CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

MARTINA'S POV

"Is she okay? Kumusta siya? How about Martha? Can I go there? Would she let me in?" tuloy-tuloy kong tanong kay Jester nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko.

(Calm down, Martina. I don't know if Ate is okay pero hindi pa rin siya lumalabas ng kwarto niya. But don't worry, lagi naman kaming naglalagay ng kakainin niya sa kwarto niya. Hindi nga lang namin pwedeng papasukin si Martha because Ate wouldn't want that. As for Martha, she's asking many questions concerning Ate, and she's sad these days.)

Bigla namang nanahimik ang nasa kabilang linya. "S-So, can I visit her?"

(I... I don't think so. Kahit sila Kuya Kape at Ate Juliana ay hindi niya kinakausap. Gusto niya lang mapag-isa.)

I let out a sigh. I still want to see her and explain my side and what I feel for her, pero ayoko naman siyang pilitin. "Thank you, Jester. Paki sabihan na lang ako kapag gusto na niyang makipag-usap."

(Sure sure.)

I ended the call. It has been three days since that happened. Pero ni anino ko ay ayaw makita ni Tere. I tried going to their house, I even talked to her parents but no luck. She didn't really want to talk to me.

At sa tatlong araw na 'yun, I did what Coffee suggested. I completely explained to Noah my side and finally had closure. Ayoko nang magkaroon ng future problem, mas mabuti nang tapusin lahat ng kailangang ayusin.

I also did my best to be productive kahit na lumilipad ang isip ko papunta kay Tere. I wasn't even able to see or talk to Martha. Tanging parents at kapatid lang ni Tere ang nakakausap ko tungkol sa kanya kaya naman nakakagulat din na nakakapagtrabaho ako sa lagay na 'to.

I compiled the papers for the Paris and New York fashion na magaganap na next month when someone knocked on the door. I looked at my monitor and saw Charlotte kaya naman pinapasok ko na siya. "What is it, Char?" I forced a smile.

"Fairy Queen, nandito po si Miss Davies," she politely informed me. She moved aside and Trecia came into my view.

"Tres! Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Tumingin naman muna ako kay Charlotte. "Thanks, Char. You may now leave." She bowed before going out. Bumalik naman ang tingin ko kay Tres na nakaupo na sa upuan sa harap ng desk ko. "What are you doing here? Hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan na naman. How's work?" I sat properly.

Trecia removed her glasses and placed them on my desk before she intently looked at me. "I heard what happened between you and Noah."

Nawalan naman ako ng gana sa sinabi niya. "And?" I continued with my work.

"Why? I mean come on, Martina! Mahal ka nung tao. Even if you two broke up, ikaw pa rin naman ang mahal niya. Why the hell won't you just be back with him? Ano bang mahirap doon?—"

"Hindi ko na siya mahal, Tres," I seriously said with my eyes locked on my papers.

"And? Madali namang matutunan na mahalin si Noah ah. You loved him, Martina. Meaning you found something in him. Don't let him go—"

I finally looked at her, straight in her eyes. "Ano bang ipinuputok ng butsi mo? Can't you understand? Hindi. Ko. Na. Siya. Mahal. I chose to end our relationship because I have reasons to."

"Give me the reasons then," sabi niya na para bang hindi siya naaapektuhan sa pikon kong tono ng pananalita.

"I don't love him—"

"Oh b*llsh*t!" Her tone rose which made me still. "What else?"

"I love someone else," I confessed. Thinking of Theresia, only her.

"And who is that?" Tres' brows drew together.

I took a deep breath, arguing with myself if I'll tell Tres. "Tere—"

Bigla siyang tumayo. "You have got to be kidding me."

Nagtaka naman ako sa ikinilos niya. "Ano bang problema mo kay Tere ha?"

"She'll hurt you. She'll ruin your reputation, Martina—"

"How can you say that?" Now I'm pissed. "Noon pa man, sinabi mo na sa akin 'yan. Ano bang alam mo kay Tere? Why do you keep on saying bad things about her? Ano ba talagang problema mo? Kilala mo ba talaga siya, ha?"

Her eyes turned cold as she stared at mine before dropping a huge bomb on me. "She has a kid without a husband, Martina. You don't want yourself to get involved in her mess—"

"A-A kid?" Natigilan naman ako. She-She has a kid? With whom? Coffee? Bakit hindi niya man lang sinabi sa akin? Ano ba talaga ang totoo? She never said anything about it. Bakit?

"Yes, a kid. She got pregnant by a random stranger five years ago. Kaya nga sila pumunta ng States ng pamilya nila para itago ang bagay na 'yun. Wala nakakakilala kung sino ang ama ng anak niya. Imagine if people, the media would know about it."

Isa-isang pumapasok sa isip ko ang mga sinasabi ni Tres. I-I still can't believe it. Andami kong nalaman pero iisa lang ang tumatak sa isip ko. "A-And the kid? Nasaan yung bata?"

"As far as I know, you already know who she is."

I already know who? Wala naman akong batang kilala maliban kay— "M-Martha?" But that's impossible.

"Exactly—"

"No. No. S-she's Jester's daughter."

Tres' eyes squinted. "Don't make me laugh. Who told you that?"

"Tere... and Jester himself." Para akong nanghihina dahil sa pumapasok sa isip ko na ayokong paniwalaan.

Tres scoffed. "Martha's not Jester's daughter, she's Theresia's. Jester is not that irresponsible." Tres' last sentence became a whisper kaya naman hindi ko naintindihan. "Anyways, as you can see, ikaw mismo eh hindi niya sinabihan ng totoo about her daughter, na para bang ikinakahiya niya yung sarili niyang anak." Tres sat back on her chair and reached for my hand. "You can't trust her, Martina. She's bad news. Don't ruin your life for her, okay?" She caressed the back of my hand using her thumb. "I'll support you with anyone else, Martina. 'Wag lang siya, please." She finally stood up and took her things with her. "I'll go ahead. I just came here to give you advice as your best friend. Kung nandito lang si Fel, I know she'll side with me." With that, she left the room.

My mind is currently in chaos. Too much information, I can't handle them. There's only one person who can confirm everything and explain it properly so I can fully understand what's happening and who to believe.

Tere, talk to me...