The Truth About Us (COMPLETED)

20

It took me three days to fully recover. I already sent another thank you message to Hagen for the medicine he sent me. Nagtataka nga sina Mama kung saan ko nakuha ang bungkos ng mga gamot. Hindi na lang ako sumagot. Less talk, less trouble. I know that once they found out it was Hagen, they will surely have that unwelcoming look plastered on their faces. Ayokong nakasimangot sila kapag nakakasalubong ko na iyong mga tinginan para gumagawa naaman ako ng panibagong tangang desisyon. I truly understand where they were coming from. I also do not like Hagen but not to the extent of hating him. I am beyond pass that hatred to let it go. 

And being civil towards each other doesn't mean you have to like one another. Tungkol iyon sa abilidad na kayang tiisin ang isa't isa at pormal ang pakikitungo.

I stepped in to the shop and was greeted by my helpers. I nodded as a greeting before proceeding to keep my bag aside. Hindi pa masyadong matagal ang pagkakapasok ko ay dumating na bigla si Romano. I sighed. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang araw ay ramdam ko na ang magiging pagod. I don't really want to face Romano right now when his angered face was still fresh from my memory. I guess we can really not avoid the inevitable.

Isang alanganing ngiti ang iginawad niya sa akin. I just stared at him as he shyly paved the way towards me. Lumingon ako kina Joan at naintindihan naman nila ako. Agad silang pumasok sa nakabukas na pinto.

"Hi."

"Hello."

Yumuko siya at hindi na sinalubong ang mata ko. "About what happened before. I'm sorry. It looks like I scared you."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "You really do." Napuno ng katahimikan ang paligid namin ngunit naputol agad iyon nang magpatuloy ako. "I hope you are aware that our friendship is recently built and still doesn't have a strong foundation. And what you did, you overstepped the boundaries. The friendship we have is new and asking personal questions to me is somehow... disturbing and uncomforting. Sana alam mo." Hindi ko na sinabi pa ang naramdaman ko noong hawakan niya ako nang mahigpit.

He ran his fingers through his hair, seemingly stressed with what I thought about. "I'm sorry. I just thought that we have something special when we have the date that night."

I finally snapped. "It's not a date. You made it clear that it was a celebratory dinner. Not a romantic tryst. Kaya ako pumayag  dahil iyon ang sinabi mo. I made everything clear from the start, Romano. Sinabi ko na tanging pagkakaibigan lang ang kaya kong ibigay. You make it seem like complicated with your thinking. I am forward with you," I said with a shaky breath. Napapikit siya sa sinabi ko.

"I'm sorry."

Umiling ako. "Leave now, Romano. Pasensya na kung hindi ko pa kayang makipag-usap sa'yo. Hangga't hindi mo naitatama ang pag-iisip mo, hindi kita puwedeng makaharap. Magkita na lang tayo pag humupa na ang lahat."

His stared lingered at me but I didn't flinched. Hindi ko binago ang desisyon ko at nang makita niyang hindi talaga ako magpapatinag, bagsak ang balikat niyang umalis.

I faltered on my feet when I saw a familiar car a few blocks away from our house. Napahawak na lang ako sa sintido ko. Nangyari lang kanina ang usapan namin ni Romano at may sumulpot na naman na isa. I wonder what he's up to now.

Imbes na pumasok na pagkatapos kong lumabas sa kotse ko ay naglakad pa ako sa malayo para makarating sa kotse kung saan nakasakay si Hagen.

I walk past the window of the driver's seat and knock instead in the back seat window. Naghintay ako ngunit hindi iyon bumaba. The window on the driver's seat was the one to be lowered instead. Nang tumapat ako doon at sinilip ko kung sino iyon ay agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ko.

"What the fuck, Hagen?"

"Bakit?" He asked sounding confused.

"Saan ang driver mo?"