Silent Heart

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23: Voiced Out

It's been three days since the last conversation Coco and I had. Simula noong araw na 'yon, hindi na ako tinantanan ng mga mata niyang nagbabanta. Si Kiara ang kumausap sa kaniya at mabuti na lang na pumayag siyang hintayin na ako ang mag-sabi kay Jaime ng lahat.

Hindi rin nakatakas sa akin ang paminsan-minsang pagsulyap sa akin ni Lewis. Alam kong pati si Jaime ay napansin 'yon dahil sa bawat paglapit sa akin ni Lewis ay siya namang paghigpit ng bantay ni Jaime sa akin.

I felt guilty. We're not officially break. Sa tutuusin, kami pa rin hanggang ngayon dahil wala namang hiwalayan na naganap. It's just that... we distanced ourselves... no, I distanced myself. Simula noong tumungtong ako ng 20, hindi ko na siya muling kinausap pa.

Our relationship was on and off because of him. Alam kong niloloko na niya ako noong kami pa dahil minsan nakita ko siya na may kasamang ibang babae pero ang sabi niya aa akin, kaibigan lang daw niya. Minsan naman ay nakita ko siyang may kasamang lalaki, and he also told me that he was just his friend. Lies.

Ni hindi ko nga alam na isa siyang bisexual. Nalaman ko lang nitong nakaraang araw, na siya mismo ang umamin. Hindi ko akalain na magiging sila ni Ace.

Sa tatlong araw na nakalipas, pilit niyang sinusubukan na makipag-usap sa akin pero laging hindi natutuloy dahil kay Jaime. I could even remember the time, when we first talked to each other again...

"Tine," napalingon ako kay Lewis na hindi ko napansing sumunod pala sa akin. "Can we talk?" Mahinahong tanong niya sa akin.

"Sure," I agreed.

Tumabi siya sa akin at ibinabad din ang kaniyang mga paa sa tubig. Parehas kaming nakatanaw sa maaliwalas na kalangitan. Walang pagbabadya ng ulan at sumisilip pa ang araw.

"How's your life?" Panimula niya.

"Quite hard but, fun. Jaime and I face different challenges. We already through a lot of ups and downs. And, we already passed all of that because of our strong love to each other. How about you?" Baling ko sa kaniya.

"Hard, when you left me without even saying any single word. But, I met Ace and everything went smooth and ecstatic. He has been my reason to live my life in the fullest. I changed myself for him. I don't him to feel what you felt before." Sagot niya sa akin na ikinatango ko lang. "Why did you left, Celestine?"

"You already broke my trust twice, Lewis. You cheated on me. You lied to me. I left without uttering any single word. I did that because I was hurt. And, I wanted to fix myself from being broken." I replied back. Napayuko na lang ako nang magbadya ang mga luha sa mga mata ko.

"I'm sorry, Celestine." He sincerely said to me. "I think we really need to end this in a good way."

I faced him. I smiled before hugging him. "Don't hurt Ace or else you will endure the pain I'll give to you. Love him more than he loves you. No one deserves to be cheated on. So, please, don't ever lie to him. Don't do the same mistake again." I uttered before disconnecting from our hug.

"You look good together, you know?" Natatawang sambit niya sa akin kaya sinabuyan ko siya ng tubig. "Don't get me wrong. If I don't have Ace, I will probably make a move to Came—"

"You shut up, Lewis." I rolled my eyes. He just continue laughing. "No one will gonna replace me in her heart. Gago lang kasi, parehas kayong babaero."

"What did you say?" Maarteng sambit niya sa akin kaya nahampas ko siya sa braso.

"Alam kong naintindihan mo ang sinabi ko." Sambit ko sa kaniya. "By the way, saan kayo nagkakilala ni Ace?"