Written On A Canvas

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"You're here..." Mahina ngunit punong-puno ng pagtataka ang pagkakasabi ko 'non. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. Ano ang ginagawa niya rito? Kanina pa ba siya?

She was in her senior high school uniform--maroon slacks, white blouse, and maroon vest. She's still holding on the doorknob while smiling at me.

"Uh, yes. May gagawin kasi kami ni Zibby," and exhibited one more smile.

Sheina was beautiful. She has this long hair with curls at the end. Her smile shows her good set of teeth but only the upper part. She always applied cheek tint, that's why she seems like she's always blushing. People who know her in school say she has a vibrant personality--one that is matched with Zibon's.

Hindi ko man maamin but they... look good together.

I nodded slowly.

"Ikaw?" tanong niya.

"Aly," simpleng sabi ko lang. Napatango ito at hindi na nagsalita pa.

I excused myself to enter the house. Hindi ko na siya nilingon habang papaakyat ako. All I heard was the closing of the doors and fading strides. Kahit na nakarating na ako sa tapat ng kwarto ni Alyanna ay hindi pa rin ako lumingon.

I knocked on Aly's door but I only heard a loud groan which tells me that she's lazy opening the door. Instead, I slowly opened her door and saw her covered in her sheets. Magulo ang buhok niya at namamaga ang mga mata. Her cheeks were still wet.

"Ice..."

Tinanggal ko ang straps ng bag sa balikat ko at inilagay ang bag sa sahig bago siya dinaluhan. She removed the sheets until her waist and sat as she waited for me. Immediately, I embraced her in a hug as she started crying again.

"Shh..." pagpapatahan ko. I kneaded her hair while her head was buried in my chest. Sumandal kami sa headboard ng kamay niya at doon niya ipinagpatuloy ang pag-iyak. "I'm here," bulong ko sa kaniya.

She needs me. And as her best friend, I want to be here for her. I'm just one call away.

Ramdam ko na ang pagkabasa ng polo ko sa dibdib ko. Tumatagos na ang luha niya kaya basa na rin pati dibdib ko. Ganoon pa man ay hinayaan ko lang muna siyang umiyak. She needed to let it all out. This was her first ever heartbreak.

"A-Ang unfair..." sambit nito sa gitna ng pag-iyak. Nakayakap ito sa akin. Her arms snaked on my back and I felt my polo being wrinkled because of her tight hold on it.

All her life, Alyanna was fed with love. She's not used to people breaking her heart because she has always been taken care of by the people around her. Her family, Zibon, me... No one ever hurt her on purpose.

"Life is unfair," I told her. It wasn't always rainbows and butterflies. I know that. A lot of people know that. No one has ever lived a perfect life because one way or another, the circumstances will mess you up. It's just how we deal with it. "I guess love is, too..." I added, relating to my situation.

She raised her head and looked at me, her face wet, tears still streaming down her cheeks, and pain so evident in her eyes. "Am I not good enough?"

I stared at her and mentally punched Marcus. He made her question her worth! It angers me so much. I've always reminded her to look at herself and prioritize herself even if it means losing time with us, her friends. But all she did was prioritize her boyfriend and now she's seeing a blur image of herself. It's enraging me.