Mistaken Identity

“Where the hell is Anastacia, Gwen? Palagi na lang siyang wala this past few days, ha.”

I looked at my friend, Canary, to see how irritated she is.

“Idiot!” binatukan ko siya. “Wala talaga 'yon dito kasi nga nasa Paris 'yon ngayon, 'di ba nga? She said that on our groupchat. Don't you remember, Canary? Malamang sinusulit na no'n ang bakasyon dahil nga eight days na lang at magpapasukan na ulit.” I sighed. “And please, don't give me that st*pid look on your face, Canary. You both are always missing in action.”

Pumasok kaming dalawa ni Canary sa isang coffee shop dito sa may mall. Well, ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita. As in ngayon lang. Sa haba ba naman ng bakasyon namin ay puro negosyo lang nila ang inatupag nito. Siya kasi ang “future” kuno ng kompanya nila.

“Iced tea na lang siguro ang akin. What do you want Canary?”

Lumingon ako sa kaibigan kong ilang na nakangiti sa akin. Oh come on! Kasasabi ko lang eh.

“I'm sorry Gwen. Something happened at the company...”

“Canary...” I called her name but it's too late. She already started stating her excuses. Palagi nalang 'tong nangyayari.

“Mom and Dad went to a business trip outside the country. And....”

“Canary, stop...” I slightly scratch my nose. I usually do this when I'm starting to get mad.

“You know I'm the one wh—”

“Canary, I said stop!”

There! She stopped talking. “I really just need to go.” She awkwardly smiled at me with that apologetic look in her face.

I sighed. This is scenario always happens.

“Sige na, go. They need you. I understand. Thank you for spending time with me even tho you have a lot on your plate.”

Canary hugged me. “Aw! I'm so grateful to have a friend like you. Thank you Gwen and I'm so sorry. Don't worry, I'll make it fast para makabalik agad ako rito.”

“Uhm, no. Next time na lang ulit.”

“W-What? W-Why? Are you mad kasi aalis na kaagad ako kahit kakakita pa lang natin ulit?”

Pinisil ko ang pisngi niya, “Of course, no. Kier and I have a date later.”

“Ay wow, and here I am thinking you were mad at me, haha! Oh siya sige, enjoy sa date. Promise babawi ako, Gwen.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“Bye, I love you.” She laughed when I rolled my eyes.

Canary's rich. Her parents were both successful. She's an only child so alam na talaga ng lahat na sa kanya mapupunta ang kompanya kapag bumaba na sa puwesto ang mga magulang niya. But Canary will always be Canary. Ayaw niyang umupo sa puwesto na 'yon dahil lang anak siya ng may-ari ng kompanya. She wanted to show everyone that she's capable of it and that she deserve that spot.

Lumabas na lang ako ng coffee shop at naglibot-libot. Hindi pa ako uuwi dahil may usapan kami ni Kier. We decided to meet each other. And okay na rin 'to. This past few days, we barely see each other and talk because we're both too busy especially Kier. I think people just have a lot on their plates. But I think our love is really strong that despite of not having time for each other, we're still together.

3 years na kaming in a relationship. He's really famous, handsome, good to be with, and a hearthrob. He's my crush back then and for him to like me back was priceless! Haha! Eh kasi, ang daming elegante at sopistikadang mga babaeng may gusto sa kaniya pero ako ang nagustuhan niya 'di ba? Kaya ayon, naging kami na nung manligaw siya sa akin. Minsan lang naman kasi tayo magustuhan ng taong gusto natin kaya grab the chance na, haha. And having someone you like, love you back is not an everyday scene people see.

"Magiikot-ikot nga muna ako. Matagal pa naman mag 6 e." Dito rin naman kasi sa mall na ito ang meeting place namin.

Dumaan lang ako sa mga bilihan ng mga damit at tumingin ng mga pasok sa taste ko pero hindi ko binili. Haha! Window shopping kumbaga.

"What do you want Babe?" Napalingon ako sa likod ko. That voice seems familiar.

“Nevermind,” I whispered.

If he's already here, he would have called me or texted me, right?

"The blue one, Babe. Bagay ba sa akin?"

Anastacia? No. That's not her. She's in Paris. 'Yon ang sabi niya sa gc naming tatlo nina Canary.

Hindi ko maaninag 'yong magjowa 'ata 'yon dahil may mga nakaharang na damit sa akin at sa kanila.

"Okay, Babe. We'll buy that."

I walked around to look for the other dresses displayed but what I saw shocked me. I feel like there's a hundreds of knives stabbing my chest. I can feel the wild beating and tightening of my heart. Nanlalaking mata akong napatingin sa lalaking nakahawak sa bewang ng isang babaeng hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko ngayon. I never expected to see the both of them here. I never expected to see them together.

"K-Kier..." gulat na napatingin sa akin si Kier. Animo'y napaso at agad na bumitaw sa pagkakahawak sa bewang ng babae.

“A-Anastacia?” halata rin ang gulat sa mga mata ni Anastacia.

"G-Gwen? W-what are you doing here?" he asked. Surprised was still written all over his face.

"Let's go, babe." Anastacia said as she turned her back as if like I'm not here in front of them. As if like I haven't seen them date behind my back.

Ramdam ko ang unti-unting pamumuo ng maiinit na likido sa sulok ng aking mga mata. Alam kong ilang segundo na lang ang bibilangin bago bumagsak ang mga ito.

Nag-iinit ang mga kamay kong agad na naglakad papalapit kina Kier at Anastacia. How dare them!

"G-Gwen let me e-ex-"

Hindi niya na natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil agad nang nahanap ng nag-iinit kong palad and daan patungo sa pagmumukha niya at lumapat ang mga palad ko sa pagmumukha niya.

"What the f*ck?!" napalingon ako kay Anastacia na nanggagalaiting nakatingin sa akin. "What the f*cking f*ck is your problem?"

Tinignan ko ito mula ulo mukhang paa. Sarkastiko akong napabuntong-hininga. Did I really befriended someone like her? Look at her face. It looks like sh*t.

Hindi ko pinansin si Anastacia at humarap ulit ako kay Kier sabay sampal ulit sa kaniya. Mas malakas at mas mahapdi.

Nagsinghapan ang mga saleslady at ang mga taong namimili na nakakita ng ginawa ko. People. Despite their busy schedules ay may panahon parin pala silang makiusyoso sa nangyayari.

"Para 'yan sa kasinungalingan mo," I said and slapped him again hard.