I Met a Guy Whose Name is Lucas

Chapter 35

Chapter 35: House Rule

Friday, October 26, 2018, 11:20 PHT

    "It was really you."

    My eyes locked on Javi's face. He has changed, I cannot ignore that fact. He is wearing an eyeglasses which he's not used to do before. His eyes are deep and pale as if he hasn't been sleeping for at least six hours every night. It also seemed like he'd lost weight from when the last time I'd seen him. Also, he doesn't look like he's been trimming his hair.

    I made a mental eye roll at his appearance. I wish he could at least take care of himself.

    I tried my best to refrain from checking him out but in some reason, nahirapan ako iwasan siyang tignan. I kept myself calm and compose because there was no reason para makipag-away pa, but are we even fighting? Pero kasi the last time I check I almost have dragged both of him and Ramona out of my sight.

    I ignored my ranging thoughts dahil baka mapasama lang ang timpla ko at makapagsalita pa ng hindi maganda, and I don't want that. Finally, naiwasan ko na ang tingin niya.

    "Yes. Good to see you here." Did I say it without cracking my voice?

    "I'm so sorry for the last time, when—"

    "Oh don't bother. It's fine. Really." Did I sound sarcastic? Well, I sort of hope so.

    "Ramona interrupted you." He still continues. "I am," Javi paused and breathe out before raking his hand through his hair from frustration. "I am so sorry, Francesca."

    Kahit paminsan-minsan ay tinatawag niya akong Francesca dati, it still sounds so weird coming from him. Tangina, bakit ba kasi nandito 'to? Akala ko pa naman kapag wala ako sa Bulacan hindi ko siya maiisip, pero tignan mo nga naman, magkasama pa kami sa isang press conference.

    Hindi ko napigilang hindi mapabuga ng hangin habang nakatingin sa labasan papunta sa event room when I heard him apologizing on Ramona's behalf.

    "Okay. Wala na tayong magagawa, nangyari na 'yon." I nodded and smiled at him, and this time I wished he didn't see me faking it because I really did.

    Javi stared at me for a moment, and I also noticed how he was checking out my foot and glancing back at me like he knew that I had sprained it. Alam ko ring may gusto pa siyang itanong sa akin but I don't want to be stuck with him in this dimmed foyer. Hindi ko na rin alam kung anong mukha ang pinapakita ko sa kanya, but I know it scares him more than I do to myself. Do I hate him now? I should hate him, right? But I feel numb, and he is giving me a sorry face now.

    "I'm so sorry. I really do." I know he is sorry, I could hear it through his voice and I could see it from his face. Pero nakakatanga lang, hindi ko alam kung nagsosorry pa ba siya dahil nasira ni Ramona ang araw ko noong nagkita kami ng hindi sinasadya.

    "Do you want me to tell you that you're forgiven?"

    "Francesca, it's not as if—"

    "Ang sabi ko okay lang kasi nangyari na." Sobrang diin ata ng pagkakasabi ko sa huling dalawang salita. "If you have nothing else to say, will you excuse me?" Hindi agad niya ako sinagot kaya naisip ko nang iwanan na lang siyang nakatulala, but before I even took two large strides he asked me this:

    "Was he really your boyfriend?" Kahit hindi niya sabihin kung sino, naisip ko agad na si Lucas ang tinutukoy niya.

    I looked at him again, facing him. Now, we're standing across each other with a meter distance. "Kung kailangan mo talagang malaman, oo. Boyfriend ko si Lucas." I know it is really convincing, because Javi looks hurt now.