Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Alam mong birthday ko ngayon?

I nodded.

Dahan-dahan ko nang ibinibigay sa kaniya ang nakatuping bond paper na naglalaman ng apology letter ko. He fixed his eyes on it, and for the first time... I felt the embarrassment in front of him. My dignity just got lost.

His brows furrowed slightly at me, and looked at my hand with curiosity. Dahil sa naramdamang hiya ay ibinalik ko na lang 'yon sa bulsa ng palda ko, at tumakbo na patungong waiting shed.

"Julienne! Ano 'yan? Regalo?" I heard his questions from behind.

I didn't dare my head to tilt towards his direction. I just continued running until I reached the waiting shed. Umupo agad ako roon na parang walang nangyari.

I should've just apologized at him vocally, hindi 'yong may pa-letter pa akong nalalaman. It was embarrassing.

Naramdaman ko ang pagtabi niya sa 'kin sa waiting shed. He was still catching his breaths, a result of chasing me.

"Ano nga 'yan? Baka long sweet message 'yan tapos pinagdadamot mo..." Para siyang batang nagmamaktol, pero kalaunan ay tila may natanto siya kaya natahimik siya at nawalan ng emosyon ang mukha.

I glanced at him. He wasn't looking at me. He was seriously lowering his gaze.

"Kung anong nakasulat dito sa bond paper, sasabihin ko na lang..." mahina kong sabi. "I'm sorry for judging you quickly with my words last Friday. I didn't mean it, nor was it my intention to ask that, because those words just came out of my mouth unintentionally. Guilt is still within me because I never had the chance to apologize last Friday. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I hope you will take this letter as a sincere one. I am not forcing myself to say this. I am sincere." Nakayuko na ako ngayon.

Unang beses ko itong magsalita nang mahaba sa kaniya. Naramdaman ko ang paglingon niya pero hindi ko siya nilingon.

"Hindi naman ako ganoong na-offend, medyo lang. Apology accepted, Julienne. Base sa paraan ng pagsabi mo, sobrang guilty mo talaga. Huhulaan ko, iniisip mo ako nang dalawang araw at gabi, 'no?" He was beaming widely, and acting like he was profoundly thinking.

My brows met at him. "You're imagining things. I was just thinking about the 'guilt' I felt." Diniinan ko ang salitang guilt.

He chuckled.

"Were you mad at me on that day? You seemed like avoiding me and my stares."

He went quite again, but he fixed his eyes on me afterwards.

"Nagtatampo lang naman ako... hindi nagalit," sagot niya.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil hindi naman pala siya galit. Did I just overthink that he was mad at me? Muntik ko pa talagang ilunod ang sarili ko sa pagsisisi.

"Medyo nagtampo lang doon sa paraan ng pagtanong mo, at..." He was scratching his head like he was too shy to say the other reason.

"And?"

"N-Nagseselos ako kay Kleon. Noong ako pa ang ginawang photographer sa picture niyong dalawa. Naalala ko kasi 'yong time na nginitian mo siya sa jeep... ganoon kagandang ngiti na hindi mo pa... naibigay sa 'kin." His last words were almost inaudible, but I was able to hear it.

I was about to laugh, but gladly, I controlled the urge.

"So... that was your major reason why you were avoiding me on that day?" I furrowed my brows at him. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa 'kin.

He nodded, whilst, pouting his lips. Nag-isip ako habang nakakunot ang noo. I thought his major reason was on the way I asked him last Friday. Was my overthinking that brimmed?