Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The rain was still pouring hardly and we're still embracing each other, listening to each other's heartbeats. God, this really feels like home. I was like a lost soul who just found my real home because ever since I was born, all I could feel at home was hell that was caused by my mother. 

It was comparable to a situation where I was in the midst of falling from a cliff and I felt despair while looking at the far ground destination where I will fall onto... but there's someone who saved me from that disastrous scenario.

I felt him caressing my hair slowly. Walang nagsalita sa amin matapos no'n. Ilang sandali pa'y kumalas na rin kami sa yakap sa isa't-isa, at nagkatinginan.

We both chuckled after that as if there was no confession that happened earlier. This is what I want... no awkwardness.

"Bakit mo ba kasi ako niyakap sa gitna ng ulan? Basa na tuloy tayo. I was about to sit there, but yeah you held my wrist." Tumawa ako at tinuro ang upuang inupuan ko kanina.

He chuckled, too.

"Eh kasi mas romantic daw at mas feel ang moment kapag nasa gitna ng ulan, eh."

Nakangiti ko siyang tiningnan, pero naglaho iyon nang maalalang gano'n din kung tumawa siya kay Rica kanina. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at 'di na siya binalingan ulit ng tingin. I forgot that I was jealous. Nagpadala naman ako sa ngiti niya.

"Bakit ka umiiyak kanina? Umiyak ka ba dahil natanto mong gusto mo na rin ako?"

"No..." mahina kong sagot.

Nakaupo na kami ngayon sa isang malaking bato sa baba na nauulanan pa rin kami. I agreed with him that it is more romantic when it rains so it was better for us not to be protected by any roof. Siya rin naman ang unang umupo rito kaya tumabi na lang ako.

"Kung hindi... ano?"

I darted my gaze at him again, plastering my emotionless eyes. "I remember your laugh now comparable to the way you laughed with Rica earlier. You know what? Bagay kayo. You're compatible." I even smirked.

How to say you're jealous without actually saying those words?

A gigantic grin plastered across his lips, as if he was amused. "In short, nagseselos ka. Hay, Julienne... Alam mo bang pangarap ko lang dati ang makita't marinig kang nagseselos? Hindi ako makapaniwalang... nagkatotoo ngayon. Ang cute mo."

"Who's jealous?" Nagmaang-maangan ako.

I heard his laughs again.

"Alam mo, wala ka namang dapat kaselosan kay Rica dahil kaibigan ko lang siya. Kaasaran lang gano'n, walang feelings-feelings. Ganoon din naman siya dahil may ibang gusto 'yon."

I slowly frowned. "Ganoon ba? But... there's a chance that you will fall in love with her because she's so approachable and friendly, and she always plasters her smile on her lips that any man could fall in love. Me? I just opposed her personality because I'm too mundane which most likely for you to fall out," I ranted.

Magsasalita na sana siya, pero naglabas ulit ako ng hinanakit, "Bakit hindi na lang iba ang gustuhin mo? I'm too boring, you know. I don't even know why you like me. Perhaps I should try to be that friendly and approachable like you for us to be compatible?"

He smiled... that kind of smile that I often see on him.

"Hindi mo kailangang baguhin ang sarili mo dahil sa pagiging totoo mo sa sarili kita nagustuhan at... minahal. I don't find you boring because I find you unique..." He cupped my cheeks, as if inviting me to look at his soul.