emotions lang."

Napangiti din siya ng malawak. "Ganun talaga, kuya. Sometimes, napapamahal talaga satin yung mga ginagawa nating project pero ano namang magagawa natin alangan namang hindi natin i-turn over. Let's just hope na sa susunod na project natin, ganito ulit kaganda yung magawa natin. Tsaka mabait yung magiging kliyente natin."

"Yun yung nakakalungkot, Archi. Sa totoo lang botong-boto kami kay Engineer. Akala talaga namin magiging kayo yun pala ----" hindi nito matuloy ang sasabihin.

"Kuya, alam ko nangangati kang magtanong. Pero hayaan niyo na lang kami. Isa lang ang pwede kong aminin. Our past was actually painful to remember. Kaya sana let it be. Wag niyo na ko pag-usapan. And what happens here, remains here, please lang," ani Terrenz na kahit nangingitii may diin naman sa sinasabi.

Sunud-sunod na tumango si Sam and gave her a genuine smile. "Sa tagal na pinagsamahan natin sa trabaho, parang bunsong kapatid na rin ang turing ko sayo, Archi. Kaya wag ka mag-aalala, respetado ang privacy mo sakin at sa mga tao natin. Tsaka pagbalik natin, irereto pa rin kita sa mga kilala kong Engineers."

Natawa na lang si Terrenz sa tinuran ni Sam. Muli nilang itinuon ang atensyon sa pag-iinspeksyon nang marinig ni Terrenz ang pagtawag sa pangalan niya. It was Llanie. Terrenz knew it was her kaya hindi siya agad lumingon. Si Sam ang humarap dito.

"Good morning po, Ma'am," magiliw na bati ni Sam.

Llanie smiled at Sam. "Terrenz, can I talk to you?" Llanie said softly.

Terrenz look at her nang halos pairap. She felt exhausted arguing with her na sa tuwing kinakausap niya ito parang tila lagi na lang sila nagtatalo. Hangga't maari pinipili na lang niyang iwasan ito kahit pang ramdam niyang ito mismo ang gumagawa ng paraan na sagarin ang pasensya niya. But as she saw the gloomy face of Llanie medyo nagmellow din ang pagtataray niya. She felt as if her old friend needed her help. But then iwinasiwas niya rin iyon sa isip.

"I'm kind of busy. You see, may tinatapos kami so I can leave," she said saka muling tumalikod ito.

"Please, Twinnie..."

Natigilan si Terrenz sa tinawag sa kaniya ni LLanie. It was their old call sign. She hadn't heard it for years. Napatiimbagang siya. Bumuntong hininga siya. Muling humarap kay Llanie.

"I... I... I just want to tell you something..."

Nilingon ni Terrenz si Sam. "Kuya, susunod na lang ako sayo sa garden. Mauna ka na."

Tumango lang si Sam and left.

Naiwan silang dalawa. There were no words spoken for the first minutes. LLanie had her head down while she was rubbing her hands together. Obvious ang uneasiness nito. Terrenz was looking at her old friend straight. She is trying to weigh in kung umaarte na naman ba ito ng pagpapaawa o there was somewhat sincerity sa pag-uusapan nila. But whatever it is, Terrenz prepared herself kung masasaktan man o magagalit.

She sighed and urged Llanie to start talking. "Ano bang pag-uusapan pa natin?"

Dahan-dahang umangat ang ulo ni Llanie saka tumingin sa kaniya. Her eyes is sparkling in almost tears. Unti-unting bumuka ang bibig nito to start talking but her voiced cracked out as the first word came out of it.

"I'm sorry," there were clear sincerity in her words. She sob a little. Breathe in para makapagsalita ng diretso. "I don't know how to stressed out further how sorry I am for all the things that I have done. I ruined our friendship. Masyado akong naging selfish that I didn't realize I am loosing you. Pumayag akong saktan ka kasi ang tanga-tanga ko, hindi ako nag-iisip. Hindi ko inisip na you are my strength and that you'd take care of me because you made our friendship so genuine. Twinnie, for five years wala akong naging kakampi. I was so alone that I wanted to run to you pero hindi ko magawa. Kasi nahihiya ako, natatakot at hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin mo pa ko. I am so blinded by my foolishness. Yet, ikaw pa rin ang gusto kong maging kakampi hanggang dulo." Llanie's tears was gushing all out her face. Her voice is cracking up as she speaks but Terrenz heard all her words clearer.

