Sadyang Mapaglaro Ang Tadhana (Feeble Love #2)

Kabanata 5

Call

I don't want to push myself to like him. I already attempted. Pero hindi talaga. I barely feel anything but plain.

"Mark I told you---

"Therese I can wait. Just let me treat you this way. Okay?" Mark said as he stares at my face. I could glimpse sadness in his eyes.

Napailing agad ako, hindi sang-ayon sa sinabi niya. Ayaw kong maghintay siya... ayokong umasa siya sa akin. Mark is kind. He deserves someone out there that can truly make him happy and special. Yung masusuklian din ang pagmamahal na ibinibigay niya. At alam kong hindi ako yun.

"Hindi ganito Mark. We're friends. You are my best friend and like a brother to me. I like what we have right now. I don't want to lose that in the future. I want to keep you. I can only offer you friendship. Aren't we clear already about... us?" Sambit ko dahilan ng pag-iwas niya kaya nagpatuloy ulit ako.

"Stop treating me this way. Ayokong umasa ka. You don't deserve me, Mark." I continued.

He was looking in the rear mirror. Mabilis ang paghinga niya samantalang kalmado lang akong naghihintay ng sasabihin niya.

"Do you like someone else? How could you say all that stuff? You don't know a thing, Therese!" He raised his voice. Ngayon ay mariin nang nakatingin sa akin.

Napaawang ang bibig ko. I was shocked by his words. His eyes were bloodshot. Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin.

"Are you telling me I'm stupid?" Mahinang ani ko pero mariin ang mga salita na pagkasabi.

Ayoko siyang sungitan at sigawan. But I'm starting to lose my patience. Bago pa man ay lumabas na ako ng sasakyan niya. Ako na rin ang nagkuha ng maleta at bag sa likuran. I was about to open our black gate but Mark pulled my arm so I can face him.

"Therese--

"If you can't accept it then it's better for us to be strangers." I cut him off.

Mabilis kong iniwan siyang nakatayo roon. The gate instantly opens when I faced the sensor. Nang makita ako ng mga gwardiya, patakbo silang lumapit sa akin at kinuha ang mga gamit na dala ko.
I didn't look back anymore. But in my peripheral vision, Mark was still there standing.

Hanggang sa America ay hindi iyon nawala sa isip ko. I did not much enjoy our trip to Hawaii because of my thoughts. Why do I always feel this way? I did not even do anything but guilt constantly crept into my system.

"Merry Christmas!"

I glanced at my older brother Andrew as he jumped with my younger cousins. They were all look cute in their Santa Claus pajamas. What a kid.

My mom organized a small party in our penthouse. She invites her sister Tita Bea and her family to come over. I was surprised when Tita also invite some of her friends. Some of them were foreigners.

"Therese, Thea. Come on enjoy the party!" My Tita Bea said as she watched me and Thea babysitting our little cousin in her crib.

I traced her small hands and cute tiny nose as she giggled. She is so adorable.

"How's school, Therese? I miss the Philippines already." My cousin Thea asked. She was watching me having fun with her little sis.

I glanced at her. Her hair was color red and her make up was so thick. Her satin black fitted dress was just perfect on her body. Sabi niya ay may pupuntahan pa siyang party. She wants me to come with her but I decline. Now she can't go because Tita Bea did not let her. Kailangan daw ay kasama ako.

"It's fine. I took Psychology." I smiled.

I'm not that close with my cousins. They are Filipino pero dahil sa America na lumaki, parang foreigner na rin ang lifestyle nila. Their hobbies were very different to mine. They were all liberated...wild. Nakakausap ko lang sila tuwing ganito na may family gathering.

"Wow. So you would be working in a mental hospital? Like you would treat crazy people--

"People with a mental disorder." I smiled as I correct her.

She pursed her lips but then she shrugged.

"Yeah, yeah. Right." She said. Umalis siya sa harap ko. Pinagmasdan ko siyang naglakad papunta sa mga pinsan kong lalaki pero bumalik din. Ngayon ay may hawak ng glass of wine.

"Let's go there. They're asking for you." Aniya.

Tiningnan ko ang tinuturo niya. Nandoon na rin pala si kuya. One of the foreigners waved his hand. Nang makita nila na nakatingin ako sa banda nila ay malakas na tinawag ni Kuya Andrew ang pangalan ko. This jackass. I rolled my eyes but Thea saw it so she laughed. Wala na kaming naggawa kaya pumunta na lang kami roon sa mini bar. The adults were at the other table. I don't know what they're doing. Iba rin ang trip nila.

"Hi!" I simply said when the man seated beside me. He was the foreigner whose watching me earlier. He is very masculine. Parang puputok na sa kanya ang damit niya.

I was silently drinking my wine. I diverted my look in the glass window. The stunning New York City night view was incredibly perfect. It never sleeps they say. There is no doubt that nothing beats the transformational Manhattan skyline.

I got distracted so I glanced at him again, when I felt that he was moving closer to me. All of my cousins are wasted. Kahit ilang minuto pa lang namn kaming dumating, siguro madami na rin ang nainom nila. I roamed my eyes around. Hindi ko na mahanap si Thea ngayon. Saan kayo yun pumunta?

"So, y-ou are T-herese right?" He asked, he continued to move closer to me. He's goddamn drunk.

I was silently annoyed and cursing him under my breath but when I heard my phone ring, I felt relieved. Oh God finally heard my prayer. Hindi ko na tiningnan kung sino iyong tumawag. I excused myself from the man. Lumapit ako sa glass door at lumabas doon, mabilis kong niyakap ang sarili ko.

"Hello?" I asked. Pero ilang sandali pa, wala pa rin nagsasalita. I can only hear the background music, probably the caller was in the bar. My forehead creased when I saw the name on the screen.

River Alfeir Salvarez

Sa messenger iyon tumatawag. Why would he call me? Hindi naman kami close. I don't even confirm him yet.

"Hello?" Sambit ko ulit pero hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita.

"Are you playing with me?" Masungit kong sambit. Ewan ko ba. Kapag sa kanga talaga, kumukulo na ang dugo ko.

I heard him curse. He was breathing heavily. May narinig akong tumawag sa kanya. Some were laughing too. I abruptly end the call. What was that? A drunk call?

~~