Chapter 4

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We decided to go sa garden to talk about something. The ambience was really weird. It was quiet. I felt gawky all of a sudden sitting here. Wala akong ibang marinig except chirping of birds, gushing of the wind, and screeching of seesaw. I could sense that Rico has a lot of questions he wanted to ask. And when I say a lot. It means a lot.

"Come on, spill the beans. I know you have a lot of questions going on in your mind." I started and looked up at the sky. It was so serene. Ang layo-layo sa buhay ko ngayon.

He was standing not so far from me. And he wasn't looking at me. It was actually the moment I had to admit my friend was really an eye catcher. But I wasn't in the mood to praise his good looks. Umupo siya sa tabi ko but he didn't say a word.

He sighed. "I know what you're going through nowadays Gabs. I won't beat around the bush. I want to help you by becoming the solution."

I was expecting this sa totoo lang because two days ago Jessica informed me that he told Rico about my issues. Knowing the girl, hindi naman niya matatanggihan ito. And I understood why.

"Jessica told you." It wasn't a question but a statement of fact.

"Don't be mad at her. Ayaw niyang sabihin nung una pero pinilit ko siya and I also made a deal to her." He was grinning. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa pagkakabanggit niya ng name ni Jess. I made a mental note and thought that one of these days I'm going to ask my dear friend about her so called friendship with this guy.

"I can never be mad at her. Besides, alam ko narin namang alam mo na. Sinabi sakin ni Jessica na nagkwento nga siya sayo."

"What can you say about my proposition?" He looked at me.

"To tell you honestly it's sounds really appealling." I shrugged nonchalantly. "But I could never betray a friend."

He was silent for more than a minute. Baka dina-digest pa ng utak niya ang mga sinabi ko. Hindi naman ako talaga nagbibiro. Jessica has always liked him. Anong klase akong kaibigan kung tataluhin ko si Rico? Bukod pa sa matagal narin kaming magkaibigan ng lalaking ito sa tabi ko. He's one of the few people I've learned to trust through time. When he first came to me two years ago saying that he likes me and he's going court me hindi ako naniwala. But seeing him now and offering himself to become the solution to my problem I had to say that this guy beside me might afterall serious about me. Pero hindi siguro pwedeng i-compare kung anong meron sila ni Jess dahil alam ko rin na gusto niya ang kaibigan ko hindi lang siguro niya maamin sa sarili niya. Pride na bareta. People nowadays.

"Until now you still don't believe me that I like you, do you?" He asked me and I had a glimpse of sadness in his eyes.

I sighed unable to find the right words to say. There was no easy way to break somebody's heart sabi nga nila. And I've always abhorred that I had to go through it. Siguro akala ng iba napakadali lang mambasted. Well I tell you, no. Lalo na kung naging importanteng tao din naman siya sa buhay mo.

"You have always been a good friend Rico. Actually parang kapatid na ang turing ko sayo like Cass and Jess. But I'm afraid that's all I can offer you." I looked away because I didn't want to see the dysphoria in his eyes.

I heard him sigh in defeat and rested his back on the hollows of seesaw. Ginaya ko siya at sumandal din. Inakbayan ko siya dahil tumahimik nanaman ang paligid. I could never get used to Rico being silent. He has always something to say.

"Hey. Cheer up man!" I beamed. "Hindi naman porque sinabi ko yun sayo ehh hindi na kita kaibigan. Importante ka sakin and you have to realize that."

He smiled at me and shook his head. "You're one hell of a lady talaga Gabs but don't get me wrong masaya parin ako na magkaibigan parin tayo sa totoo lang." And tapped my knee.

DEAL AND MARRY HER?Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon