The Wrath of Melancholic Ink

I: THE WRITER

Today is Sunday afternoon. I'm just sitting here in my bed, playing mobile legends with my best friend.

"Ginagawa mo?" He asked. I was defending the midlane while he's so busy killing and farming. He's a carrier by the way.

"Ang hirap kaya mag-isa rito sa mid! Sakalin kita eh." I complained. He just laughed until he die, kidding.

"Mas gusto ko pa kapag tank ka, may kasama ako bwisit." I whispered. He asked what is it, but I ignored him and continue defending the midlane.

After the game, we both stop playing of course. We rest for a little bit and he chatted me being so full of himself because he got the most kills. Like, dude! Of course, you're the core and I'm just your support.

This guy is one of my friends. I have a lot of guy friends and I admit that he's more closer to me than my other friends. He's a sweet talker and my personal diary.

I have feelings in this guy since 3 years ago and he doesn't know about that. He had a couple of breakups, but he still doesn't know about how I feel.

"Wala kang balak mag paligaw?" He suddenly asked out of nowhere. I thought about that and suddenly decided to try accepting suitors.

"Hala! Kenji!" I called his name when he's busy cooking for us here in his house. Yea', I'm here with his parents. It's a thanksgiving day.

He turned around and wait for me to talk. "May nagchat hala! Sabi niya if pwede siya manligaw!" I informed him, honestly doesn't know what to respond to the one who chatted me.

"Name?" He asked bored. I told him the name and after that he didn't talk to me again.

Day passed. We barely talked to each other, he will just update me his whereabouts and vice versa but other than that, none. Sometimes if I chat him, he will just go, 'Sorry, Candice. Need to sleep. Yea', night.' Something like that.

My suitor and I are getting closer everyday and I found it comfortable with him. When we decided to meet, we gotten more close than before. Then I decided to tell Kenji what my decision is.

"You know, tama ka. Dapat pala matagal na ako tumanggap ng manliligaw. Sasagutin ko na siya sa Valentine's day. It's been 7 months no'ng simulan niyang manligaw." I smiled at Kenji but he's just staring far away.

"Hoy! Para kang t*nga! Kausapin mo'ko ng maayos!" I tried poking him so he can give me his full attention. He looked at me with his serious eyes.

"Oh? Baket? Maysasabihin ka ba?" I asked.

"Baket kailangan mo pa ng boyfriend?" He asked too that made me stunned.

"Sira ka!? Ikaw kaya nagsabi sa akin na magpaligaw na ako!" I tried to laugh off the atmosphere but he's still serious.

"So kapag hindi ko sinabi, hindi ka magpapaligaw?" He asked more serious than earlier.

"The f*ck dude? What's your problem?" I laugh nervously. He just said nothing before walking away, leaving me here dumb founded.

"Weird," I calm myself down for a minute before deciding to leave too. He's just so weird.

The Valentine's day came without a single trace of Kenji. I sighed in annoyance. He keeps ignoring my calls and chats. Doing my original plan, I told my suitor that we should meet here in Dilleto's Cafe at 9am.

When the clock strikes exactly at 9am, someone entered the cafe but to my surprise, it's Kenji. I don't know what will I feel but I waved my hands at him to invite him to come over. He walked slowly like a bored man and sat in front of me.

"Sira ka! Ginagawa mo rito?" I smiled at him.

"Masaya ka ba?" He suddenly asked out of nowhere.

"Oo, sobra. You're here na kaya! Kinakausap mo na ako! Baliw namiss kita!" I said.

"Sa kan'ya. Masaya ka ba sa kan'ya?" He asked again.

"Oo, Kenji ehh. Baket? Gusto mo ba siya makilala? Papunta na siya! Hintayin natin." I sound so excited.

"Let's stop being friends, Candice."

"Ha?" I asked confused.

"I feel like I betrayed this friendship a long ago. So let's stop being friends. Masaya na akong masaya ka na ngayon. Nakakainis na ngayon ko pa narealize na pwede ka pala mawala sa akin. Sayang, pero masaya ako para sa'yo" He suddenly smiled at me. A sad smile.

"Ano bang sinasabi mong p*tang*na ka?" I shouted not minding the people around us.

