ONE
TRINA
The water from the shower was cold and in full blast. I went right into the tub, fully clothed, my mind quite unable to forget last night’s events.
*
“I think you're smashed.”
I looked up at him, smiling. My brain’s all fuzzy and I couldn’t see anything else. My head was slumped on the table, where a number of shotglasses were scattered… all empty.
“Ikaw rin naman eh,” I replied. “Where’s Chrissa?”
“Nasa CR, sinamahan ni Sel. Masyado na nagwiwild.”
“Di ko pala kayo dapat dinala rito.”
“Ba't naman?" he asked with a small chuckle. "I’m doing great.”
“Parang first time nyo kasing uminom eh,” I said, cursing under my breath. “Ngayon mapapauwi pa kayong lasing dahil sakin. Some good influence I am.”
“Trina, matanda na tayo. We’re perfectly entitled to get wasted.”
He sure had a point, but hell.
It’s kind of bothering me.
“Tignan ko nga muna yung dalawang yun... Chrissa isn’t the type who’d—
“Stay.”
He grabbed my hand and made me stay on my seat. I stared, confused.
“She’s in good company.”
“But—
I stopped, feeling his hand on my face. My already-fast hearbeat gained pace as I gently brushed it away.
“Miguel,” I said. “Let’s go get Chrissa and go home. It's 2am.”
He must be really intoxicated.
“Trina, I know it’s kind of wrong, but I don’t think I’ll be able to tell you any other way,” he said, gently grasping my hand. “I’ve been meaning to let you know…”
“Dude—
Chrissa… No…
She’ll be back any minute.
“I’m tired of pretending I don’t care.”
“Ano ba sinasabi mo? Alam mo senglot ka na talaga--” I replied nervously.
“You don’t understand, Trinz. I’ve never been very clear…”
“No, I do!” I said defiantly, forcing a laugh. This can’t be happening. “Really, Miguel! There’s no need to mope around!”
I tried to stand up but he was too strong, even for me.
“Dito ka lang.”
Pinning me on the couch, I was unable to move. He leaned in and in moments, I felt his soft lips on mine.
I froze, my mind quite unable to process anything else.
A battle was raging within me as he kissed me intensely. I kept my eyes open, but I was losing my mind.
Chrissa loves him.
My best friend loves him…
Closing my eyes, I knew I had completely lost all sense of reason. I didn’t even attempt to get him off, and in mere split seconds I was responding to each kiss, forgetting my pride… forgetting Chrissa.
He broke off and looked me straight in the eye.
“I love you, Trina.”
*Curling myself up, I put my arms around my knees and cried. Shame and guilt were eating away at my insides like an invisible, carnivorous creature.
After everything Chrissa’s done for me…
this is what I give her in return.I turned the shower off, wishing I could stay in the tub forever.
Well it’s not like I have a choice. The tub can’t do damage control for me, can it?
NO. Chrissa won’t ever find out. No one else will.
I faced the mirror and wiped myself dry.
Fine, Llamanzares. I’m SO going to take you on.
I immediately saw her upon entering the coffee shop. Feeling eyes following me as I stormed carelessly towards her table, I saw her look up at me and smirk, putting her magazine down on the table.
“Oh hello,” she said.
“I wanted to wait till you arrive before I order. Shall we get our drinks together?”
“Skip the niceties,” I snapped, pulling a chair.
“What do you want?”
“I'll have a white mocha frap, please. Grande.”
This
b itch is so getting on my nerves.
“Excuse me?”
“Treat mo, diba?” 
“Ganun ka na ba ka-pulubi to not even be able to afford a single stinking drink?”
“Careful, Katrina,” she said, brandishing her Blackberry right in my face.
“One click, and this baby’s sending your photos straight to Facebook.”
Sh it, what is blackmail?
“Kaya easy ka lang sa pagsagot.” she said with a wink.
“You never know when Chrissa just might think of logging in.”
“Fine, then,” I said angrily.
Is she getting fond of whipped cream? No wonder she looks
fat.
“Thanks!” she said with a relish as I put
(threw, more like) her drink on the table.
“Sarap.”
“Akina yung pictures.”