Terrenz wanted to believe that Llanie was just somewhat acting but as he look at Llanie's tear-stained face, she knew how sincere her best friend was. She can't help but to realize that her best friend have returned. Hindi niya inalis ang tingin rito.

"I'm really sorry, Twinnie. It's ok kahit hindi mo tanggapin ang sorry ko. But I promise to leave you and Red alone. Hindi na ko mangugulo," she said.

Terrenz suppressed her own tears. Bumuntong hininga siya ang looked up para pigilan ang pagpatak ng luha.

"You know what, you're really confusing me," aniya with a slight sarcastic grin. Nakagat niya ang labi. "One day, you were like this twin evil step-sister and then bigla kang babait. Are you some kind of dying? May malala ka bang sakit na nakataning na ang buhay mo that you're patching up your mistakes here on Earth?"

Llanie somewhat laughed at what she said. Umiling ito ng sunud-sunod. "I wish it was like that." Napayuko ulit ito.

They remained silent for a moment. Terrenz looked at her friend and give in to believe that her best friend is sincerely apologetic to her. Napangiti siya. And she thought that no matter what her best friend did in the past, she can forgive her. Humakbang siya palapit rito. She reached for Llanie's hand and held it. Napaangat ng tingin si Llanie. Her tears did not subside. But her eyes showed glistening hope, hope that Terrenz would forgive her.

"You once told me that if I ever got in trouble, hindi dapat ikaw ang una-una kong tatawagan," Terrenz said smiling, "because you will be with me sitting in the same cell I will be locked in."

They both chuckled.

"We used to be inseparable. Do you remember how they call us?"

"The undeniable evil twins!" sagot ni Llanie as she rolled her eyes.

"Let's just admit that our friendship have somewhat passed along a rough patch. And all that we need to do is walk through that rough road again and head back. You'd been lost away for so long. I am just thankful you still remember your way back."

Llanie started to brawl again as she throw herself to Terrenz. She hugged her friend so tight. She was crying her heart out as they hugged each other. Terrenz was half laughing and half crying. They end up patching up their broken friendship.

****************************************************************************************

"We were in Paris but we never stayed together," kwento ni Llanie on her side of the story. "I kept studying. Hindi na ko Architect. I realized I liked Interior Design more. So I took that. I just stayed there kasi andun si Red. But actually we never saw each other. Alam ko lang andun siya. Somehow, my life was peaceful there. I get to pursue my dreams."

They stayed at the rooftop. The sun is almost setting but tila hindi matatapos ang kwentuhan nila. They have five years worth of story to tell to each other. Pero siya lang ang tagapakinig. Llanie was telling everything to her.

"There were times na gusto kitang tawagan and tell you to come with me sa Paris. Nakakalimutan kong may kasalanan ako sayo. I almost lost it. Minsan iniisip ko, mawala na lang. Depression got all over me. I never had any friends. I was so alone."

Terrenz held her best friend's hand. Ramdam niya ang mga pinagdaanan nito.

"What about your parents?"

"Well, they survive. Sanay naman sila sa hirap. Hindi na kami kasing yaman like before. But they keep providing me. I was just this too stubborn, too greedy daughter that I got scared to leave the life I am used to. Kaya nagpadala ako sa gusto ng tiyahin ni Red. You're man was definitely a Prince Charming in real flesh. Utang na loob Terrenz, kung hindi ka makikipagbalikan sa kaniya, kakalbuhin talaga kita. He will be you're the-one-that-got-away kind of treasure. Sa buong buhay mo, huhuntingin talaga kita at ipapamukha sayo kung ano yung pinakawalan mo."

Natawa siya. "It will be Red's effort not mine. He has too show his sincerity in the first place."

"Gaga! Sa klase ni Red, kahit tumayo na lang siya sa harap mo, wala na siyang sasabihin, you have to say yes agad."

"And what about Red's aunt? Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka pakialaman naman niya ang pinaghihirapan ng magulang mo?"

"My dad learned his lessons. When we were given the half of what he owned. He used it to built a different life away from Red's greedy aunt. Somehow, umiwas na siya sa pagkakamali. We were doing ok now but still far off from what we have been," bumuntong hininga ito. "Gaga lang talaga ako. Nakakasilaw kasi talaga yung mana ng mapapangsawa ni Red. Gusto mo sabihin ko sayo kung magkano?"

