Loving Heart

KABANATA 32

Kabanata 32

Painful

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"Sure. That's... fine with me..." Anton said, still confused but watching me closely.

Until now I still remember the disappointment in his eyes but he tried not to show it to me. He still smiled even though he was confused and disappointed. And when I remember that, I also feel disapointment and... sadness. Or more than sadness.

Tumakbo si Elise papunta sa amin nang bumaba sya sa sasakyan. Agad syang sinalubong at niyakap ni Jaz. Jaz was shock and excited because Elise is here again. Elise also hugged Jaz but her eyes was immediately fixed on Anton. Nag iwas ako ng tingin at mabilis nang nagpaalam sa kanila.

"Mauna na ako sa sasakyan," I said to Jaz and Kyle.

Nilingon ako ni Jaz. Nung una nagtaka pa sya dahil mauuna na agad ako pero nang maisip siguro na pagod na ako, tumango nalang sya at lumapit sa akin. Nakipag beso sya habang si Kyle ay tumango lang.

Pagkatapos noon ay nilingon ko si Anton. Nakita kong nakatingin na sya sakin, waiting for me to say goodbye to him as well. It's rude not to say goodbye to him and I also don't want to ignore him so...

"Una na ako," sabi ko.

Mabilis syang nagsalita. "Are you... going to the coffee shop later?"

Bahagya akong nagtaka sa tanong nya. "Oo naman."

He nodded and swallowed hard. Hindi ko naman na pinatagal ang pag uusap na yon. Nag iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya.

"Mauna na ako. You can talk to Elise for a while. Bye," I said and walk away.

Hindi ko na sila nilingon pa. I got into our parked car. Nang makasakay ako roon nakita ko ulit sila. Una kong nakita ang mga mata ni Anton na kahit nasa loob na ako nasa akin pa rin ang paningin. My heart pounded. Kinakausap sya ni Elise at sumasagot naman sya pero nakatingin pa rin sa sasakyan kung nasaan ako.

Jaz also talks to them while Kyle looks just quiet, looking at Elise seriously.

I averted my eyes from them and just leaned back in my chair. I crossed my arms and took a deep breath and then closed my eyes. I stayed that way and it helped somehow. I slightly calmed my heart.

"Really?" Elise was shocked and happy when I told her that Anton agreed to the date.

I sighed and smiled.  "Yes. He agreed."

"Kailan daw sya pwede?" Excited nyang tanong.

"Mamaya. Pagkatapos ng trabaho ko."

"Really? Mamaya na agad? OMG! Sasama ulit ako sayo!"

Sumama nga sya ulit. I just changed my clothes and we quickly went to the coffee shop. Anton was at one of the tables when we arrived. Kagaya dati, mabilis lang akong nagpaalam at pumasok na sa locker room, medyo matamlay na naman.

Umiling ako at huminga ng malalim. Pilit kong pinagana ang katawan ko. Hindi ako pwedeng maging matamlay. Bakit ako magiging matamlay?

Nang lumabas ako nagulat at nagtaka ako nang nanatili si Elise at Anton sa table na yon. Hindi na pumwesto si Anton sa itaas kahit unti unti nang dumadami ang tao. Napapatingin sa kanila ang lahat. Nagbubulungan na naman at dahil kilala silang pareho, siguradong pag uusapan sila sa internet.

"Pinag uusapan na kayong tatlo sa social media. Alam mo ba ang mga rumors?" Bulong sa akin ni Mariz nang pareho kaming walang ginagawa.

Nilingon ko sya. I knew immediately what she was referring to. I know we are being talked about because Lavarias and Villanueva are both well-known names but I was curious about what Mariz said.