Before Reality Knocks (DLC Series #1)

Chapter 55

a/n: thank you for patiently waiting x

Chapter 55

"Is that your first love?"

Napalingon ako at nakita si Damphier na nakatingin sa screen ng cellphone ko. Agad kong sinara ang phone ko kahit na nakita niya na ang larawan namin ni Faustian na magkasama. In the photo, the latter was smiling widely in contrast to my frowning face.

Hindi ko maalala kung kailan iyon kinuha. Pero alam kong high school pa lang kami nito dahil parehas kaming nakauniporme.

Sinend iyon sa 'kin ni Faustian pagkatapos naming mag-usap isang linggo na ang nakaraan. There was no context. Basta sinend niya lang iyon sa 'kin.

Iyon na rin ang huling beses na nagparamdam siya sa 'kin.

I tried calling him but he blocked my number.

Deserve ko naman.

I deserve nothing but the worst from him.

"You've been gloomy since a week ago," komento ni Damphier. "Is there something bothering you?"

"Halata ba?" I asked, referring to my gloominess.

He nodded.

I sighed. 

"Does this have something to do with the man on your phone?" he asked. I nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, his voice soft, as though if he didn't handle me with care, I'd break like a vulnerable porcelain glass.

I never thought of telling anyone about any of my problems. But for some reason, when Damphier asked me if I wanted to talk about it... I don't know―something's pushing me to accept his helping hand. It's as if it's telling me that I can seek comfort from him. 

Wala naman sigurong masama kung sabihin ko sa kanya, 'di ba?

"There's this guy..." I paused, biting my lower lip. I don't even know where to start.

"The guy in the picture?" he confirmed when I still didn't continue. I nodded.

"He has liked me since... grade school," I heaved a deep breath, finding the courage to continue. "He confessed before I went to study in Spain. But―" I gritted my teeth. "I rejected him."

Hindi siya agad nakapag-salita.

"Did you like him?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Napatingin ako sa sapatos ko. Mahina akong napatango. "I did."

"Then you must have rejected him because you knew you'd be studying in Spain."

I nodded. "That's right."

"Then what's bothering you right now?" he asked. "Did you suddenly realize that you still had feelings for him but since we're already engaged, you couldn't do anything about it?"

I raised my head and met his eyes. 

"I―" I paused, not knowing what to say. A minute had passed of just Damphier and me staring at each other. He was waiting for my answer while I remained mute. 

"Blair," he called.

I sighed and, once again, opened my mouth to speak but ended up closing it like a fish; no words coming out of my mouth. An emotion suddenly flickered in his eyes but before I could even comprehend what it was, it immediately vanished. 

He pressed his lips firmly. Ibinaling niya sa iba ang kanyang atensyon, samantala, nanatiling na sa kanya ang aking atensyon.

After a minute of just pure silence, he stood up.