Towering the Flames (SS#2) Under Major Revision

CHAPTER 28

"Ihahatid kita sa apartment niyo."

He was still carrying my bag as we continued walking. Katabi ko lang siya pero parang ang layo pa rin ng pagitan namin. Hindi ko alam kung guni-guni ko lang ba 'to o sadyang tunay lang talaga siyang malungkot.

I actually thought that he would invite me for a date. Kahit sa plaza lang kung saan maraming streetfood na paninda. I would like to share my thoughts pero 'yon ay sinarili ko na lang.

Wala rin naman 'ata siyang energy para maging romantic ngayong hapon. His heart must be still disappointed.

"You are not responding. What's wrong?" he asked gently.

"Ha?" me knowing I just spaced out. "I am sorry. May iniisip lang."

"Hmm?"

"About," I hesitated. "Uhm, about Amethyst. What's your uhh . . . Thoughts about her leaving this country? Wala ba siyang, uh, sinabi sa 'yo? Gusto mo bang samahan siya—?"

"Darling." Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at humarap sa 'kin. Kailangan niya pang yumuko para magka-lebel ang mga ulo namin. "Don't overthink about it, all right? She already informed me about it a few days ago. I don't like her anymore, so there's no need to overthink—"

"What if you still do, that you still like her?"

"I have my heart. I know what it desires," was his reply. "And, as corny as it may sound, it's you. Hindi ko gusto na saktan mo ang sarili mo sa pag-iisip sa mga bagay na 'di totoo, okay?"

"Then, tell me about your past," tunog desperada na ako. "Tell me about it and make me understand. I want to know you more. 'Yong relasyon niyo ni Amethyst, how it started, and how it ended!"

He pursed his lips at pinagdikit ang mga noo namin. He's breathing heavily like he doesn't want to see me being like this. Tila ang dami niyang gustong sabihin pero 'di lang matanto kung papaano.

"It will hurt me but it is fine," I assured him. "I don't care if we are not in a private place, gusto kong malaman lahat, ngayon, Cal."

"Darling." He awkwardly held mg hand tightly. "If that's what my darling wants, okay . . ." There's a vacant chair steps away from us at hinila ako ni Cal patungo roon. Hinawi niya ang buhok ko saka naghanda ng sasabihin.

"We are arranged by our parents."

"Alam ko . . ."

He exhaled. "Of course, you are a stalker—" Sumeryoso siya nang sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "I started to like her because my parents could not stop to remind me about my supposed to be future with Amethyst. Ang dami kong nagustuhan before pero mas lumamang si Amethyst dahil sa parents namin."

Ito naman talaga ang gusto ko, 'di ba? Halos magmakaawa na ako magkuwento lang siya. Alam kong masasaktan ako pero 'di ko akalain na ganito pala kasakit. To know that he once liked someone a lot. To know his parents wanted someone for him. To know that once upon a time Cal was serious in a relationship. It hurts. A lot, really.

Sabi ng puso ko'y patigilin na siya sa pagsasalita at kalimutan lahat ng narinig, pero salungat no'n ang gusto ng isip ko. I wanted to be practical even if it means hurting my being.

"Plus the fact na nakuha niya ang loob ni Caliver. Hindi mabilis magtiwala ang kapatid ko sa mga tao, kaya kapag may nagustuhan siya, sobrang saya ko na."

"Caliver likes Amethyst a lot. He must praying for you to end up with her."

He stared at me. "He did. I won't lie. Gusto niya ngang isama si Amethyst kapag nag-abroad na kami para mas bumilis ang kaniyang paggaling."