This is not an excuse and this is not a joke. Gie, Lola, the reason why we were not able to see you. This might sound funny to you but I have to tell you this so you will learned. I learned this lesson just very recently.
We arrived in LA on late Sunday afternoon. We had to dropped off a friend in east of downtown LA (a bad neighborhood, but we didn’t care).
Anyway, to start this story, Mike financed the team to come to Vegas, plane tickets and accommodations at the Riviera hotel, where the tournament was held. There were two couples that we had to buy their wives tickets and one couple is Manong and Manang who (i thought)were our good friends.
After the BCA tournament, the team was no longer our main concern, one couple returned home and the rest remained for the next tournament. ***** and ***** decided to go to California and stayed with their friend’s while me and Mike went to LA. While still in Michigan, Me and Manang already talked about picking them up from wherever they would be in California which wasnt that near, *********.
While me and Mike was driving to LA and ****** and ******* to ***********, Mike asked me if I could tell Manang just to meet them in Barstow on our way back, which I would and had never asked. Instead I diverged Mike’s idea. Then we arrived in LA and stayed in Sta. Monica. We were both excited because we stayed in a hotel by the Ocean or facing the Pacific Ocean, and the earthquake made it more exciting! The next day we forgot all about Irene and Lupe and we went to visit Mrs. Kingsley and had lunch at the Osteria Lattinni, one of Brentwood’s gourmet restaurant (you know its my weakness). We went to the Kingsley’s residence and stayed a little bit then we took off and showed Mike some nice places. When we got back to the hotel Mike started asking about Manong and Manang again and it started to irritate me, until we went to sleep.
The next morning, we woke up late as usual at around 10 am, we went to get some coffee after getting ready. While we were getting ready Manang called and Mike asked me again if possible they can drive down to LA instead but I refused to tell her, and it really got into my nerves and it did aggravated me for real. So I start crying on the street on our way to the coffee shop. I really was in so much grief that Mike couldn’t do something for my friend. It really hurts me, a lot! Mike tried to justify himself that he already have done so much for them and why cant they cant just do a little bit of something not to drain us out for picking them up from afar.
At that moment Mike’s justification has never gotten into my heart and mind for I was already very mad. Mad as hell that I had almost told him to leave me in LA and he can go home by himself, for good. So from that time we never talked and we never went anywhere so meaning it already ruined our second whole day in LA. We never did nothing but Mike went to a pool hall to practice and I did my laundry and refill his prescription at Walgreen’s pharmacy. But even that bad situation, we still went to a nice restaurant, the Bossa Nova of West Hollywood. It feels so uncomfortable to be with him and we don’t feel good to each other’s company, anymore. And I am still in rage of leaving him (for good for a thought of just being a hitch all the time, which I never was). So we went to sleep again with ill feelings to each other (or maybe it was just me, because I felt like he was ignoring my idiocy).
The next day we went to have a date with Mrs Kingsley again and we had lunch at Chez Mimi and went to Mr Kingsley’s grave, which Mike has promised me when I missed his interment, to visit his grave. It seemed nothing had happened (which I’m good at acting). Yes indeed the whole thing made Mrs. Kingsley very happy after showing to us the Video of Mr. Kingsley’s memorial and that made me feel rewarded at last. We said goodbye to Mrs. Kingsley that night and it even made me cry for I don’t know if I will see her again. She is getting fragile more than the last time I saw her three years back. I really missed her and I missed her bitchy‘ness, I still love her so much.
Now the plan of meeting you Gie has become vanished because we had to leave earlier instead, to have a detour to â€the Mountains†to Vegas. My anger becomes more and more ferocious. I don’t even want to call you in front of everybody what was going on, and i cant call because i dropped my phone on the toilet with purpose. So I let it all persisted in me.
While driving to Vegas with them, Manang and manong, we talked a little bit hoping it wasnt very obvious that something was going on my vivaciousness has becoming subdued and that is more apparent. They sensed it but i know they didn’t show it. But what they didn’t know was it was because of them.
We arrived in Vegas at night time and checked. I felt a little bit at ease that we were back and Mike was also a little bit at ease knowing we are going to rest very soon.
The next day, all of my bickering has faded for Mike has to start a new tournament. I never planned of supporting him since I don’t want him to win anymore. After several winnings that day, he was scheduled to have a match with Manong. I had no plan of watching him anymore so I decided to watch shows instead.
On my way to the show I come to pass at Mike’s tournament hall, playing with Manong for their last game. Mike was losing against Manong when I get in there and by the time arrived at the table Manong won and two of the team members (his team mates for the next day's team tournament) cheered when Manong won reall loud.
By that time I realized, Manong and the gangs will with Mike’s team the next day! And why are they cheering Manong? Instead of just be quite! I WAS RAGE! I became so furious at Manong and the rest. How can a team mate betrayed a team mate? I really don’t care if Mike loses against Manong but the cheering squad? Were all his team mates? Something was really wrong! They really were planning to beat Mike after Mike beat some of our team mates. They were still playing single and not team tournament yet at that time. I felt so sorry for Mike after all! Now I know what Mike was trying to tell me. They only has used US!
You know what I mean Gie? I ruined everything, for not seeing you! It was my fault. If I only followed what Mike has told me I could have seen you and Jared. I learned my lesson. Dapat minsan we have to lower our pride. I never did until when I realized everything. I made Mike promise me not to spend any money to anyone anymore...specially the people who want to put him down. (wa jud batasan! ijara di manakod, abi nako di ni mahitabo sa mga Kano!)
Anyhow, we will be going back to Vegas in August and I really will try my very best to drive to LA to see you.
Now, would you forgive me for my stupidity? I admit this time I was being stupid again! Na naman! !!
Lesson to learn? according to my folks... ug naa daw ka pakan-on inig hungitan daw, hasta daw imong elbow kaonon......and people are extremely nice to you when they think they could get something from you...this is very true.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=19374.0