Dedicated to: scarletberryy

“Emma, may crush na ako!”

Me and Emma had been best friends since kindergarten. Our friendship was built hardly that someone can’t destroy, not even the most challenging obstacles life could throw at us.

“Weh? Talaga? Ikaw magkakagusto? Weh ulit!”

Napatawa ako sa naging reaksyon niya. Hinila ko siya papunta sa kama ko para magkwento. Pumunta talaga ako sa kanila para sabihin lang na may crush na ako.

We are now at our high school phase and to have a crush is really overrated.

“Oo nga, hulaan mo!”

Kita ko ang gulo sa mukha niya. Kasunod no’n ay ang pag-iisip sa kawalan.

“Clue,” tanging nasambit niya.

“Taekwondo player.”

With that simple clue, agad niyang nahulaan kung sino.

“Oh...my...goodness. Si Erlton?”

I can’t describe her reaction right now. Pero hindi ko na pinansin iyon sa sobrang saya. It’s my first time crushing on someone. And I think it’s the best feeling I have ever felt.

“Hindi ba medyo close kayo? Tulungan mo ‘ko, please?” I didn’t hesitate to ask.

She stiffed for a while but smiled at me afterwards and nod. And she really did it. Successful ang paglakad niya sa aming dalawa dahil naging kami nga ng first crush ko.

Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam. Sa sobrang saya, nilibre ko talaga ang bestfriend ko sa paborito niyang kainan.

“Thank you, Emma, the best of all the best!”

And guess what?

Me and Erlton had been together for three years. Hindi ko akalain tatagal kami. And Emma was always there, the consistent third wheel in our relationship, cheering us on, offering advice, and being the supportive best friend, I could always count on.

Me:
guess anong araw ngayon.

I texted Emma with that.

It’s our grueling week of exams feat my birthday. I decided to surprise Erlton with a visit. I haven’t seen him as much lately because of our busy schedules, and I missed him.

Tinignan ko ulit ang message kong hindi pa nabubuksan kaya bumiyahe nalang ako papunta kina Erlton.

As I approached his apartment, I saw my best friend's car parked outside. A smile crept my face.

I-su-suprised siguro ako ng mga ito. Ang cute talaga.

I quietly let myself into the apartment with the key Erlton had given to me.

I heard voices coming from his bedroom. Na curious ako, at the same time na excite sa kung ano man ang isu-surpresa nila.

As I neared the door, I recognized Emma’s voice and then my boyfriend. They were talking softly, and then, to my surprise.

Not the surprise I was expecting.

I saw them laughing, the kind of intimate laughter I thought was reserved only for me.

With my heart pounding, I pushed the door open. There they were-my best friend and my boyfriend -sitting too close on the bed, their hands intertwined and almost kissing.

“A-ano ‘to?”

Nauutal ako sa gigil at inis na nararamdaman.

“Edra, I...” Erlton stuttered, pulling his hand away from Emma.

Emma jumped up, her face pale. “Bff, it’’s not what it looks like...”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I backed away. “Then what is it, Emma? Because it looks like my best friend and my boyfriend have been lying to me.”

She stepped forward, her own eyes filling with tears.

“Bff, please, let me explain. It just happened... we don’t mean for it to go this far.”

Bff.

The audacity to still call me with that after all she have done.

As I looked at them. I felt like the ground was crumbling beneath my feet. My two most trusted people had betrayed me in the worst way possible.

Sa araw pa ng birthday ko, the day that was supposed to be my happiest.

“How long?” I manage to asked, my voice barely a whisper.

She looked down, unable to meet my gaze. “Noon pang hindi mo pa sinabing may gusto ka sa kanya,” she admitted.

And my brain can’t process her words.

Anong noon pa?

“What the hell you’re talking about?”

My supposed best friend is now crying in front of me.

“I lied. In order for you to be happy. I sacrifice him for you. He’s already my suitor that day when you said you like him. You are too happy to not sacrifice everything for you Edra. As my gift and gratefulness for everything you do to me. I give him to you. I forced him. But at the end, hindi ko pala kayang makita kayong dalawa. I love him. I am sorry.”

And that’’s the time my world shattered. They had been lying to me for years.

“Wow! So magpapasalamat pa ba ako neto? Wow...just wow. I can’t believe you Emma. I despise the both of you!”

With so much pain. I turned and fled the apartment, tears streaming down my face.

They called after me, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I shouldn’t. I needed to get away, to process the pain and betrayal that had just torn through me.

Days turned into weeks, and I avoided both of them. They sent countless messages, left voicemails, and even tried visiting me, but I wasn't ready to face them.

The pain is too raw, the wound is too deep.

Erlton:
i am sorry.

After all he have done. Tatlong salita lang ang natanggap ko mula sa kanya. And that’s maybe enough. I don’t want him in my life anymore. Kahit anong paliwanag niya. Wala rin namang mababago. Sinaktan parin niya ako.

Emma:
i don’t want to lose Erlton, but i don’t want to lose you more. pls forgive me.

Emma:
pls talk to me.

I cried hard.

Paano nila nagawang magsinungaling sa akin ng ganoon katagal? Paano nila nasisikmurang humarap sa akin habang sabay nila akong pinagmumukhang tanga?

Kaibigan ko ba talaga si Emma? Minahal ba talaga ako ni Erlton?

Tangina, ang sakit sakit ng ginawa nila.

Mas matatanggap ko pang sabihin niya sa akin noon na siya talaga ang gusto ng lalaki. Keysa uutuin ako ng ganito!

“Please, Edra, just let me explain,” she pleaded one day.

I turned, maga na ang mata kakaiyak.

“Explain what, Emma? That you lied to me? That you betrayed me? That you and Erlton have been sneaking around behind my back? What’s left to explain?”

Her shoulders sagged, and she took a deep breath.

“You’re right. There’s no excuse for what we did. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I made a terrible mistake, and I hate myself for it.”

I pursed my fist. “You should.” My anger flared. “And what? Mistake? You call years of lying and sneaking around a mistake? You were my best friend, Emma. I trusted you with everything.”

She nodded, tears streaming down her face.

“I know, and I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just needed you to know how sorry I am. I’ve lost the most important person in my life, and I’ll regret this for the rest of my life.”

I looked at her, seeing the pain and regret in her eyes. She took a deep breath.

I breathe heavily. “I don’t know if I can ever forgive you. Sinayang mo lang ang pagsasama natin.”

“I’ll give you all the time you need. Just know that I’m here, and I’ll always be sorry for what I did.”

Agad akong umiling. “Don’t give me time. We’re over.”

As I walked away, I knew things would never be the same again. The betrayal had cut deep, and the road to healing would be long and painful.

I paused at the end of the sidewalk, turning back to look at Emma one last time.

“We were never really friends...”

I paused, fighting the urge not to cry again.

“...because Emma, friends don’t lie.”