The Heartthrob That Can't Walk

Chapter 12

She’s really serious about this ligaw thing. She’s been bothering me for days. May manliligaw bang nakikitulog sa kama? Wala, siya lang. Kung makayakap pa parang linta.

I admit I like her smell but that’s not an excuse! She kept on feeding me that yum burger when my mom gave her allowance. Ang sabi niya madamot lang siya pag wala siyang pera.

It’s delicious but… I don’t like her feeding me. Tingin niya ata sa’kin bata. Dahan dahan pa akong pinapakagat o di kaya humihimay siya bago ipalamon sa’kin. Sila mom at Mr. Tori naman tuwang tuwa pa sa nangyayari sa’kin.

“What the fuck?” I cursed out of nowhere when she appeared in my room with a violet flower on her hands.

“Ano? Ayaw mo ng orchid? Gusto mo talaga rose?” she pouted.

“What? No! Take that away!”

“Kasi nga, dapat pag nanliligaw may flowers.” she said like it’s a obvious reason.

“I know, but I don’t need that. And stop this thing.”

“Hala, basted ako?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

I massage my temple. This is killing me. Ilang araw ko na sinasabi na tumigil na siya. Tapos, ngayon niya lang na realize? Nasaan ba ang utak niya? Nasa talampakan?

“Ang ganda ko. Tapos basted ako?” wala sa sariling tanong niya. I look at her in disbelief. Her confidence is so fucking high.

I put the book on my mini drawer and look straight to her eyes. She gulped and look nervous.

“Stop this ridiculous thing. All the answer I can say is ‘no’. Leave, it’s already late.” Humiga ako at nagtalukbong.   I heard her close the door.

Saturday in the morning and she’s not here. May dadaanan daw siya. I wonder if sino ang dinadaanan niya? Does she have family? I just sighed realizing I don’t know anything about her.

“Lungkot ka? Wala manliligaw mo?” biglang sulpot ni Mr. Tori.

Kita mo ‘tong matandang ‘to. Simula ng dumating ang babaeng ‘yon na hawa na sa kabaliwan. Hindi naman siya rating ganyan.

“Ah talaga? Where’s mom’s dress again? The red one.” I tease back and he look disgusted.

“Sumasagot kana talaga.” I just laugh at him.  Umupo siya sa tabi ko habang may hawak na kape. Tang#na kape nanaman?

“Wag mo hintayin ‘yon. Mamaya pa ‘yun uuwi.”

“What? I’m not waiting for her.”

Ngumusi siya bago uminom sa inumin, “wala ka bang gusto sa kaniya? Maganda naman siya, mabait pa. Ang kaso lang e maingay nga.”

“I don’t like noisy girls,” I said.

“Pano kung may umagaw?”

I paused.

I look at him, “edi…mag paagaw siya. Para hindi na niya ako guluhin.”

I sighed, “ I wonder if I only didn’t drink that day…” he look at me, “maybe I can still do the things I like…Go anywhere I want. Stop someone from doing things to me. But I was a stubborn sh1t…” my last word were almost a whisper.

“Hijo, alam mo hindi sa pinapagaan ko lang ang loob mo. Pero para kasi saakin ang mga bagay na nangyayari sa buhay natin ay may dahilan. Minsan hindi lang natin ‘yon napapansin dahil abala tayo sa pag alala kung gaano tayo ka imperpekto. Iniisip ko nga, wala ako rito kung hindi dahil sayo. Hindi sa gusto kong nag kaganyan ka pero…dahil dito parang nagkaroon ulit ng landas ang buhay ko.”