A Hiccup Of Tea (✔)

Chapter 49

C H R I S T E L L E

I'm still at the café, far away from my family, friends— far from everyone.

Malalim na yung gabi, pakiramdam ko ay hinahanap na nila ako. Hindi na rin gaano karami yung mga taong nandito sa loob ng café and most of them are only here to study.

I blankly stared at my cup of tea that Ynna gave me. It reminds me of everything. It evokes all the things I fathomed a week ago.

"Should I drink it?" Tanong ko sa sarili habang nakatingin lang sa tasa. Should I drink this tea; the tea that Ynna gave me? The tea—the truth that the people I loved hid from me for how many years?

"Bakit... Bakit nahihirapan pa rin akong tanggapin?" Bulong ko ulit at pinunasan yung luhang tumulo. Akala ko ayos na lahat, bakit may ganito nanaman?

Natatakot ako sa sunod pang mga mangyayari. Mayroon pa ba akong dapat malaman? Ano pa kaya yung mga puwedeng gawin ni Ynna para guluhin lalo yung mundo ko?

I bet that being a nice person is not good after all. They'll abuse your kindness and keep on doing things that will shutdown your system.

I was about to take a sip from it when someone suddenly nudged me. The moment I glanced at who it was, I almost fainted.

"Umalis ka na," walang emosyong sambit ko kay Brylle na nakaupo na ngayon sa tabi ko. Paano niya nalamang nandito ako? Of all people, bakit siya nanaman yung nandito’t kasama ko?

I smiled bitterly the moment our eyes met. Despite my family; including Ynna, he also brought my miseries unconsciously.

"We may ignore each other for the past few days but I still care for you. You can lean on my shoulder," he said dahilan para umiwas ulit ako ng tingin. Palagi niya iyan sinasabi.

Hindi ba siya titigil? Ano bang ginagawa niya rito?

"Christelle..." He mumbled but I chose ignore him.

May dahilan pa ba para kausapin ko siya? May dapat pa ba akong malaman at marinig mula sa kanila matapos nilang sirain ang buhay ko? Ayoko ng kausap, ayoko munang makinig.

Ayoko muna silang makasama.

"Christelle... Please, talk to me," pagmamakaawa niya. I sighed and fiercely turned my gaze upon him. Napupuno na ako.

"May dapat pa ba tayong pag-usapan?" I asked but he just bit his own lip. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero kumulo yung dugo ko bigla. Sumasabog nanaman yung emosyon ko.

He suddenly held my hand kaya mabilis ko itong binawi.  I felt some sparks from it kaya napangiwi ako. Why am I reacting like this? Lalo tuloy akong nairita sa presensiya niya; kabilang na rin yung pananahimik niya sa tabi ko.

"Hindi kita kailangan. Umalis ka na," Pagbasag ko sa katahimikan. Makiramdam ka please.

He sighed and looked away pero hindi siya umalis sa tabi ko. Ang tigas naman ng ulo nito.

"B-bakit nandito ka pa?" I stammered as I asked him. He looked at me and unlike kanina, I can't read his expression. His affectionate eyes went dull.

O baka guni-guni ko lang ito?

"You're not answering our calls. The night is getting deep, we're getting worried. This is not you Telle, I'm begging you. Umuwi ka na," aniya. His expression went soft again.

"Ayoko," maikling sagot ko sa kaniya. Kung matigas ulo niya, mas matigas ulo ko.

"If you're suffering because of miscommunication, then talk to those people who are involved. Talk to us— talk to me," sabi pa niya, hindi ko tuloy napigilang taasan siya ng kilay.