Chapter 11

Thunder's

I was composed while waiting for their friend when I feel his gaze on me. He was watching me intently while his girlfriend is busy kissing him. I raised my eyebrows and smirked at him. What an asshole.

I took out my phone and texted my best friend, Faye.

He's with his girlfriend.

I was still typing my next message when Faye called.

"Are you fucking serious?" she asked almost shouting.

"Yeah," I did my best to hide the anger inside me to make sure he won't get what he wants.

"What the hell! What's your plan?" She asked again.

"I'm enjoy this night, Drift. You don't have to be worried," I said giving her signals that I need her to tell Drift to pick me up here.

"Oh, okay. I get it. I'll tell him right away. Bitch you're doomed," she said a bit frustrated.

I smiled while ending the call, acting like I don't really mind their presence. Luckily, a guy came to me and offer me a drink. I didn't hesitate to accept it and try to have a little conversation but then the asshole butt in.

"Hey, bro she got her date on the way. If you don't mind, leave her alone."

I didn't expect him to say that in front of her girlfriend but I hid all the trace of shock in me. The guy left so I turned to them and give him a serious look.

"Your friend is not yet here, you should have let me enjoy. And besides you should mind your own business," I said while raising my eyebrow.

"It's indecent to entertain someone else when you have a date," he reasoned out.

"You're so strict babe. Let her be," his girlfriend said and give me an apologetic look.

"Your girlfriend is right, Saturn. And if you want to talk about decency, you should have told me I'll be having a date tonight before you invited me. I almost rejected your invite if only I didn't consider our friendship," I said while smiling sweetly at them.

"Oh he didn't tell you?" nag tatakang tanong ng girlfriend niya.

"He just asked me to come tonight. Mabuti nalang at kinumbinsi ako ng kaibigan ko na pumunta parin kahit pa hindi naman ako interesado," nakangiti paring sabi ko sa girlfriend niya.

"Kung hindi ka pala interesado ay dapat hindi ka na lang pumunta," malalim ang boses na sambit niya. Hindi pa naman gaanong maingay ang bar kaya't nag kakaintindihan pa kami kahit na hindi kami sumisigaw.

"Well I realized I didn't enjoy the last time I hang out here so I decided to do it now. Where's your friend anyway? Is he really coming?" I asked sounding very interested.

"He is right behind you, Zee."

I almost roll my eyes when I heard Bless call me on my nickname. But of course I hid it with a smile and turn to man beside me.

I froze.

"Hey," he sound hesitant.

I couldn't react.

"Zita?"

Hindi parin ako nakakibo. Hindi ko alam ang dapat na reaksyon ko. Para akong hindi makahinga sa kinauupuan ko ngayon.

Kanina ay nalaman kong may girlfriend si Saturn at nag lalandian silang dalawa sa harap ko. Ngayon ay nandito si Jericho, ang best friend ni Thunder.

"Zita ikaw nga," nakangiting sabi niya tsaka ako niyakap.

Hindi parin ako makapaniwala, mag kakilala silang dalawa ni Saturn?

"Thunder," iyon lang ang nasabi ko.

"Oh my god, you two knew each other?" Bless shouted as the music became loud.

"Of course, we're friends back in Manila!" sagot ni Jericho na nakaupo na sa tabi ko.

Hindi parin naman ako makapaniwala na andito siya ngayon. Matagal na din noong huling mag kita kami.

"Can we talk?" I asked him, not minding the two.

"Sure what is it?"

"Let's talk somewhere else," I uttered.

Nag tataka naman siyang tumingin sa akin pero pumayag parin. Nag paalam siya sa dalawa habang ako naman ay hindi na sila tiningnan pa.

Nagugulat parin ako na mag kakilala silang dalawa ni Saturn.

"Where are you going?" Saturn asked before we could leave.

I looked at him with my curious face, I don't know why I felt uneasy knowing he knew Thunder's best friend.

"Catch up," I answered.

"Why do you have to go somewhere?" he asked again.

I rolled my eyes on him before answering his question, " We need privacy and we can't talk properly here. It's loud and crowded."

"Dude, don't worry I'll make sure she's safe. Babalik kami mamaya," dagdag ni Jericho sa sinabi ko.

"Let them babe, baka they need privacy. Hayaan mo na sila," kumbinsi ni Bless sa boyfriend niyang pakealamero.

Umirap ako ulit sa kanya at nauna ng umalis duon. Sakto namang pag labas namin ay nakasalubong namin si Drift na nag mamadali.

"Are you okay?" he asked a bit mad.

