He wrapped me his blanket hoping, perhaps, that by the act he could drive away the cold and his betrayal. He was not the type who leaves his friends but when times call for desperate measures, he runs away. And yesterday I witnessed it all.
He called my house early in the morning.
Jane, could we have lunch together?
Sure. Where do you want to go?
I don’t know yet. I’ll meet you in McDonald’s parking lot.
Ok. Bye.
And, he had not called me again until lunch time. Indeed, he was waiting in the parking lot looking aghast. It is not unusual for him to invite me to lunch but him looking weary during lunch time means problem; big problem, actually.
Where to?
Susie’s.
Susie’s Carenderia is just across the street where we are standing. The place always bustles with customer coming in and out. One can have a variety of food to choose from in Susie’s. Tables align neatly at the center with the counter occupying the far end of the carenderia. There were big casseroles, small casseroles, bowls, Pyrex trays, spoon and fork dispenser and glass container at the edge of the counter. Susie’s waving at us. We are one of the numerous customers who frequently eat at her place.
Kare-kare for me and a lot of bagoong and two cups rice.
He was eerily silent. His shoulders slump, his hair disheveled and his blue polo un-ironed. But still he looks gorgeous. Too bad, he’s my best friend. Best friends don’t fall in love. We told each other before when Digimon was still our favorite topic. We even signed a paper with our names on it saying we are best friends for life. Family friends would say that we make a good couple but we simply laughed it off because, we are best friends.
Jane, Sarah wants us to get married.
So, that’s the point of it. What’s wrong with getting married? I thought you want your own family?
I do. But my own family! Not somebody else’s family. Sarah’s been having an affair with her boss and she has his child.
Sarah’s my close friend since we were high school. The three of us were classmates and we were inseparable. We would go to school together and go home together, as well. We even attended the same college. We sleep in each other’s house depending whose turn is it to be the host. Though our sleep over stopped when he and Sarah become an item, we are still the three stooges people jokingly named us.
I don’t know how she could do that to me.
Riiiiiiiinnnnggggg!!!!
My cellphone rang.
Jane, help! I’m bleeding!
That was Sarah.
Only I ran out from Susie’s. With keys in hand, I drove madly to Sarah’s apartment.
Then, to the hospital.
Where are you? Sarah’s in ER. She needs you!
10p.m.— He arrived, at last, but still disheveled from head to foot. I was outside the ER waiting for him and for the doctor attending Sarah.
I went to her office and talked to her boss. That bullshit! He denied his child! I haven’t even fucked her!
He was again the boy who I first met in our subdivision. Bangs covering much of his forehead, misty eyes and a sad smile, then, we became fast friends.
Jane, am I stupid?
He banged the ER door which had the Security transferred us outside the hospital. We will just call you, ma’am.
Why don’t best friends fall in love? You could have been my wife now if we haven’t made that stupid promise in our childhood.Sshhh… Sarah needs you.No!
He ran off to his Convertible and went away leaving me open-mouthed with his actions… And his words.
∞∞∞∞
Still outside and waiting for him, the rain consumed me. There’s nothing left for me, now.
The security guard just looked at me from his post without even offering his umbrella. My long sleeves were heavy and my skirt hugged my legs. The wind howled. It was two a.m. The doctor had said his condolences and muttered that he has another patient to attend.
Jane? I’m sorry.
He wrapped his blanket around me. I haven’t known he arrived. He looks younger and more handsome. But he’s as cold as the stone I’m sitting on; harsh as the pouring of the rain and insignificant in my memory.
I pulled off the blanket and walked past him towards the hospital.
