The Brokenhearted Heartbreaker

9

We only had three classes in the morning and I was free for the whole day. I studied at the library and left when a noisy group of students came. Napag-isipan ko na lang na maglakad-lakad. Nakarating ako sa may avenue kung nasaan ang Cafe M at ang firm.

Ayaw ko namang pumunta sa firm dahil baka nandoon si Ate Alyvia at mapagsabihan na naman ako. Patuloy lang akong naglakad-lakad hanggang sa may nahagip ang mga mata ko.

It was Iouis.

He was coming out from Cafe M while reading a book. He closed it before turning to my direction. Sandaling nanlaki ang mga mata niya bago kumaway.

"I'm not following you," aniya nang makalapit.

"So am I." I smiled.

He nodded and I did the same. Nanatili kaming nakatayo roon, parang gustong mag-usap pero wala namang may masabi. He cleared his throat and messed with his hair. He looks like a shy guy who saw his crush.

"What did you mean last time? The one about me being confusing..."

I gestured to the path in front of us. Ang awkward naman siguro kung nanatili lang kaming nakatayo roon.

"Well, you told me that you're drawn to me. 'Yong sa yate... pero pagkatapos niyon, wala ka namang ginawa. I even saw you with Atty. Avonlea's daughter. So, I thought that maybe that was it. Nothing special and romantic," I started.

I weighed my words carefully because I didn't want to sound like a jealous girlfriend

Nanatili lang sa harapan ang mga mata ko dahil baka bigla akong mahiya kung mag-eye-to-eye kami habang nagpapaliwanag.

"It's either you're giving me mixed signals or I'm just assuming things," diretsahan kong sabi. "Kasi, ano eh... you make me feel like we have a thing but we never actually talked about it nor did you tell me. "

"Like, we do this playful flirting but that's it. Plus, I feel like that's how you really are... playful and charming so..." I trailed off with a shrug. Saka ko lang siya hinarap.

Bumuka ang kaniyang bibig, parang may gustong sabihin pero mabilis ding sinara iyon. He looked away while muttering something.

"Ano?"

Binulong niya lang ulit sa hangin ang sasabihin kaya nagtanong ulit ako. Heto na naman siya sa paiba-iba ng mood. I don't see him as the shy type, but here he is, he can't even look at me and utter audibly.

"You didn't say anything, remember?" He said breathlessly. Alam kong seryoso siya pero nakakatawa kung paano siya magsalita. parang bata talaga na nahihiya! "I thought it was a no—why are you smiling?"

"Wala! Ang cute mo!" Dahil sa sinabi ko ay binilisan niya ang kaniyang lakad kaya kinailangan ko pang tumakbo para mahabol siya.

"Don't mind me," he said while waving a hand. Naka-recover na siya siguro. "But I guess, you do get a lot of confessions."

I chuckled while shaking my head. "Hindi naman..."

It was an understatement. I got the title "Miss Heartthrob" during prom and I get the most love letters and song requests during Valentines Day. Pero siyempre, hindi ko naman aaminin sa kaniya 'yon.

"Don't worry, though. I won't bother you," he turned to me with a smile. "I know you like someone."

"Huh?"

He stopped walking so I did the same. Buti na lang at wala namang masyadong tao kaya okay lang na manatili kami rito sa gitna ng sidewalk.

"Jamie..." aniya at mataman akong tinitigan. It was as if he's waiting for an answer even though he didn't ask a question.