Lahat ng Kabanata ng ONE NIGHT STAND BETWEEN BEST FRIENDS : Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 169

Brandon Elaine confused me. I was not quite sure what to make of her. I looked into her eyes and they shone with compassion and immense worry. She reached out with her hand to hold mine in an attempt to comfort me. “I… I had no idea, Brandon really,” she shook her head as though she pitied me, “I thought you were with her all this time. Is that why you want the wedding postponed?” she asked. I shut my eyes and gently removed her hand from me. “I want the wedding canceled, Elaine,” I said firmly, “not postponed.” “I understand,” she said, surprising me, “cancer is… Can I see her? Your daughter?” Her voice was gentle, but I was not buying it. “No,” I said. “I… I know I’ve been very mean to Salma, but that was because…” “Elaine, not now.” “Our baby and your child,” she said softly, “they’re going to be siblings. I would like them to have a great relationship.” It was like the day she had found the engagement ring right after she had caught me cheating on her. How was it that

SalmaIt was just too much. Rita. My father. Elaine. And Leona. The floodgates opened as I finally broke down in Brandon’s arms. I had tried, really tried to make sure it was not in front of him that I cried, but he was persistent—too persistent and the result was me falling apart in his arms. I felt his hug grow tighter, reminding me that he was there for me. But his assurance was short-lived when I heard the venomous voice of my stepsister, Ariel. “I guess your apology to my friend meant shit, huh,” I tried to pull away from Brandon’s hug immediately but he held me firmly and would not let me go. “I suggest you take your bullshit elsewhere, Ariel,” Brandon’s tone showed that he was angry. “There… I have taken some pictures,” I heard her say, “I wonder what the media has to say about…” But I was angry, too, and desperately needed an outlet. I spun around and faced her, “Your father being a serial killer still makes better news than any other day.” I watched with satisfactio

Brandon“Is everyone ready?” asked Dr. Hans cheerfully as he entered Leona’s room in the morning. Leona was still fast asleep and so was Salma. I was the only one awake. “Late night?” he asked me and I nodded. Salma stirred in her sleep but did not wake up. “Can you proceed with the transplant?” I asked Dr. Hans. “Yes,” came his response, “but I need you both to change your gowns and masks. Do you wish to stay by her side while she's receiving donor cells?” I nodded a little bit too enthusiastically. “Yes,” I replied, “yes.” “We’ll soon be done collecting stem cells from Mrs. McClean,” he informed me, “I’ll be back within an hour to hook her up with an IV.” “Thank you, doctor,” I said, watching the man leave the room. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I stepped out to check if there was anything important that needed my urgent attention. It was Rose calling me. I answered on the first ring. “Rose?” “There’s a problem,” her voice sounded panicked. “What is it?” I asked. “O

Brandon“Don’t pretend like you give a damn about me,” Salma stormed off angrily. I looked at Elaine, wondering if she had no context for social and emotional cues. “I brought food for both of you…” she began to say but I cut her off, “never show up in front of Salma again. She’s been through enough.” I tried to walk away afterwards but she held onto my arm, “What about me?” she asked, “Have I not been through enough? What is so wrong about loving you?” I said nothing but only freed myself from her hold and walked out on her, hoping that I could still catch up with Salma. I got to her in time, just as she was about to enter a car. “Wait,” I said to her, “I’m sorry about…” “I don’t want to hear it,” she replied, “you’ve spent most of the day with me, you can go be with your pregnant fiancée.” “She’s not…” “I don’t care.” She was about to enter the car when I held her back by holding her hand, “What about my mom?” I asked, “Won’t you say hi to her?” I could see on her face tha

SalmaI woke up the next morning groggy and even more exhausted than the night before. I saw the chandelier floating in front of my face and I was not immediately alarmed because it looked familiar. I had woken up in this bed before, even the bed felt familiar. I blinked several times, trying to wake myself up properly, then I stretched my right arm and I did not hit the bed—I hit something or someone hard. I turned, immediately alarmed, and right beside me was a man. “Fuck!” I cursed under my breath. I had somehow ended up in bed again with Brandon. I felt overwhelming shame at first that I had not had the self-control to push him away when he had kissed me. My head began to ring with a tremendous headache as flashes of the night filtered through my memory. I had been unable to sleep. Then I went downstairs, rummaging through the parking lot when I saw Brandon. Then we went for a late-night drive to clear our minds, somehow ended up in a bar to celebrate the transplant, then… “