"I am. Let's go back to my room."

"Nasaan ang gagong 'yun?"

"Don't mind him. Bumalik na muna tayo sa room. Jericho's here," sambit ko tsaka itinuro si Jericho na papalapit sa akin.

"Damn."

Bumalik kami sa room at nadatnan duon si Faye pati ang iba na abala sa pag nunuod ng movie.

Kita ko ang gulat at pagtataka sa mukha ni Faye pero hindi ko na muna pinansin iyon.

"Sa kitchen kami. Mamaya na ako mag papaliwanag," sabi ko sa kanila ni Drift tsaka pumunta sa kusina kasunod si Jericho.

"Kailan ka pa nakabalik?" bungad ko sa kanya habang nag hahanda ng kape at pagkain.

Pinipilit kong kumalma kahit pa halos gusto ko na siyang paulanan ng tanong.

"2 months ago, Zee. Pero ngayon lang ako ulit umalis mula ng makabalik galing Japan," paliwanag niya.

"Bakit hindi mo ako tinawagan?"

"Zee, I know you're getting through a lot. And I know how much you grieve on Thunder's lost at hindi ko na gustong dagdagan pa," mahinahong sagot niya sa tanong ko.

Tumitig ako sa kanya habang pinipigil ang mga luha ko. Thunder's death is my biggest horror. It's my fear.

"You know how much I wanted to talk to you Jericho, you are the only person I know that is aware of his case. Why do you have to decide for me? I am still grieving for him and I don't think I will ever stop crying for him," sunod sunod ang patak ng luha ko habang sinasabi iyon.

Thunder is my best friend too. Ako, si Faye at siya ang magkakaibigan. Silang dalawa lang ang nakakaintindi sa akin. Silang dalawa lang ang kakampi ko sa lahat.

Sa lahat ng eskandalong dinulot ko sa parents ko, sila lang ang nag tatanong sa akin kung ayos lang ba ako. Sa lahat ng pag kakataon na wala akong mapuntahan, silang dalawa ang pumupunta sa akin.

Thunder, he is my protector. With him, I feel safe. He's like a brother to me. He's always willing to do everything for us, for me.

And I hate myself for not seeing that he is in pain. That he has brain cancer. I hate myself for not seeing any sign that he's getting through something.

Galit ako sa sarili ko dahil hindi ko man lang nakita na habang pinoprotektahan niya ako ay may iniinda siyang sakit na ayaw niyang ipaalam sa amin.

"He doesn't want you to know. He doesn't want you to be worried about him. Kahit sa amin, huli na niyang sinabi," he said.

Halos mapabuga ako ng hangin dahil sa sinabi ni Jericho. Nasasaktan akong malaman na sinadya niyang hindi ipaalam dahil ayaw niya kaming mag alala.

"When I randomly visit him on his place, nakita ko ang dami ng gamot na iniinom niya. That time, hindi na siya masyadong nag papakita sa atin. And when he told us they're family will be staying for a while in the states, is the time when he was supposed to undergo a surgery."

Tahimik lang akong nakayuko habang umiiyak at nakikinig sa kanya.

"Nalaman ko na may tumor sya dahil sa aksidente noong hinarass ka ng anak ng business partner ng parents mo. Matapos ka namin ihatid, nag pasama siya sa akin sa hospital. Nawalan siya ng malay duon kaya ako ang kinausap ng doktor. Nalaman ko na delikado ang lagay niya dahil sa impact ng suntok sa kanya nung gabing yun."

Halos madurog ako ng maalala ang gabing yun. My parents hosted a party for the success of our company and I invited them to come. My ex suitor harassed me and touched my butt and Thunder saw it. He got mad and it started a fight.

I was escorted by my parents body guard when Thunder and Jericho bring me home. And I didn't even notice how much in pain he is.

"He doesn't want me to tell you this, that's the first thing he said when he woke up. But seeing how much you are still grieving for him, after years. It pains me, knowing you are his best friend. I am his, too. Gusto ko man sabihin sayo noon pero wala akong ibang magawa kundi suportahan siya. When he's with you and Faye, I can see how happy he is. He found family in you, kaya ayaw niyang mag alala ka para sa kanya. I am still hurting everytime I think of him but I realize he deserves to feel at peace up there, Zee. We have to let him go," his voice is shaky.

"I can't. No, I can't let him go," I am crying so bad while saying those words.

"He doesn't want you to be in pain because of him," Jericho's voice sounds like he is crying too but I can't look at him.

I stood there, almost losing my strength while crying so hard. Crying for my dearest Thunder.