Hashtag Boys Series 1: #Awwwit (Liam)

Day 99 | Narration (Miles)

***

How do you make up for a good you messed up because you had been stupid? How do you make things right for a love you broke? I seriously have no idea. I said liligawan ko si Liam and niligawan ko siya, but I don't think it's enough. Alam kong hindi lang love niya ang nabalewala ko. I made him doubt what we have too. May past na nga siya kay Maggie na nagsinungaling sa kanya, 'tapos nagsinungaling din ako.

If I could, I wouldn't do what I did even if that was the reason I met him.

*

"What are you saying?" tanong ko kay Maggie.

May lunch kami sa family resthouse namin sa Tagaytay. Ang mga cousins ko at sina Tita, nag-take ng pictures sa verandah sa ibaba kung saan mas maganda ang view. Dalawa lang kaming naiwan ni Maggie sa mahabang dining table sa rooftop.

"I'm not stupid, okay? I know Tita Emer and all of you don't like me for Quin. I already changed the way I dress and the way I speak para paluguran kayo. What's next? Baguhin ko na rin ang buong mukha ko at palitan ang family ko so you'd like me?" she said sharply.

I was just staring at her in disbelief. I know she's a pretty straightforward person but to hear her tell me all these makes me speechless.

"I'm telling you I'll leave Quin if you can help me get back with Liam."

Liam? "Your ex? The one Kuya Ken punched because of you?"

"Yes. Umiiwas na siya sa 'kin ngayon dahil do'n. Sabi kanina ni Tita Emer naghahanap ka ng condo malapit sa work mo. May apartment building sina Liam. Hindi super lapit sa work mo pero hindi out of the way. If you rent there and tell me his whereabouts, mas madali sa 'ming makakapag-usap. Kapag nagkabalikan kami, I'd stay away from your cousin."

"You want me to spy on him?" I asked.

"Hindi ba better 'yon? It would reflect badly on your cousin kung magmumukhang hinabol ko si Liam while kami pa."

Hinahabol naman siya ng Liam na 'yon. She could just tell him to take her back.

"I want to spare my dignity as well. I'm a girl after all. If I'm going back to him, I won't beg. He has to see more of me to beg me to take him back," she said with a proud look on her face.

Wow. She's really bad for Kuya Ken. "I'll think about it."

***

I kept on glancing outside the glass wall of the 7-Eleven, trying to guess if that Liam's coming. Nakaupo ako sa seats sa loob ng convenience store with my things. I couldn't believe I talked to him so casually and so lightly on the phone, as if we were already friends. But there was something about him that makes me at ease. Parang ang dali niyang kausap. Still, he's Kuya Ken's rival and someone I should spy. I have to keep my cool.

Pagtunog ng glass door ng 7-Eleven, napasulyap agad ako. A guy walked in. He's Liam because he's strikingly guwapo. He told me he's guwapo, eh. He's just wearing a plain tee and walking shorts, but he looks fit. Hindi nakasimangot pero mukhang mainitin ang ulo. His eyes landed on me and he smiled looking amused.

What? I'm pretty in my red dress! I told him I'm pretty. Bakit ko ba sinabi 'yon over the phone? It would be too embarrassing if he said I'm not up to standards!

I stood up when he walked toward me. Pinigilan kong pasadahan ng palad ko ang skirt ng dress ko.

"Hi," sabi niya. "Ikaw si Miles?"

"Ikaw si Liam?" I asked back.

Lumapad ang ngiti niya. "Oo, ako. Guwapo ako, 'di ba?" He chuckled after.