How to Get Out of the "Bestfriend Zone"

Chapter 27

I knocked on her door. "Carly? Carly, open up." I kept my voice as steady as possible. I knocked again. Still no answer. "Carly? Si Mia 'to."

            That was when she immediately opened her door. She was wearing a bitch look on her face.  I can tell na surpresa siya kung bakit ganu'n ang itsura ko but she still managed to keep a straight face.

            "Totoo ba?"

            My heart started beating fast again.

            "Totoo ba'ng kayo ni Joshua?"

            I tried to grab her arm. "Carly..." She swatted it away. I put my hand on my chest. Feeling ko hindi ako makahinga.

            She turned her back against me and started heading towards the stairs.

            "Carly I can explain!" pahabol kong sigaw.

            She turned to look at me and it was a real heartbreaking moment. Umiiyak na rin siya. Kung pwede pa lang, kanina ko pa sinampal ang sarili ko.

            "Alright. Explain!" she shouted.

            I swear I wanted to say something. But seing her hurt made my heart ache even more. Words wouldn't came out of my mouth.

            "Explain!" she repeated. More tears falling now.

            Oh God. Please Carly, please. 'Wag pati ikaw.

            When I didn't say anything, she rushed upstairs. I put my hands on my mouth and sobbed as I ran; heading outside. Umuulan pa rin. Nang malayo-layo na ako, sumigaw ako ng napakalakas. And I felt my whole body weaken. I just knelt on the ground, crying.

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            Hindi pa rin tumitila ang ulan. Nakahiga lang ako sa couch, still disbelieving everything that happened. I still want to cry but no more tears came out of me. I was just staring at my "Things to remember in order to get out of the bestfriend zone."

            "Kalokohan." And I crumpled it. "You finally got out of the bestfriend zone, Mia. You got what you wanted. I hope you're happy." I said to myself habang pinupunit ang papel. Itinapon ko ito agad sa basurahan. "Happy is an understatement." I said sarcastically.

            Eight years akong nagpakatanga sa lalakeng 'yun. Eight years and never niya pa na-dare pagsalitaan ako ng ganu'n. He never even raised his voice at me before. Ngayon lang.

            I covered my head with my pillow. I wanted a way out of the bestfriend zone pero hindi ganito. Hindi 'yung mawawala siya sa'kin. And to make matters worse, pati pa si Carly. Tama nga ang 8fact. When someone who means most to you hurts you, the reaction in your brain will be similar to physical pain.

            I heard a knock on the door. Hindi ko lang pinansin. The person knocked again. Ayoko pa rin tumayo. Feeling ko wala akong lakas.

            "Mia, are you there?"

            I knew that voice.. I tried to stand up and walk. Feeling ko napakabigat ng katawan ko.  I didn't open the door. I just leaned against it. "Josh, 'wag ngayon."

            He must have noticed na hindi naka-lock ang pinto. He pushed the door open.

            "Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo?! Ayoko sabi makipag-usap eh!" napasigaw na ako. I tried to keep it close pero siyempre, nanaig ang lakas niya.

            "Mia, ano ba nangyayari sayo?" curious na tanong niya. I looked at him. His mouth slightly hang open nang makita ang itsura ko.

            "Umalis ka sabi, eh!" and I pushed him away. But he grabbed my arms and hugged me immediately. I hit him so many times on the chest, though I didn't know if it hurt. "Umalis ka. Umalis ka na." I repeated.

            He hugged me even tighter. "Shhh.... Nandito lang ako. Magiging okay din ang lahat."

            Eventually, I gave in. I also wrapped my arms around him and cried on his shoulder. After a while, he led me to sit on the couch. He put his jacket on me and headed towards the kitchen to get me some water.

            Nang makabalik na siya, he stared at me with an apologetic look on his face.

            I forced myself to smile. "You're making me feel even more sorry for myself." I got myself a tissue and I sneezed on it.

            I saw the look on Joshua's face and I slightly laughed. "Sorry."

            He put his arms up in defense. "No need to apologize."

            Nang medyo mahimasmasan na ako, nagsalita siya ulit. "So, I'm guessing you've already heard."

            I nodded. I massaged my head. "I'm guessing everyone in the campus already knows."

            He shook his head. "No. Not everyone. It's a good thing summer na. Some people won't give a shit about it."

            I just nodded. I just wish what he said made me feel even a little better. "Have you already talked to tita Laura?"

            It took a while for him to respond. "I told them everything, Mia."

            "Everything?"

            "Everything." He echoed.

            I let out a deep sigh before leaning against the couch. "So that adds one more family in my haters list."

            "Hindi sila galit sa'yo."

            I just looked at him unknowingly.

            He shrugged. "I admit they were disappointed at first. They said you and I made a real good match."

            Napatawa ako. At least man lang, nabawasan ng 10,000 kilograms ang 10 million tons na bigat ng nararamdaman ko.

            "Mom saw my report card and she saw how my grades increased. After telling her the truth about you and me, she said she still believes you brought out the best in me."

            Uminom ako uli from my glass of water. "Totoo ba 'yan?"

            He smiled then nodded.

            He leaned in closer with a more serious look on his face. "Remember during grad ball? I said I wanted to tell you something."

            "Uh-huh."

            His eyes were more glued to mine now. "It's that I think I like you, Mia."

            "I like you too, Josh." I said without hesitation.

            He shook his head. "No. Not like that. I like you, like you."

            I frowned. "Josh..........."

            Umiling siya ulit. "I'm not expecting anything from you, Mia. I just thought you should know." He took my hand. "I know you're inlove with Lance. At wala akong panlaban sa who-knows-what katagal na pagmamahal mo para sa kanya."

            "8 years. 8 years to be exact." Sabi ko.

            His eyes widened. "Wow."

            Natawa ako sa reaksyon niya.

            "O? Eh di mas lalo akong walang panlaban. Pero I just wanted you to know. I'll always be here for you."

            I smiled while nodding. "Just promise me you'll also try to open your heart to someone else."

            He gently nodded. "I'll try."

            "Halika nga dito." And he leaned in to give me a hug.