"Hey," someone suddenly sat next to where I was sitting. Mabilis akong nagpunas ng luha nang mapagtanto na masyadong agaw-pansin pala ang pag-iyak ko rito sa parke.
Sa kagustuhan na mailabas lahat ng sama ng loob, hindi ko na nagawang umuwi sa bahay para roon sana umiyak. Hindi ko na kinaya na pigilan pa ang sarili na tumangis ng malaya sa maaliwalas na lugar na ito.
May pumuslit muling luha kaya mabilis ko itong pinalis, hindi pa rin nililingon kung sino man ang nagtangkang lumapit sa akin. "A-Ano 'yon?"
"Here," the masculine voice said as he handed me a white handkerchief.
"It's okay," I countered, really hesitant to accept his hanky.
Nagulat ako nang marahan n'yang inilagay ang panyo sa kamay ko. "It is not." Tuluyan na akong napalingon sa kaniya nang sinabi n'ya iyon.
"A-Andrei?"
He smiled and gestured me to wipe my tears using his hanky. Natulala ako sa kaniya ng ilang segundo bago natauhan at sinunod ang gusto n'yang mangyari. While I was drying my face, I couldn't help but glance at him from time to time. When he noticed my curious eyes, he just chuckled. Napaiwas tuloy ako ng tingin dahil pakiramdam ko masyadong obvious na tinititigan ko s'ya.
I mean, why is he here? Clarence Andrei Rodriguez giving me his handkerchief? Gano'n na ba ako mukhang kaawa-awa sa paningin n'ya kaya nang makita ako na parang tanga na umiiyak katanghalian sa parke ng bayan, 'e hindi na n'ya napigilan na lapitan ako?
I know his reputation in the university. He's really kind. On top of that, he is a varsity player, a star football player to be precise, the very reason why he is insanely popular inside and outside the campus. Maraming baliw sa lalaking 'to mula sa year level namin, freshmen, hanggang sa seniors. He's already a third-year student but since he is so good at socializing, he's got a bunch of friends from our year level. My best friend, Kaina is very fond of him too.
But in my case, I've never had an encounter with him. He's pretty close with my classmates but then, I am not one of those friendly people out there who'd strike a conversation with him every time I have the chance. I'd want to, but I just couldn't.
My boyfriend, Marco, does not allow me to be close to any guy except him. He's quite possessive over me, and that annoys my best friend to death.
Oh, wait.
Hindi ko na nga pala s'ya boyfriend. Nakipaghiwalay s'ya sa akin kanina dahil sabi n'ya gusto n'yang mag-focus sa pag-aaral at sa student council. But I know better. That's not really the reason why he wanted to end our four-year relationship. A concerned classmate, who also happened to be a part of the student council like him, has told me that Marco is hitting on the council's gorgeous secretary.
Gusto n'yang makawala sa akin para malaya s'yang gawin ang kahit anong gusto n'ya. Not that I am stopping him from doing whatever he wants to do with his life. I won't do that to him or anyone. I know where I stand and I won't ever cross the line where I should be staying.
I know that too well. But because of it, I didn't realize that I am slowly losing him from my grasp. And when he thought it is time to end our relationship, he did not hesitate to do so.
In the end, I was left alone, crying and broken. Thinking where did it go wrong? Anong pagkukulang ko dahilan para gustuhin n'yang putulin ang ugnayan namin nang gano'n na lang? Saan banda ako nagkamali para maiwang luhaan at wasak?
Ngayon na naalala ko na naman ang tagpong 'yon, muli na namang bumuhos ang masaganang luha na hindi maawat-awat kanina pa. Bahagya akong gumilid para hindi makita ni Andrei ang mukha kong luhaan. Ilang minuto akong umiiyak habang patuloy sa pagyugyog ang aking balikat. Natigilan ako nang marinig ang malumanay na boses ng katabi na ngayon ay kumakanta na.
