I wasn't in the right state of mind to admire the beauty of the sun sinking beyond the horizon. I just let my hair dance with the wind as I kept on waiting for him.
Napatingin ako sa mga estudyanteng nagpa-practice ng sayaw nang bigla silang magtilian. I looked at the line of their visions and I wasn't in awe as them when I saw him. Maya-maya, ramdam ko na ang presensiya niya sa tabi ko.
He was about to place his arm around my shoulder but I took one step away from him, still looking at the sky. He cleared his throat. "Sorry na-late ako, pinatawag pa kami ni Mrs. Dizon. She was looking for you as well kaya lang sabi ko nauna ka nang umalis."
Mula sa peripheral vision ko, nakita kong hahawiin niya ang buhok kong tumatama sa pisngi ko kaya umiwas na ako, not giving him a single glance. I actually didn't mind him being late, I just wanted to talk to him. To make things clear, for him, at least.
"What's our problem?" May bahid ng pagtataka ang boses niya at mas lalong lumapit sa akin.
Yinakap ko ang sarili nang lumakas lalo ang panghapong hangin.
"You should've not said that," walang emosyong saad ko, dahil miski ako, hindi inaakalang mabubuhay muli ang takot na mayroon ako sa dibdib ko— noon pa.
"I should've not said what?" Hindi ako sumagot kaya sinilip niya ang mukha ko.
I heaved a deep sigh before I faced him. "P'wede ba, Ash. We both know what I'm talking about here. Stop pretending na hindi mo alam ang pinupunto ko rito."
Ash held my hand gently and he pulled me away from the students pero nandito pa rin kami sa jogging-an malapit sa aming campus. Pinakatitigan niya ang mga mata ko na parang naghahanap siya ng kung anong emosyon doon.
"Ano'ng mali, huh?" Napakaseryoso ng boses niya. 'Yong mga kilay niyang makapal ay biglang nagkasalubong at mas lumalalim ang tingin ng kaniyang mapupungay na mata sa akin.
I remained calm and emotionless as I sensed pain from his voice. Matapang ko siyang tiningnan at nakaya kong sabayan ang intensidad ng tingin niya sa akin. Gaya ng palagi niyang ginagawa, nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa mga mata ko.
"What you've said earlier was wrong... Mali 'yon, Ash," sagot ko makalipas ang ilang segundo.
His brows furrowed even more as he sarcastically smirked. Matagal niya pa akong tinitigan, tumingin siya saglit sa kaniyang gilid bago ako pinangliitan ng mga mata.
He shook his head as if he was so disappointed with the words that came out of my mouth. He bit his lips before he looked at his side, he even placed his hand on his waist before he turned his back at me.
Bago niya ako tuluyang iwan doon, may sinabi pa siya sa akin...
"Stop making me feel you want me to stay with you when you really want me to stay away from you..."
I wasn't able to live normally after that. Everytime I was thinking about that day, I couldn't help but to realize that there was something inside me that's missing right now. Like a puzzle, I kept on longing for an important piece who would complete me.
I kept on longing for something—for someone, for Ash.
Walang araw na lumipas na hindi ko siya naisip. Paggising ko siya na agad ang naiisip ko. Bago matulog, siya ang huling tatakbo sa isip ko. Aaminin kong nami-miss ko siya pero alam kong ito muna ang tamang gawin, sa ngayon.
I knew how hard it is to stay away from someone you like; from someone you love. It's painful, beyond painful even, but life doesn't always work out by letting the ones you love stay in a place you prepared because of your love for them.
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When The Flower Withers (Fleur Series #1)
Romance"Love is like a game. You have to learn how to play carefully so you won't lose and the game won't be over for you." After Evienne got cheated on twice, she never believed in love again. From then on, she became the woman she never thought she would...