Terrenz chuckled again. "Alam mong I never looked at Red's wealth from the beginning. Wala akong pakialam dun. Even his friends has no worth in me."

Ngumiwi si Llanie. Rolled her eyes. "I know. Baka lang masilaw ka din. Honestly, kung naakit ko si Red at pinakasalan niya ko, I will kept the heirloom. Bahala na ang tiyahin ni Red sa buhay niya. Besides, hindi ko naman siya problema."

"But does Red knows what his Aunt is doing to you and your family?"

Nangunot ang noo ni Llanie as if thinking. "I think so," kibit balikat na sagot nito. "Kasi he never left Paris kahit pwede naman siyang bumalik anytime he wants. And there were times na alam kong pinoprotektahan niya rin ako. And, oh! There was one time that I saw all of them in Paris. They met me and they took care of me. They gave me the apartment nun sa Paris. In fact, they provided me everything. But I shrugged it off. Busy ako sa pang-aakit kay Red."

Napaisip din si Terrenz sa sinabi ni LLanie. And somehow she remembers yung mga bagay na sinabi sa kaniya ni Red lately. It was all unclear. Pero she somewhat understood that Red doesn't really know the whole story. But he might have a hint.

"And one thing, Twinnie. Aminin mo nga sakin, did you put a spell ba kay Red that he loved no other woman bukod sayo?"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Terrenz sa sinabi ng kaibigan. "Tumigil ka nga. Wala naman akong lahing mangkukulam," aniya.

"He seemed was. Walang akong kilalang ibang lalaki that loved one person in his lifetime. Bukod tanging si Red lang. Kaya, uulitin ko, Katrenza Hilario. Fight for him. Wag kang magpalamon diyan sa pride mo!"

Napailing-iling na lang si Terrenz sa kaibigan. Sabay silang natahimik afterwards. Sabay silang napatingala sa langit. Llanie sighed first.

"I missed you alot, Twinnie," anito saka humilig sa balikat niya. "Ahhh I like what I am feeling right now. It's freedom."

"Kaya wag mo na kong aawayin, kasi sige ka wala ka ng kakampi."

"But, kahit bati na tayo, I'll take this opportunity na magpaalam sayo," Llanie said in a soft voice.

Nagseryoso ang tingin ni Terrenz sa kaibigan. "San ka pupunta?"

"I wanted to go back sa Paris. I told my mom and dad that we can live there. Red and his friends helped me settled there actually. They gave me what I need. Twinnie, kahit pinatawad mo na ko. I'm still ashamed sa ginawa ko sayo. And there's nothing I could do para bumawi. I'm just gonna sulk in the corner and face the wall of shame on my own. But don't worry about me, I'm fine now. And alam ko, you can visit me there."

Terrenz held again Llanie's hand. They had just been together again. But she understands that somehow her friend is starting to live her own life.

Tumango siya with a smile on her lips. "I will." She took a deep breath. "Hayyyy, we will still contact each other everyday di ba?"

"Oo naman. By the way, I'll be working sa isang biggest interior designing brand doon. Kaya sa susunod na project mo, you can ask for my opinion. Libre na ang consultation. Oh by the way, I am sincere when I said this place is definitely beautifully perfect. Atsaka," Llanie's face shifted to a teasing form. "wag kang magkaila. I know this is your dream. Unang kita ko pa lang sa kabuuan ng mala-kastilyong mansyon na 'to I know this is what you have drawn sa likod ng notebook mo nung college. And what's with the long aisle dun sa garden? I always knew that you wanted to be wed sa garden, nireready mo na ba yun?"

"Shut up!" natatawang apila ni Terrenz. "Red was our client, I can't help it. When I am drafting this plan, I was being pulled back to our past. I can't help it. Naalala ko yung mga design ko dati. And I know he loves it," paliwanag niya with slight guilt.

"So don't deny that you still love Red," pagdidiin nito. Dinuro-duro pa nito ang dibdib niya. "By the way, I called him this morning. He didn't answer. So tinext ko nalang. But he didn't replied."

"Ano namang sinabi mo?"

"I told him na pipilitin kitang makipagbalikan sa kaniya today. So wag muna siya pumunta dito. Nakinig naman siguro. I didn't see him the whole day."

Terrenz chuckled. "Whatever. Kanina pa tayo dito. Can we eat now? Nagugutom na ko."

Sabay na silang tumayo to head out...