QuaranDestined

TWENTY-EIGHT

Hi. How are things going on with you?

Awake at 2am and thinking of you. I still miss you from time to time but theres nothing i can do.

Chanel, I hope youll agree to go out with me one of these days to talk about what happened to us.

Ang dami na palang message sa 'kin ni Jake sa Messenger, iba-ibang araw s-in-end, pero ngayon ko lang nabasa.

I must admit, that there are times I still think of him, especially our past. We were happy, were good, we were in-love then. Why does it have to end this way?

Minsan, naitatanong ko rin sa sarili ko kung paano kaya kung pinatawad ko siya? Siguro kung hindi ko kapatid si Chloe, baka gano'n nga ang ginawa ko, 'wag lang siyang mawala sa akin.

Pero lahat nang 'yun "what if" na lang. Kailangan ko nang kalimutan anuman 'tong natititirang pagmamahal ko sa kanya.

Pero paano ba?

Nag-type ako ng reply

Dont message me anymore.

Delete.

It will be better if you dont reach out to me in any way until we forget each other

Delete.

Let me think about it. Ill let you know if im ready to see you and talk.

Delete.

Ang ending, wala rin akong nai-send na reply. I just put my phone aside. I'm setting up my SLR camera nang lapitan ako ni Christian.

"Dadalhin mo 'yan?" tanong niya, referring to my cam.

"Yup." I looked up to him because I'm sitting on the edge of the bed while he's standing in front of me. That's when I noticed something. "Uhh...zipper mo."

"Papatulong nga sana ako sa 'yo, eh," sabi niya sa akin. "Kung puwede pa-zipper at pa-butones na rin nitong pantalon ko."

Pasimpleng napalunok ako.

"Pero mamaya na, pagkatapos mo," pahabol niya.

"Nope, it's okay. I'm done with setting up na." Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya.

No matter how I try to avoid it, the back of my hand slightly brushed against the lump in his jeans as I zip it up.

Hindi ako tumitingin sa kanya, feeling ko kasi he's looking at me with malice. Saka lang ako nag-angat ng tingin nu'ng tapos na 'ko sa pag-button ng pantalon niya. "Okay na."

But I was wrong. I saw an apologetic look on his face.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Pasensiya na, pati maliliit na bagay kasi inaasa ko pa sa 'yo ngayon," sabi niya sa akin.

Umiling ako. "You don't need to be sorry. Kasalanan ko naman talaga."

He contradicted what I have said. "Wala kang kasalanan. Ako ang hindi nag-ingat."

"But you wouldn't climb that tree if I haven't requested," I told him. "So, I'd be willing to do whatever I could to make you comfortable 'til you get better."

At last, he smiled. "Salamat."

"Would you like me to tie your hair?" I offered.

"Talaga? Sige," he agreed.

"Do'n tayo." I held on his cast-free arm to lead him in the chair in front of the vanity mirror. Umupo siya do'n nang naka-de-kuwatro.

"Na-try mo na mag-braid?" Naisip ko bigla.