One Step Ahead

06

 06

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"Did you perhaps saw anything in my house?"

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagtitig sa kaniya dahil sa sinabi. I can feel my heart clenching for unnecessary reasons because of that just one question.

Bakit Ralph? Takot ka bang malaman ng karamihan na hindi si Primo at ikaw naman talaga ang karelasyon ni Valerie de Morga? I knew I would sound bitter so instead of saying that, I answered him like I was sport and that I don't give a damn... at all.

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone. You two can date freely without minding me."

"About that-"

Hindi ko hinayaang matapos ang sasabihin niya dahil nagsalita ulit ako. That was rude, I know but by just thinking this would probably be the last time I'll meet with him, I gathered all my courage to come clean. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ang rason kung bakit pinilit kong makipagkita sa kaniya even though wala naman talaga dapat panagutan sa'kin.

I know what I'm going to say would be so stupid of me but who cares? I am doing this for myself para makalimutan agad siya.

"Okay, look. If it wasn't that obvious, I like you. The reason why I was so pushy in meeting you was because I was attracted. But I know my limits. I won't force my way in if alam kong there is someone already. Kaya don't worry about Valerie. If you think I'll tell anyone because I like you, don't be. I am better than that."

There, I've said it. Sinabi ko iyon ng nakatingin sa mata para malaman niyang seryoso ako sa sinasabi ko.

"You like me," he said, now looking amused.

I almost scoffed. Para namang ngayon lang siya nakakita ng babae na may gusto sa kanya.

I heard him chuckled after he said those words. Sa lahat ba ng sinabi ko iyon lang ang natandaan niya?

"Well yeah, we dated. That's all," mataman niyang sinabi habang nakatitig na ngayon sa 'kin, a hint of smirk still evident on his face. "So I don't really care if you go around telling everyone about that."

Hindi ko alam pero at that moment, I can feel how my lips rose to form a smile. Parang bigla ay nagdiwang ang loob ko sa sinabi niya.

Dated. He said they dated meaning, wala na sila! But that happiness was like a limited edition because upon remembering the picture frame, I realized he still loves her. Sinong lalaki ba ang maglalagay ng picture na iyon kung hindi niya mahal ang nandoon?

"But you still love her," sabi ko sa maliit na boses. Hindi na ako makatingin ng diretso sa kanya ngayon.

"Why? Is that wrong?" At inamin pa nga! Pwede naman sanang hindi na siya umamin, diba?

Opposite to what I am feeling right now, he looked like he was teasing me and he's having fun with this conversation. So instead of giving in and letting him know how wrecked I was, I decided to play part in this 'fun' conversation.

"It is. Seeing how miserable you are now, it is wrong."

I noticed how his smirk left his lips that even though this is our topic, I felt like I achieved something because it looked like I pissed him off. Ano ka ngayon, ha.

"I can help you get over her, that is, if you are interested," nagawa ko pang magbiro dahil sa pananahimik niya.

"Really?"

He sounded like he was mocking me so I smiled at him with the same emotion. We need two players to play the game, and I don't intend in backing down any moment. Nagyon mo ako subukan.