"Parating na siya. Ayusin mo buhay mo! Maging masaya ka, tanga ka pa naman." I found myself watching his every movements from standing to walking away. But before he disappear in my sight he told me something that shutters me.

Me and my suitor became official that time but what Kenji said still bothered me.

"No'ng sinabi kong tumanggap ka ng manliligaw, I said that because I want to court you. Well it isn't that hard to love you, Candice. Salamat din. Because you taught me one thing. I should take risk before it's too late. Bye! 'till then!"

One tear escaped my eyes. If I just had the courage to confess, it shouldn't turned out this way. Maybe, in another life, Kenji. Maybe.

***

"Vanessa?" Someone called me so I turn around to face her. It's Ashley.

"What?"

"Ay! Nagsusulat ka na pala ulit? Wow naman. Tama 'yan, keep up the good work!" Ashley jumped looking so excited. Hindi pa nga nakuntento at niyakap pa ako.

I just thought about it. Even if my pieces is so tragic, dull and sad some people really wants to read it. Why would I stop? Everything that I am writing in this story is something my mouth can't tell. I shouldn't stop. I need this.

Lumingon ako sa wall clock at nakitang mag 8am na. I need to sleep but here I am in my studio, wide awake. I really need to work on my sleeping habits. My body clock is a mess. Ashley said that she will be out to buy something to cook since I forgot to buy groceries yesterday.

Ashley acts a manager now, I laughed a little by the thought. I climbed upstairs to shower when the doorbell rang.

"Yes?" I asked when I open the door. A woman in his late 60's is standing in front of my house. My facial expression changed in an instant. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Hindi mo manlang ba ako babatiin?" She teased.

"Why would I? What are you doing here? Don't let me ask you for the third time." I know it kinda rude to talk to her this way but she gave me no choice. I honestly disgusted just seeing her face in front of me.

"Papasukin mo muna ako. Unfair kung nasa loob ka nasa labas ako kaya papasukin mo ako saka ko sasabihin sa'yo kung bakit ako narito," she smiled, If I don't know her I will be convinced, but no. I pushed the door wide open. I can see her being excited thinking that I opened the door to let her in, but to burst her bubbles, I stepped outside and slam the door behind me.

"Now we're both outside, talk."

She look so pissed because of my attitude. I can hear her cussing behind her breath. She looked at me with too much irritation like she can't hold her anger and will explode anytime. I would love to laugh at this moment but seeing her makes me want to vomit.

"Pahingi ng pera! Marami ka naman alam ko. Kumikita ka sa pagbenta ng mga libro mo na hindi naman maganda. Saka pala sinabi ni Trisha na si Elijah lang pinagaaral mo. Paano naman yung kapatid mong si Trisha? Ang dami dami mo namang pera," she look at me with a disgust face.

"You made it look like they're my responsibility," I raised my brow at her. "Sabihin mo kay Trisha, if she really wants to graduate or study, do it herself. Stop her from asking me to bribe her profs. Meron siyang pambili ng mamahaling damit at bag but she can't afford her tuitions?"

I took a step towards her, "And stop using Elijah to get money from me. Elijah is working in my company while studying. Why won't you make him your inspiration to work? 18 pa lang si Eli but he's working para mabuhay. Ikaw? What are you doing here in front of my house? Wala akong pera na ibibigay sa'yo."

"Nagkapera ka lang yumabang ka na! Bakit? Wala ka sa pwesto mo ngayon kung hindi kita binuhay! Dapat magpasalamat ka pa sa akin!" she shouted out of anger.

"Why would she do that?" Ashley got back from buying groceries.

"Ayan! Kaya pala ang sama ng ugali mo ngayon kasi kasama mo nanaman 'tong Ashley na 'to. Hindi ka naman gan'yan noon. Napaka impluwensya niyang kaibigan mong yan, isa rin namang masama ang ugali. Sinabihan na kita noon na layuan mo 'yan."

"If you don't want to get kicked out from this subdivision, I suggest you watch your mouth." Ashley flipped her hair as she walk towards the door to go inside. I watched her every step but when she get in, I turned to face the woman again.

"Please leave before I call the police and banned you here. Don't ever comeback here. I know you accepted a lot of money because of the post you've posted. I don't want to see your face here again," I turned around and open the door. "One more thing, don't ever try to ask money from Elijah. You understand, MOTHER?"