AEIRYN

HE let the woman sat on the sofa while there was a huge concern written on his face. He must've loved this woman too much in the past . . . or even now?

"Anong nangyari sa 'yo, Eunice? Bakit ganiyan ang itsura mo?" asked Ryl as he sat beside the woman.

She was crying non-stop and she was really bleeding. She might have undergone a tremendous casualty to be looking like this in front of us.

"R–Ryl, tulungan mo 'ko. I–ilayo mo 'ko sa kanila. I–ilayo mo 'ko. Lumayo na lang t–tayo," she said begging Ryl as she held his hand.

Wow! Just wow! How could she be back in his life acting as if she didn't abandon him before? Ang kapal ng mukha ng bobong ito. I didn't feel any pity for her, she chose this life when she abandoned Ryl. She was like a walking and a living proof of kabobohan.

"And who gave you permission to hold his hand?" taas-kilay na tanong ko sa babae na ikinalingon nito sa akin at ikinagulat naman ni Ryl.

Don't be too surpised, Ryl Lorenzo! I am acting like a loving wife here dahil baka mamaya ay padala pala iyang babaeng iyan ng mga gustong pumatay sa 'yo!

"S–sino ka?" tanong sa akin nito and I arched my brows in disbelief.

"Haven't you heard about me all the way here? I am Mrs. Aeiryn Lez Lawson," pakilala ko at nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata nito na mukhang hindi inaasahan ang isiniwalat ko.

Her amused face, amused me more. It was like, she was hiding something behind that innocent face of her. Wala siyang maitatago sa akin. Itinatago pa lamang niya, nahuli ko na.

"A–asawa mo si Ryl—"

"Shut your mouth, Lez. Please," ani Ryl sa akin na hindi ko na ikinagulat. I already saw this one coming.

"Why? Are choosing this one . . ." Pinasadahan ko ng tingin si Eunice bago ko itinuloy ang sinasabi ko. ". . . over me? Are you acting all sane now, Ryl?"

I laughed sarcastically that shocked both of them.

"N–no! I just want you to sympathize—"

"Oh no, no, no, Ryl. I am not sympathetic and never will I be one. You have to choose now. Your ex-girlfriend who abandoned you or me that has a future ahead with you?" I asked seriously as I looked straight to his eyes.

Huwag mo 'kong aangasan, Ryl. You could've took my virginity, but you are nothing to me.

Imbes na sagutin ako ay bumaling siya kay Eunice. "What really happened to you, Eunice? Walang ibang makasasagot ng tanong ko kung hindi ikaw lang. You see, I have my wife now. We can no longer act like we used to. And besides, naaawa na lang ako ngayon sa 'yo. Wala na iyong pagmamahal," he told Eunice that made me grin. That was too honest of you, Ryl.

I didn't care kung lilitaw man akong kontrabida sa kanila. I don't care about anyone. All I care for was my job, my profession, and mission.

"M–mula nang iwan kita at kuhanin ko ang perang bigay ng Mommy mo para ipampagamot ni kuya Eduard, ibinugaw na lamang ako nang ibinugaw nina Nanay at Tatay para lang makuha nila ang perang gusto nila. P–pinilit nila akong magtrabaho sa mga bar at ipalabas sa mga dayuhan sa loob ng isang gabi. P–pagod na 'ko, Ryl. Hindi ko na kaya—"

"You chose the path that you took and now you are asking for help? Such a thick face you have," I said cutting her off. Mukhang napahiya siya sa sinabi ko kaya't bigla siyang nanahimik.

"Lez, please. Refrain from saying meanful words—"

"That she deserves? No, Ryl. Truth hurts, and if slapping her the whole truth would awaken her in her own delusions, then I'd better give it to her the soonest possible time," putol ko rin kay Ryl na ikinabigla niya. "Just tell me if you are choosing this pathetic human being over me, and we're done. Madali akong kausap," patuloy ko, saka ko siya nginisian.

"Lez—"

"R–Ryl . . . please," said the woman and threw herself at Ryl that made me smirk. What a freaking actress.

I turned my back at them as I elegantly walked out of that office. It was not my thing to watch kabobohan, katangahan, pagpapaawa, and kabaliwan in front of my eyes. I have a short patience. Baka hindi ko mapigil ang sarili ko, lumuha na lang siya bigla ng bato.

HOLDING a gun, I pulled the trigger to shoot my target, and voila . . . bullseye.

"Shutangena, laki yata ng galit mo sa mundo. Nilumpo mo na naman 'tong mga target natin! Isusumbong kita sa kuya mo—"

"Shut up, Jice. I'm not in the mood to deal with your silliness," I said cutting her off.

"E 'di shut up kasi. Init ng ulo. Wala yatang dilig. Para kang disyerto, mainit at tuyot na tuyot," she replied insulting me and I quickly pointed the gun at her. "HOY SHUTANGENA, AEIRYN!"

"I told you, I am not in the mood," I said warning her.

"Isusumbong kita kay Laev! Inaapi mo 'ko!" she said childishly and I put away the gun and made a deep sigh.

I sat at the nearest bench and stared at the ceiling. Umalis na si Jice at hindi ko na naman nakontrol ang init ng ulo ko. Natutukan ko pa siya ng baril.

