Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin

Chapter 16.2:

Gerald's POV

Silence.

Maliban sa monobloc table sa harap namin, yan ang namagitan sa aming dalawa.

Nandito kami sa tent ko. Sabi nya gusto nya raw makipag-usap sa akin, Ewan ko kung bakit, but I felt anxious. Tumingin na lang ako sa sahig.

First, because when the movie shoot started, I never had a time to be with her again.

Second, because I felt guilty for being a burden to her. A boyfriend must love her girl, not make her feel bad or lonesome.

And third, because she's affected with my karma and my childishness back then.

I felt sorry for Marlet because of my immaturity. I remembered back then, when I was very lonely and mad at myself that moment when Sarah said we had our closure already, it was January. I freaked out and felt really guilty and mad at myself. How come I did this kind of thing to her? I promised her so much, most especially loving her whole heartedly... I went to Batangas just bringing myself and my car, went into a hill near our resthouse there, and screamed my heart out.

"GERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALD! ANG GAGO MO!!! ANG GAGO MO TALAGA!!!!!" Anong nagawa ko kay Sarah? Sinaktan ko sya ng sobra. "WALA KANG BINATBAT KAY RAYVER! ANG GAGO GAGO MO!!!" Then I sat down at the grassland and cried.

Then suddenly, a handkerchief popped up in front of me. I wept my tears away and looked up.

"Wala ring silbi 'tong panyo ko." She is a mestisa girl with a floral dress, but she seems fierce or strong or what. She insisted me her handkerchief. "Dali na, kunin mo na po." She sat beside me. "I know it seems awkward for guys like you to show up your feelings or what. Sometimes it have some disadvantages if you keep it to yourself... So you can share it with me. I'm not talkative."

I don't know why, but at that same instance, I opened up to her. I felt relieved, knowing she's right. Tahimik syang nakikinig, at pagkatapos kong magsalita ay nagbigay sya ng mga advice sa akin. I was happy for that. On that lonesome moment, she was the onlygirl that made me happy after 6 months, after the only girl who listened to me lost her trust on me. Starting on January, for three months, Marlet, made me belong in this crazy world. In April, I remebered, I started courting her, for all I knew I was falling for her. For all I knew. Then on August, on the exact date I gave up courting Sarah a year ago, she said "yes" to me. Starting then, I promised myselfnot to hurt this girl unlike Sarah, to tell her the truth unlike what I did to Sarah. But I didn't succeed. I knew I was still falling for sarah because I kept on comparing her to Marlet. Sarah is much sweeter, Sarah is much funnier, Sarah is much quirkier, Sarah is much better. Sarah never left my mind. Then I thought to myself, I made a major mistake in this relationship. Sinasaktan ko ang sarili ko, at the same time I was hurting her so much. Nagkamali ako, dapat nag-isip muna ako bago ko pinasok 'to. Masyado lang akong naging masya sa piling nya. Nalunod ako. Nung second monthsary namin, I decided to tell her the truth.

"Marlet, I'm sorry." Yumuko ako noon.

"Are you breaking up with me?" She was crying really hard. She ran away as fast as she cam. Muntik na syang nasagasaan ng isang napakalaking truck. Buti na lang at nahatak ko sya papalapit sa akin. Ang dami nyang sinabi. Wag ko syang iwan, mamamatay sya pag nawala ako, blackmails that made me really threatened.

Kaya simula noon, naipangako ko na sa sarili ko na hindi na iyon mauulit. Na di ko na sya iiwan dahil nagiging possesive na sya. Ayoko syang biguin.

Kaya ngayon is the right time to tell her what I feel.

"Marlet."

"Gerald." Sabay naming sabi.

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Nakangiti sya ng mapakla. Plastic. She laughed fakely. "Ako muna."

I nodded.

"Mahal mo talaga sya no?"

"H-Ha?" Umiling ako, baka nananaginip pa ako eh. "Mahal ko pa sya?"

"Nakakainggit naman sya." Pag-iwas nya sa tanong ko. "Buti pa sya tinitignan mo mula sa malayo. Tampo ako sa'yo." Sabay puppy face.

"Marlet--"

"Hush!" Sabi nya slapping the table infront of us. "Wag kang maingay. Ako muna."

This seems weird. Ang awkward ng atmosphere, tapos nakakapagbiro pa sya ng ganyan? Haaaaay baliw talaga 'tong si Marlet.

"Thank you." Sumandal sya sa upuan nya. "I just wanted to say sorry--Op!" Magsasalita na sana ako pero agad nya akong pinigilan. "Sandali lang. Gusto kong magsorry sa pagiging possessive ko sa'yo, Mr. Anderrrrson."

Di na ako nagsalita, pero nagiging curious na ako.

"Sorry kung..." Nagbuntong-hininga sya. "Sorry kung naging possessive ako, obsessed, emotional, at gaga over you. I just want it simple." She stood up and went close to me an tapped my shoulder.

"Susuportahan kita para makuha mo sya/"

Nilingon ko sya. "Marlet---"

"Shut up, Ge. Don't you get it?" He slowly slapped my face with less force. "I'm letting you go."

She kiised my cheek and walked away.

"Oh." She looked back at me. "Aalis na nga pala ako. Babalik na ako ng France. Treat me like a stranger, huh?" She waved her hand. "Bye, baby boy."

Marlet's POV

"Oh." I looked back at him, forgetting to say something. "Aalis na nga pala ako. Babalik na ako ng France. Treat me like a stranger, huh?" Kumaway ako sa kanya. "Bye, baby boy." And left his tent.

Haaaaay buhay.

Tama si Yeng, ang dali lang magsabi ng babay.

Pero mahirap lunukin ang katotohanang di mo na mababalik ang babay na yun. HINDI NYO NA MABABALIK ANG DATING KAYO.

Nakayuko akong umalis sa tent nya at nagpigil ng luha.

"Marlet?" Narinig ko yung boses ni Sarah at tumingala.

Ngumiti ako. "Hello po." I tapped her shoulders. "Good luck po sa lovelife." Ngumiti ako at sumakay na sa kotse ko.