Forever with You (Under Editing And Revision)

Chapter 18: Birthday and a Broken Heart

James’ Point of View

I HEARD what I needed to hear, but I still didn’t know what exactly I was going to do.

I didn’t know if I should break up with Trixie or not, kaya’t pinili kong huwag munang magdesisyon at hintayin muna ang susunod na mangyayari. If things got better, I wouldn’t end our relationship. But if things got even worse, I would have to end it.

Ang totoo, a part of me wanted to break up with her. But she apologized. That simple apology was enough to fix what was needed to be fixed in our relationship. For now.

“James, sorry na,” nagpapa-cute na sabi niya. She looked like a kid.

Ako nama’y nakatingin sa malayo at magkakrus ang mga braso. Ewan ko, pero parang gusto ko na lang umalis dito at iwan siya. There was something about her na nakapagpapairita sa akin.

“…”

“James, magsalita ka naman. Since we argued, friends mo na ang lagi mong kasama. Ito na nga lang ang chance na ibinigay mo, hindi mo pa ako kakausapin nang matino.” Sa tono ng boses niya, halatang pinipilit niyang habaan ang kanyang pasensiya. “James, I’m really sorry for what I did. You were right, I shouldn’t have said what I said about your parents. Dapat pinili kong maging honest at hindi plastik. But I hope you understand na nagawa ko lang naman ‘yon kasi my feelings were hurt. Halata kasing ayaw na ayaw nila sa ‘kin kahit that night lang nila ako na-meet.”

Finally, I managed to look at her face. I then raised an eyebrow. “Nanghihingi ka ba talaga ng tawad or you’re blaming my parents and making them look like the villain here?”

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. “James, sincere ang apology ko. Yes, I know I made a mistake. But please try to understand that it wasn’t only me who did something wrong. Kahit hindi nila ako gusto, they should’ve at least tried na pakitaan ako ng maganda. Right? James, babae lang din ako. Fragile din ako gaya ng iba, madaling masaktan. Intindihin mo naman ako, oh. And please don’t forget that I’m your girlfriend.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “And? You mean na dahil girlfriend kita, dapat mas matimbang ka kaysa sa parents ko? Gano’n ba?”

“No, James,” she replied, shaking her head. “Hindi ‘yan ang pinalalabas ko. What I’m trying to say is I’m your girlfriend kaya pakinggan mo ako at unawain mo sana ang nararamdaman ko. I’m not asking you to choose between me and your parents. I know you love them at hindi ko matatapatan ang halaga nila sa ‘yo, but regardless of that fact, I’m still your girlfriend. Huwag ka sana sa isang side lang tumingin, unawain mo rin ang side ko. Nasaktan lang ako.”

Pinag-isipan ko ang sinabi niya at sinubukang unawain ang nais niyang ipaunawa sa akin. Well, tama naman siya. How my parents acted that night wasn’t right. I knew they didn’t like her because of some reason I didn’t know, but still, they should’ve treated her the best way they could. Lalo’t siya ang girlfriend ko, ang pinakauna kong girlfriend.

Mahal ko ang mga magulang ko, ngunit nagkamali sila. Ang parents at ang girlfriend ko ay parehong nagkamali.

“Sige, pinatatawad na kita.”

She smiled and whispered to herself, “Sabi na nga.” She hugged me. “Thank you, babe. Salamat at pinatunayan mong mahal mo ako at ayaw mong masira ang relationship natin.”