"Here," said a voice and as I turned my gaze, I saw Gyor giving me a bottle of water. "Calm yourself. Pati si Jice ginan'on mo," he continued.

I took the bottled water and I drank half of it. "I am not just really in the mood. I didn't mean to do that to her," I said explaining myself and Gyor sat beside me.

"When will you ever choose me, Alez?" he said out of nowhere while staring blankly at the space.

He calls me Alez, and he was the only one who calls me that way. Aeiryn plus Lez, that's where he got Alez.

"Gyor, we've talked about this over a hundred times. I could never choose you. You deserve better. You deserve more. You deserve someone na hindi ako. I will only hurt you and that's the least I would want to do to you. You don't deserve to be taken for granted. Alam ko kung anong deserve mo at hindi ako ang makakapag-offer ng mga bagay na iyon sa 'yo," I said full of sincerity and he diverted his gaze towards me.

"I love you, Alez. I love you more than how much your past loved you. I became an agent because of you. I became who I am to be deserving enough before pursuing you . . . but I guess, I don't really deserve a chance."

"Gyor. . . ." Alam kong mahal niya 'ko. Mula noon, alam kong mahal na mahal niya 'ko. Never did he ever hurted me. For all the pain I've got, he was there. When I was slowly losing myself, he was my companion. When I had to beg, he was there . . . he was there all along, but I just couldn't give it back to him. Hindi ko kayang magmahal ng taong kahit atraksyon ay wala akong nararamdaman. Maybe, just maybe hindi ko talaga kayang magmahal ulit.

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo, saka ipinatong ang kamay niya sa ulo ko at ginulo ang buhok ko. "I will never say this again, Alez. But please . . . be happy. I am begging you to choose happiness over the fear of pain and failing," aniya saka ako tinalikuran at iniwan sa lugar na iyon.

If only I could share to everyone about his story, a lot would say that Gyor was one of the most genuine man they would ever meet. Gyor was more than just a gem, he was more than just a treasure.

Napatayo na rin ako at nilisan ang lugar na iyon. Hindi ko alam bakit dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa bar na pagmamay-ari ni tita Vance at naupo sa harapan ng counter.

Honestly, wala akong nararamdaman na sakit nang hindi ako sinundan ni Ryl, pero nang talikuran ako ni Gyor kanina, pakiramdam ko ay tinalikuran ako ng kapatid ko na matagal umalalay sa akin. This might sound so dramatic, but yeah, maybe I don't really know what I want.

"Another shot?" asked the bartender and I nodded. "You seem so occupied. Trying to prove yourself to someone or . . . to yourself maybe?" he continued as he poured a drink in my glass.

I gave him a bitter grin before answering. "Why are we even trying to be somebody that matters to this world when we don't even know who we are yet?"

Mukhang namangha siya sa tanong ko. Inabot niya ang baso sa akin saka ngumiti. "Maybe because of our own hunger to be validated? We want to prove things we're not actually sure of."

Napangisi ako sa isinagot niya sa akin. He was knowledgeable enough for his answer.

Matapos kong lagukin ang huling tagay na iyon ay bigla na lamang tumunog ang telepono ko nang sunod-sunod.

I saw Ryl's name as the caller.

"Why?" I asked casually.

"Where are you? I've been looking for you!" His voice sounded so tired and impatient.

"I can handle myself, Mr. Lawson. No need to look for me. Besides, I asked kuya Aeignn to supervise you while I am away so you don't really need to look for me nor think of your security. You'll always be safe," I replied. I don't know if I sounded sarcastic.

"Just tell where the fuck you are, Lez—"

"R–Ryl, sinong kausap mo?"

"Wow! Your ex-girlfriend must be at your house right now? Nice."

Hindi ko alam bakit ganoon ang sinabi ko nang marinig ko ang tinig ng babaeng iyon. I despised that maggot. Gusto ko siyang paulanan ng salitang tanga!

"Hello? Hello? S–sino ito?" Wow! Mukhang inagaw niya pa ang telepono.

"Don't make angas-angas to me. Isa kang basura. Girl, bigla ka na lang bumalik and you really think that I would believe your drama? Don't mess with me, Eunice. You'll be dead in just a snap of my finger," wika ko rito, saka ko mabilis na pinatay ang telepono.

Nanginginig ang laman ko sa pikon. The least I would wanted to feel right now was to feel threatened towards another woman. Tapos na ako sa phase ng buhay ko na iyon. Right now, I wanted to kick her fucking ass off.

Uminom pa ako nang uminom nang hindi ko namalayan na tinatamaan na pala ako. Siguro ay may ilang oras na rin ang lumipas dahil unti-unti na ring nababawasan ang mga tao sa bar.

"Miss, kaya mo ba? Do you want me to drive you home?" asked the bartender.

"Are you available?" I asked drunkly.

"No, she's not. You're coming with me," said a voice.

Naniningkit ang mga mata na nilingon ko ang pinanggalingan ng tinig at hindi ko inaasahan ang nalingunan ko. Lasing lang ba ako o tama ang nakikita ko.

"T–Tyron."

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