We Found Love (Short Story)

13

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"Food for you, Miss Sapphire"

Pinapadalhan ako ni Haider ng mga pagkain nung nalaman niya na hindi ko palagi inuubos ang mga pagkain ng hospital.

I'm slowly trusting him and I don't know if I can do it.

Nung huli ako na nagtiwala ay niloko lang ako. Sinaktan lang ako.

Sinasabi ng puso at isipan ko na pagkatiwalaan si Haider.

Tinatrato niya ako ng maganda. Walang halong kaplastikan. Except for the butterflies.

Sabi niya lang sakin nung araw na yon ay wag ko nalang daw pansinin yung Nicole. But my mind is bugging me.

Girlfriend niya? Bakit hindi niya sinasabi sakin? Sabagay sino ba naman ako. Isa lang naman akong baliw na nasa mental hospital, sabi nga nila.

Hindi na siya masyado pumupunta dito pero palagi niya naman ako tinetext at pinapadalhan ng pagkain.

Hindi din naman siya nagtatagal ng 1 hour pag andito siya. Pero okay lang. At least he cares. He cares. Yes.

I opened the food and smiled. A bento box. Cute.

He always makes me smile. Kahit maliit na bagay.

My panic attacks are slowly disappearing and my scratch marks are healing. But when it's 2am, that's when it hits me.

Whenever I want to text him, pupunta lang ako sa Nurse's station at mag sstay dun so that I can talk to him. He left a phone para hindi na ako manghiram sa phone ng hospital.

I finished my food and went to the nurse's station.

:Thank you for the food!

Hindi din nagtagal ay nag-reply na siya. He's always a fast replier.

:No prob. Bisitahin kita mamaya after exam.

My smile got wider. I'm happy right now. He's going to visit me.

:Sureee see you

I waited in the garden. Naglakad-lakad lang ako and looked at some of the butterflies.

Sana makalabas na ako dito. Ayoko na dito. But, saan ako pupunta? Tinakwil na ako ng mga magulang at kaibigan ko.

Haider is just a friend. May girlfriend siya.

But I like him. Pero may girlfriend siya. Sapphire, stop.

"Hi" I greeted him.

Lumapit ako sakanya at napansin ko na naka-uniform pa siya at may dalang bag. He's wearing a white polo and maroon coat partnered with a black slacks.

"You doing good?"

Of course I am.

"Yes. Galing ka sa school? Can I see your school things?"

Tanong ko. It's been a while since I haven't seen them. Puro colored papers lang naman ang meron ako.

Umupo kami sa bench at binigay niya sakin yung bag niya. There are two thick books and I decided to open it. Pero sinara ko din agad kasi puro sticky notes at sulat ito na hindi ko maintindihan. He's smart. I just feel it.

Nag cecellphone lang siya habang pinapakialaman ko ang gamit niya. He doesn't mind naman.

Kinuha ko yung id lace and I expected to see his face. But I saw Nicole's face instead. Siguro magkasama sila ni Nicole kanina.

I didn't mind my aching heart and continued to look at his things. Kung girlfriend niya si Nicole, bakit niya ako pinupuntahan dito? Bakit niya ako pinapadalhan ng mga pagkain? Bakit may pakielam siya sakin?

"What's on your mind? Care to share?"

Tanong niya sakin nung napansin niya na nakatulala lang ako.

"May girlfriend ka?"

"What? No."

I sighed. Sabi niya eh. Maniniwala ako siyempre.

"Can I be your girlfriend?"

I like him. He makes me happy. My panic attacks are disappearing. He's all that I want right now.

"Are you sure?"

Do I look like I'm joking?

"Of course. I am. But please don't break my heart."

He looked at me. He doesn't know what to say.

"If that's what you want. Sure."

I'm happy. All I can say is that I'm happy.

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