“Ay! Nagmamadali?” she said, taking a sip and looking at the door. I looked around and checked if anyone we knew was in the vicinity.
“Don’t mess with me, Jewel. Give me the photos now.”
“Now I'm really scared.” 
“Aren’t you ever going to learn?” I asked, smirking.
“Haven’t I kicked your ass enough in Poveda?”She laughed.
“Yeah, you kicked me up so hard that you almost got expelled,” she said, and I was gobsmacked.
“Oh wait. Wasn’t it Chrissa who prevented that from happening?"
“Guini guilt trip mo ba ko?"
“It appears to be working.”
“How did you know about Chrissa?”
“Wait, you’re not telling me you’ve thought all this time that her supposedly hidden feelings for Miguel is a complete secret?” she asked incredulously.
I stared at her, confused.
“She told no one but Sel and me.”
“I overheard it in the girls’ bathroom,” she replied, playing with her straw.
“Ingay nyo eh. And besides, didn’t you get the memo? Walls have ears, remember?”
“I get it. You're spying on us.”
“As if. Ano naman mapapala ko don?”
“Let me see,” I said, feigning a look of deep thought.
“I dunno, perhaps a pathetic excuse for a life?”
“Very slick.”
“Stop fooling around, will you? Di ako pumunta rito para makipagchikahan sayo. Akina yung pictures.”She studied me in a long, hard look.
“I’m sending them to your email, and after that I’ll be deleting them.”I raised a brow.
“That’s all?” 
“You wish,” she said with a high, fake laugh.
“I'll need fFive thousand bucks, cold cash.”Of all the things she could’ve asked—
I could hardly believe it.
The great Jewel Llamanzares is blackmailing me for money?“I don’t understand. You’re actually—…” I had to stop to suppress a laugh.
“You’re poor?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Jewel, have you no shame?” I asked deliberately, completely forgetting her threats.
“Can you imagine how your family would react once they find out?”
“My family is a whole load of crap,” she replied rather fiercely, and for the first time today she wasn’t smiling.
“I ran away from home. They froze all my accounts, and I need this.”Smart. Very smart.
For someone like Jewel Llamanzares, that’s quite a milestone.
“And I came in handy, didn’t I?” I asked happily, getting my wallet.
I never thought this day would come. Jewel was practically selling herself; proving she was what I’ve thought of her all along -- a low-class wh0re.
Just like her mother.“Ayan. Five thousand,” I said in a clear voice, throwing the money right in front of her.
“Bilangin mo pa.”She held the money gingerly, as though she had never seen anything quite like it. For a moment, I felt sympathetic, but instantly felt otherwise as she looked at me, her gaze sharp.
“Thanks.”She got her phone, pressed a few buttons here and there, then handed it to me.
“Check it. I’ve sent it to your email, no one else.”I went, made sure every part of the agreement was carried out properly, then deleted the sent item, and every single picture from her photo gallery.
Amputa.
Ten.
Freaking. Pictures.
“Here you go,” I said, handing the phone back.
“Did you copy it anywhere else?”
“No.”
“Pag may nakakita nito,” I said, getting my drink off the table and standing up,
“Malalaman ng buong mundo tong usapan na to. You understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” I said, turning to leave.
“Twas nice doing business with you.”
“Wait,” she said, a dangerous smile forming on her face.
“Someone called me. Gustong-gusto ka daw makausap.”As she said it, the door had opened, revealing a familiar tall figure.
I cursed under my breath.
“I told them they’d find you here.”
“Go to hell.” I rushed to go out unnoticed, but today I simply seem to have run out of luck—
“Trina.”
“I have to go.”
“We need to talk,” he said sternly, holding me by the arm in a strong grip.
“Here. Now.”
Jewel stood up, holding her drink in one hand, her purse in the other.
“I agree with him, Katrina. Give him a chance,” she said loftily.
“Hope I helped, Miguel.”
“Thanks.”
“Screw you both!” I hissed.
I tried to get off, but his grip was too strong. Miguel cast me a surly look before forcibly pulling me away from the already curious-looking customers.
“You’re not going anywhere until we settle this.”
errr. sabaw.
Hope I didn't bore you too much, though.
Heehee. Happy Christmas Eve!
Poll
