Tease Me, Bella Beatrice

35:

"Why, Mr. Zurita?"

Napalingon ako sa puwesto kung saan prenteng nakaupo si Shea. Ilang metro ang layo namin sa shoot at parehas kaming nakaupo lamang dito sa buhangin. This kid is actually stubborn than I expected. Dapat kasi ay nanonood siya sa shoot para matuto siya. Iyon din lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit siya isinama rito. But instead of that, despite me telling her what she exactly needs to do that includes leaving me alone, she is doing what she wants. Ngayon pa lamang ay nakikita ko nang isang sakit sa ulo ni Gigi ang isang ito.

"What do you mean why?"

"Why did you love Ate Bella?" She said and looked at me. She heaved a deep sigh too. "Why do you love her still?"

"What?"

"Is it because of the 'I can fix her.' mentality? You know, some people are drawn to emotionally unavailable people. Basta parang ganoon. Gusto nila 'yong tipo ng mga taong hindi buo. Like, there's this emotional baggage that makes them crazily attractive. Tapos ayon, the other people would be thinking that you people love their scar and fixing them would want them to lean on you. Isn't that somehow stressful?"

"What do you mean?"

"Wala. Basta gets mo na 'yon, e."

"Hmm, I don't know. I do not know why I loved Bella. Maybe because I thought she needed me?"

"Hmm. Maybe because you thought she needed you? Makes sense. Kay direk, why do you love her?"

"Because we need each other on everything."

"Convenience then? You two love each other because it is convenient for the two of you."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa mga sinasabi ni Shea. I really am amazed and shocked on how deep she is understanding and taking this situation into a serious talk. She observes really deeply and knows things about emotional maturity. Kind of unexpected from a rich and spoiled looking woman.

"Kasi 'di ba, convenient sa inyo 'tong relasyon na 'to? Nasa tamang edad kayo, you share the same views and likes most of the same things, parehas din halos ng career and wants family. It's like you loving direk and direk loving you is easy."

"Isn't love supposed to come easy?"

Siya naman ang napakunot ang noo sa ngayon. She is looking at me confused and kind of weird. Nakita ko pa nga ang pagkagat niya sa kaniyang labi na animo ba ay nahihirapang isipin ang sinabi ko. That's what I want her to feel though. She is smart. I can assure myself now about that.

"Love will come easy, kid. It's supposed to be hard and easy at the same time. It will give you clarity, worth, value, time, consistency, and attention you deserved. Madali niyang maibibigay 'yong mga bagay na deserve mo because that is normal when it comes to love. Now, if it comes hard like you are not even getting the bare minimum of what you deserve, then, it's hypocrisy and a waste of time."

"Grabe talaga kapag writer, ano Mr. Zurita? Grabe sa tamis ng words 'no? Kahit hindi mo ako kino-compliment at the moment 'yong tunog ng speech mo e parang love confession. It sounds like sugar coated words when a lover is cheating on me." She said then laughed a little. "By the way, hindi po ba at nandito tayo ngayon para pag-usapan na need nating magbrainstorm kung saan ka matutulog tonight kasi bad shot ka kay direk?"