When Everything Glooms [One-Shot Stories Compilation]

H O N E S T Y

"I once had a dream. It is to make myself successful and make my parents proud. Not until I met a girl," panimula ko.
 
"I was just 16 while she was 17 when our paths crossed. She is Aegian," I introduced.
 
"She's brave and strong. S'ya yung tipo ng babaeng hindi umaatras sa laban. Pero umaatras sa ligawan," I chuckled at the thought.
 
"Sabi pa nya, ayaw nyang mag jowa at hindi s'ya na aatract sa mga lalake. She defines love as stupidity. But at the end of the day, she's lying,"
 
"She once told me that being able to live longer is so much more fortunate than just having lots of money. Muntik pa namin 'yon pinag-awayan, not until she smiled at me, as if she's saying that someday I will understand. Pero ngayon, naiintindihan ko na," This time, hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili kong umiyak.
 
I'm Xian Deib. I'm popular because of my academic background and outstanding performances as an athlete. Pero ngayon, wala na akong paki don. I swallowed my pride and stood in front of the crowd, while joining them in crying over Aegian's death.
 
I've been doing hundreds of speeches at school, but having a single speech at Aegian's funeral is the worst.
 
Simula noong araw na nakilala ko s'ya, hanggang sa huling gabi na kusa na s'yang bumitaw. It keeps playing in my head. And my heart keeps calling her name.
 
Now I see what she really meant. I understand why she didn't accept my love. Yung tipong nakakatama ng pride, because I'm everyone's wish to become and to be with. But still, she refused.
 
Because her life has been tanning.
 
Last night she came into my house. She's wearing a dress and she's wearing make-up. It seems the opposite of hers; she looks different.
 
Sinubukan ko syang tanungin pero inunahan na nya akong mag paliwanag.
 
"Gusto ko lang maging totoo, kahit sa huling pagkakataon... Gusto ko lang magpakatotoo," she said while holding her tears.
 
Lumapit ako sakanya para patahanin sya. She didn't refuse, not even when I closed my eyes and pressed my lips on her. She didn't complain. We made out, and it made me the happiest man in town.
 
"Bakit hindi mo maamin sakin ang damdamin mo?" Tanong ko na sana hindi ko nalang ginawa.
 
"Because we can't be together. Mahal kita Xian, pero mas pinili kong hindi yon sabihin upang wala tayong pagsasamahan. Para konti lang ang mga alala ala natin, at para madali mo lang ako makalimutan. Lahat nang akala mo tungkol sa akin, Xian, ay pawang kasinungalingan lang. This time will be my first time being honest with you... I love you Xian," that moment, I was confused. But when she died in my arms while hugging her, naiintindihan ko na.
 
Try to ask your love why she can't be able to have any commitment? Because in my case, she definitely can't.