Beautiful Imperfections (High School Romance Series #4)

Kabanata 22

Umahon ako sa pagkakasandal sa kanya at umayos ng upo. Dali dali kong pinahid ang luha ko at huminga ng malalim.

Hindi na ako ang dating ako. I won't tell him what's inside my heart and what I feel. I am not the vulnerable and naive Lourdes Amanda Dizon anymore. I am Lourdes Amanda Yildiz and I am strong. I don't need someone to lean on. Once again, I want to remind myself that I can make myself happy even if I am not telling someone about my problems.

"It's getting late. You should go home, A-Arielle."

Rinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga niya kaya mas lalong hindi ko siya nilingon. Pinaalalahanan ko na naman ang sarili kong hindi na lalapit sa kanya. Pero ano to ngayon? Nagpapadala na naman ako?

"You're not still ready to open up?"

Umiling ako. "I am not going to tell you about my problems."

"But why? I am always one call away, Lourd. Just like before–"

"Yun nga. I don't want us to be like before. Ayaw ko na. Nasanay na naman akong mag isang lumalaban. Matanda na ako. Hindi ko na kailangan ng kasangga."

"Pero nandito na naman ako—"

"Marami nang nagbago. Hindi na naman tayo mga bata. Kaya ko na ang sarili ko. Itong mga nararamdaman ko? Sisiw to sa mga pinagdaanan ko noon."

"Don't cut me when I am talking!" He said firmly the reason I turned my head to his side.

He looks angry now. Just like what I always saw when we're both in the court. He look like an attorney, but he's the one who's trying to defend himself.

"You're not allowed to cut me off when I am talking. Cutting me off is prohibited."

Unbelievable! Does he think he's in court right now?

"Bahay mo ba to?"

"I didn't give you the right to talk!"

"What?!"

Is he insane?

"Let me finish, okay. You will have enough opportunity to speak and defend yourself."

Walang magawa ay itinikom ko na lamang ang bibig ko. May magagawa pa ba ako? I am an attorney also, but I cannot just stop him from what he was doing right now. It left me speechless.

'Beast' indeed.

"As what I am saying…I am now here. You're not alone anymore. I promised you that I will be always here for you. I am fulfilling my promise to you."

Kumurap-kurap ako nang tingnan niya ako na parang naghihintay siya ng sagot ko.

"Oras ko na ba para magsalita?"

He sighed heavily and nodded.

"As what I am saying…." I imitated what was he said earlier.

"You're not taking it seriously—"

"Hep! You're not allowed to talk when I am talking. You have your own time given so you can talk and express what you feel. And this isn't your time. It's mine. Cutting off is strictly prohibited."

At ang pilit na pagpipigil niya ng inis ay naglaho na. Inis na siya ngayon.

Gusto ko nalang siyang tawanan. Seryoso dapat na usapan ito pero natutuwa ako sa mga nangyayari. Naglaho tuloy ang sikip sa aking dibdib dahil sa kanya.

Siya naman ang unang umarte na parang nasa korte kami pero ngayon na sinakyan ko ang ginawa niya ay maiinis siya. May anger issue talaga.

"Balik sa pinag-uusapan… I choose to claim my Miranda Rights. Again. That is all."