Loving Heart

KABANATA 51

Kabanata 51

Gift

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Nagtaas ako ng kilay kay Kuya. Ang mapaglarong ngisi ay hindi matanggal sa labi ko kaya halos irapan nya ako. Sabay kaming kumakain ngayon. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na manukso lalo na dahil panay ang sulyap nya sa counter, kung nasaan si Jaz.

"Bakit kaya hindi ka nalang roon kumain, noh?" Sabi ko.

He turned to me and looked at me sharply. I smirked and put down my spoon. I took a deep breath and leaned back on my chair. Kahit nanunukso ako ngayon, I still want to know how it happened. I haven't been here in Manila for nine years so I'm sure a lot has happened to them.

"Kailan pa naging kayo?" Tanong ko, wala na ang ngisi at seryoso nalang ngayon.

"We're not in a relationship yet," he said simply.

"Oh? Eh, ano lang? Friends?"

He tsked and looked at me. Umirap ako dahil ayaw nya pang sabihin ang totoo.

"I'm telling the truth. We're not still together because my sisters are her bestfriends. She's scared you and Elise might get mad at her."

What? Sumulyap ako kay Jaz na kinakausap ang isang tauhan nya. Why would we be angry with her? I took a deep breath and looked back at my brother.

"I already told her that you will not be angry but she still doesn't want to," umiling sya at problemadong tumingin sa akin, binigay na ang buong atensyon sa akin ngayon.

"What?" Nagtaas ako ng isang kilay dahil mukhang alam ko na ang susunod nyang sasabihin sa tingin nya palang.

He sighed. "She's scared to tell you about it. Can both of you... talk to her?" Request nya.

Wow. Bahagya akong natawa at hindi na naman napigilan ang panunukso.

"Gabriel Villanueva, asking for help because he can't get the girl he likes?" Humalakhak ako. "Kailan ka pa nahirapan sa babae?"

He glared at me. "If you don't want to, then don't. I can do it by myself."

"Really?"

"Really, Elisha," he said sarcastically.

Tumango tango ako. "Okay. I will not help you. Pero iyang si Jaz, mukhang hindi mo talaga mapapayag yan. Marami syang naging boyfriend noon at ni isa wala syang sineryoso. Hindi ko pa sya nakitang nagseryoso pero kung seryosohin ka nyan, napaka swerte mo."

He looked at me sharply but was obviously interested in what I was saying.

"But you will have a hard time, I'm telling you. Mapili sa mga lalaki yan, gusto palaging nasa kanya ang atensyon, gusto palaging nakukuha ang gusto nya, kapag may ginawa kang kahit maliit lang na mali sisigawan ka at baka hiwalayan ka pa, nakakatakot."

Lumunok sya.

"Ang dami nang pina iyak na lalaki nyan. Mag ingat ka, baka maging isa ka sa kanila," banta ko pa.

"Don't worry, I already did," he said and looked away.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. What? He already did?

"You already did? Kailan?" Tanong ko.

"Tss. You don't have to know that," binalik nya sa akin ang tingin. "Ano pa? Bakit pa ako mahihirapan sa kanya?"

Napakurap kurap ako at sandali pang hindi nakapag salita dahil gulat pa rin sa sinabi nya kanina. Hindi ko pa sya nakitang umiyak dahil sa babae kaya ngayong sinabi nyang iniyakan na nya si Jaz, napagtanto ko na seryoso sya sa kanya.