A Road To Azlan's Heart (Azlan's Heart Sequel)

Kabanata 22

Condition

I peeked through the window of my room, moving my sight around the surroundings while looking for a certain familiar face. Halos buong mukha ko ang natatakpan ng kurtina at ang mga mata ko lang ang nakalabas para sumilip. Umaga pa lang ay ito na ang inaatupag ko.

Dahil sa hindi malamang dahilan ay nandito siya. And he seems alone!

My eyes widened as I ducked in. Sinapo ko ang dibdib ko na tila dinadaga na ngayon dahil lang sa muntik nang magtagpo ang tingin namin ng taong iyon. Earlier, he was not on my line of vision then he suddenly pop out like a damn wizard! Onti-onti kong inangat ang katawan ko bago muling sumilip sa bintana, kumunot ang noo ko habang inililibot ang tingin sa paligid.

He should be around here right now! Where are you, you jerk?!

"Kung hindi ko lang alam na may pinagtataguan ka ay aakalain kong nabaliw ka na." Isang mura ang naibulalas ko habang mabilis naman na kumilos ang katawan ko para lingunin ang taong iyon.

Jona with her brows raising shook her head before walking towards my bed. Naupo siya roon. She even crossed her arms before she tsked.

"You literally look like a crazy woman right now, Peony. I mean, yeah, I get it. Iyon iyong taong iniiwasan mong makita ngayon lalo na at nasa process ka ng pag-mo-move on sa kaniya, pero masiyadong halata na apektado ka pa kapag nanatili ka rito sa loob ng bahay mo. Literal na nandito ka lang simula kaninang umaga, girl," nakangiwi niyang tugon. Almost rolling her eyes at me.

"Ano bang gagawin ko? What if his wife is here? Or his kids? Damn, hindi ako lumayo para sa wala. Alam ko naman na gustong-gusto ko pa rin siya kahit na matagal na akong bumitaw sa kaniya, kaya alam mo na, ang hirap na nasa iisa kaming lugar. Lalo na at halatang lumalapit siya sa akin ng sadya." Isinarado ko ang kurtina sa kwarto ko nang tuluyan bago tumayo na. Pinagpag ko ang shorts na suot ko bago nakangusong tumitig sa kaibigan.

I can noticed it. Ever since yesterday that he showed himself in front of me as a customer, he has been following me around already. Hindi ko alam kung assuming lang ako o ano, pero normal ba na kapag nagpupunta ako ng restroom ay nandoon din siya? Magkatabi lang ang restroom ng babae at lalaki, at oo, pwedeng naiihi lang talaga siya o ano. Pero kada punta ko talaga roon ay nandoon din siya? What a coincidence!

Next, is that when lunch came, Jona and I decided to dine in a restaurant nearby. Okay, it is nearby. Maaaring coincidence lang din dahil iyon ang pinakamalapit na puwede niya ring kainan, pero kasi nang makita ko siya ay umatras ang tapang ko. Halata na kung halata pero lumipat kami ni Jona sa ibang restaurant. And he did too. Kung saan naroon kami ay naroon din siya. Until supper, what happened had occurred again.

I want to believe that it is just all a coincidence, but there are so many proofs to my accusations!

"I'll give you a heads up, if ever you'd have the courage to go out," Jona blurted out of nowhere while I was staring blankly at nothing.

"What?"

Gusto kong maniwala na wala lang lahat ng ito. Maybe it would just lasts for a day or days but not weeks. Neither months or year. Ayaw kong paasahin ang sarili ko. Moving on wasn't easy, but loving the same man again is harder than I expected. I still have that feelings inside me, yes, but letting it out now scares me a lot. I don't want to ruin myself again. I don't want to love someone, at the expense of my own peace of mind.

Kung magmamahal man ako ulit ay gusto ko na kaya nitong panatalihing tahimik ang mga demonyo ko. I want that person to be the tamer of my wild waves, as he at the same time, became the Luna of my darkest night.

"Remember that the villa beside yours is not yet bought?" she asked.

Napasinghap ako. Hindi pa man naririnig ang buong sagot ay parang gusto ko na naman na magtago. Yeah right, coincidence, my ass! This is nothing but planned encounters!