Crossroads [SC SERIES #1]

Kabanata 26: Pangako Sayo

[Nhelandrie's POV]

Mariin niyang kinagat kanyang labi at mabilis na yumuko. Napakuyom ang kanyang mga palad and I was disappointed. Kahit hindi ko pa naririnig ang kanyang sagot ay parang bigo na ako.

"Here," inabot ko sa kanyang ang portfolio na binigay sa akin ni Dad. Hindi siya nagsalita at tinanggap ang portfolio.

Napasinghap siya sa gulat matapos niyang tiningnan ang mga litrato sa loob ng portfolio.

"S-sa inyo pala yun?" Tumango ako.

"I'm sorry, I really am. Hayaan mo, ipapalinis ko agad ang pader-"

"No need." I interrupted.

"I rather want you to finish it." Bigla niyang nabitawan ang portfolio at hindi makapaniwalang nakatitig sa mga mata ko.

I never expected that it would be her. I mean, she's a rule keeper. Nakalagay din sa rules ng KPA na bawal ang vandalism pero nagawa niya yun sa labas ng school.

"What?" she seemed to be dreaming. Nakaestatwa lang ang kanyang katawan at nakahalf-open ang bibig niya.

"Finish it, revise it or make it more beautiful. Painting helps you express more of yourself, Klare, and I want to see more of you in the walls of our convenience store. I want to see Klare Villegas on it."

"Nhelandrie!" Ako naman yung nagulat nung bigla siyang tumalon at niyakap ako. Si Klare ba 'to? Napangiti ako matapos mahimasmasan sa ginawa niyang pagyakap sa akin.

"Thank you! Thank you so much. You always makes me happy."

"And I will continue to. Fix your things, i'll drive you there."

.

"So it was Miss Vice President?"

"Yes, Dad. I told her to finish painting it and I would like to get your consent bago kami pumunta sa store. Yun lang ang hihilingin ko, you promised you will grant any one wish kung mahahanap ko kung sino ang nag-vandal." Binasa ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko nung biglang tumahimik ang kabilang linya.

"Dad?"

"S-sorry, nagulat lang ako. Mukhang natamaan ka yata. Well, have it your way, but I would like to warn you, Nhelandrie." Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Warn me about what?"

"Don't love her just because they have the same face, but rather love her for making you feel in love that no one else could."

Natapos ang usapan namin ni Dad at napalingon ako nung marinig ang tinig ni Klare. Napatawa ako habang tumatakbo siya papunta sa akin habang may dalang maliit na bag.

Her eye shouts excitement; one of her side that I never seen before. Her smile that always left me breathless whenever I got the chance to seize it.

Dad, I think I got to forget my past whenever i'm around her; not minding of who her face represents.

.

I helped Klare paint the wall. We were having so much fun at dahil hindi naman talaga ako marunong mag-paint ay tinulungan ko lang siya sa pagpipinta ng background at sa konting details na kaya ko.

It's been two hours but we haven't even finished halfway. It's tiring, but it's fun. I never even imagined for once that painting could also be fun. I guess it depends kung para kanino ang pinipinta mo o kung sino ang kasama mong magpinta.

"Here have some drink." Marahan kong hinagis sa kanya ang orange juice na kinuha ko sa loob.

"There are still a lot to be done. Thinking of it makes me excited even more." Napangiti ko habang pinagmamasdan siyang tuwang-tuwang nakatingin sa pader.

"I can't thank you enough. It's the very first time that I feel free to exhibit my talent and imagination. I keep leaving paintings on some wall that's seems like its missing something."

"There will be more exhibition in the future. Pangako ko yan sayo. Here, there's a paint on your face. Tanggalin mo and just wait me inside the car, ako na magliligpit nito."

"Thank you! You're the best." Nakangiti niyang tinanggap ang panyong binigay ko sa kanya bago umalis. I want to remove the paint on her face myself, but it frightens me that I might leave a scratch. Her face is delicate like a shining antique.

Nagsimula ko nang pulutin ang lata ng mga pintura at ang mga ginamit naming brushes.

"You're one hell of an asshole." Napaangat ako ng tingin nung may nagsalita sa gilid ko. Napasinghap ako nung makilala ko siya. Hindi ako makapagsalita. It's been couple of years since the last time I saw him.

"Sa lahat ba talaga ng babae, yung kamukha pa niya? Pathetic," he chuckled in disappointment. His eyes stared down at me like i'm the most stupid person he ever saw.

"What do you want? Ba't nandito ka?"

"I just passed by and what I want? Gusto kong tigilan mo ang babaeng kamukha niya. You've done enough in the past, Nhelandrie. Think carefully bago pa siya mawala ulit sayo." Napalunok ako at hindi makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko.

"Nhelandrie!" Bigla akong napalingon nung marinig ang boses ni Klare. Tumingin ako sa palibot at tiyak kong nakaalis na siya.

"Are you okay? Natagalan ka yata."

"I-i'm fine. Tara."

.

'...Think carefully bago pa siya mawala ulit sayo.'

'...Think carefully bago pa siya mawala ulit sayo.'

'...Think carefully bago pa siya mawala ulit sayo.'

Paulit-ulit na nagre-replay sa utak ko ang sinabi niya. Jaden Villaflor, he's one of my past-best friends three years ago. He's so close to me and he witnessed what I felt back then, but it all changed when the accident happened. Everyone turned their backs on me... they despised me, blaming me for what happened.

"Nhelandrie, may sasakyan!" Mabilis na hinila ni Klare ang gear at parang tumalon yung dibdib ko sa lakas ng sigaw niya.

"The hell? You scared me!"

"Sorry," napalunok ako at sinulyapan ang mukha niya. Bigla itong naging maputla at hiningal.

I was driving thoughtlessly and we almost lost our lives because of it. Jaden is right... I might also lose Klare.

I took a deep breath bago pinatakbo ang sasakyan nung naging berde ang stoplight.

Sometimes, we need to be appreciative of what we have rather than being possessive or it might cost us something much big than we could ever imagine.