Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[31]

Chapter 31

A pair of piercing blue eyes looked at me coldly. Gusto kong tumakas, gusto kong kumawala. Pabilis ng pabilis ang puso ko, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ngayong nasa harap ko na siya.

I observed him from head to toe. Wala halos nagbago, he only became muscular and more fit. His hairstyle changed to a cleaner cut one, even his fashion sense changed. He's wearing a black suit, a bit more formal and sleek.

Hawak niya ang panyo kong sa kanya rin mismo nanggaling. I had a collection of those, I just got used to using all of his handkerchief because maybe I was still holding on to something. Our memories that I want to forget and remember at the same time.

Inabot niya sa akin yon, his lifeless eyes remained staring at me. Ayaw niyang alisin ang tingin, para bang mawawala nalang ako bigla sa harapan niya.

"Here's your handkerchief," he told me.

I saw a glimpse of a tattoo engraved on his skin. It's on his right wrist, I can't seem to read it clearly because the letters are too small.

Tinanggap ko iyon at umiwas ng tingin.

"Thanks..." I turned my back and started walking away. Biglang may pumasok sa isip ko. Si Ardie! Where is he?

Bago pa ako humakbang ay humarang na siya sa daan ko. Ibang-iba na talaga siya, parang professional na at naging mature na.

Atty. Prince Draven Asuncion, Top 1 of last year's BAR exam.

At least, he achieved his dreams. Kahit wala ako sa buhay niya, nagawa niya yon dahil hindi niya naman ako totoong minahal.

This makes me feel better. Nakamit niya na ang pangarap niya, while I'm still on the road to getting it. Konting tiis na rin naman, malapit na rin akong maging doktor.

We promised we'd reach it both, but I ended up delaying mine. I guess everything has its own reasons, huh?

"Almost five years... hindi mo man lang ba ako babatiin?" malamig na sabi niya.

My hands grew cold and shaky. I blinked a few times, body frozen in shock. Akala ko, pag nakita ko na siya'y ayos na. Pero hindi pa rin pala, dahil kahit na ako ang pumiling lumayo, ako pa rin ang naapektuhan.

He fooled me by making me believe that he truly loved me. Parang isang laro lang ako na pinili niyang gamitin para maghiganti. Ang sakit lang isipin na sa lahat ng sinabi niya sa akin, iilan lang doon ang totoo. I always believed in every one of his lies and ended up breaking my heart even more.

"Nagpapatawa ka ba?" I sarcastically said.

Tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay niya.

"I told you not to show up in front of me, pero heto ka at nagawa mo pa ring magpakita sa akin. Ang kapal mo rin no?"

If there's anything that he taught me, iyon ay ang pagtiwala sa mga tao sa paligid ko. Lahat nalang sila'y niloko ako at ginawang parang laruan. It sucks how I used to be so trusting of every one, but it turns out that all of them are just using me as a piece to play their own game.

He swallowed hard and looked down.

"Let's pretend to be strangers, hindi natin kailangan magbatian dahil para sa akin, wala ka ng halaga. Wala ka ng importansiya," sambit ko at nilagpasan siya.

My feet stopped on his own. May sumisigaw sa kalooban ko na gustong lingunin siya ulit. I shut my eyes tightly and turned my back. I met with his cold, lifeless eyes. Dati ay halos luminawag iyon tuwing nakikita ko siya. Now, he looks so dead... parang namatay siya pero pilit pa ring nabubuhay.