DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Also, this story is not edited yet. It might contain grammatical and typographical errors. This may also contain curse words and matured scenes. Read at your own risk.
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"Par, iwan muna kita. Tinatawag ako nila Jill, e. Magp-picture daw." Jared stood up and looked at his family's direction.
Today is her sister's graduation. Kakatapos lang, actually. I came with them because someone will also graduate today. And I promised that 'someone' that I will be here, watching her slowly achieve her goals.
Well, I kept my promise. I watched her earlier. She was given a lot of awards, and I'm sure that she worked really hard for those. Her efforts are all worth it. Her parents must be so proud of her. And I hope, she's proud of herself too. At least for once.
Jared left me at my seat and went to his family to take pictures. Siya lang ang mukhang mokong sa picture, dapat hindi na siya isinama, e.
I looked around because I felt kind of bored while waiting for Jared.
My heart raced when I saw her. She's with her friends. They were taking photos and showing off their medals. Nagpaalam na iyong dalawa niyang kaibigan kaya pabalik na rin sana siya sa upuan ng parents niya. She looks happy.
Not until her eyes laid on mine.
"You came..."
I took a glance of her teary eyes as she stared at me, surprised. Her grip on the bouquet tightened as she takes a step forward, towards me.
I nodded. "I promised."
She raised her brow. The sides of her lips rose, letting out a sarcastic chuckle. "You know how to keep promises now?"
I took a deep breath and looked away.
"I just learned," I answered.
She opened her mouth, about to say something, but I cut her off. "Ah, here. Congratulatory gift." I handed her my gifts before she could even say a word. I really prepared this. Hindi ko lang alam kung paano ibibigay kanina. Buti na lang nagkita kami.
"Congratulations, Clair."
Paalis na rin sana ako. I don't want our conversation to be long, anyway. Baka kung saan pa kasi mapunta ang usapan namin. This is not the right time to ruin the moment.
"Clair, anak, hinihintay na tayo ng Daddy m-" Her mom's words were interrupted upon seeing me. "Friend mo?" she asked Clair while pointing at me.
"I can't say that," Clair answered. I felt a slight pang on my chest. "She's Ace, Ma."
Her mom's mood dropped the moment she heard my name. Does she know me already?
I can see the confusion drawn on her mom's face. "So... Ace, your-"
"Yes, Ma." Clair answered before she could finish her sentence. She grabbed her mom's hand. "Ace, una na kami. Thank you for the gift," she said before leaving me at the venue. Mabilis silang nawala sa paningin ko dahil masyadong maraming tao.
I instantly missed her presence. Sana pala nilubos ko na ang pagkakataon kanina para yakapin siya.
That was a 'so near yet so far' moment for me. We're just so distant even if we're only a few inches away from each other. We talked but it's obvious that we wanted to avoid each other. We weren't like this before.
"Lalim," I heard an annoying voice. Jared.
"Tagal mo," reklamo ko kaagad.
"Nakita mo na?" he asked, he must be talking about Clair.
I nodded. "Kakaalis lang."
"Nabigay mo gifts mo?" he asked again and I just nodded. "Okay. Akala ko, hindi mo pa nabibigay, e. Ipapaabot ko na lang sana kay Jill."
"Teka nga, ano yan, luha?" He leaned towards me to take a closer look at my eyes.
I pushed his face away. "Napuhing kasi. Epal mo."
"Miss mo, 'no?" he asked. Taas-baba pa ang kilay niya. Ahitin ko 'yan, e.
"Ewan ko sa 'yo."
"Hmm... Miss mo. You came here not because you wanted to keep your promise. Well, maybe partly. But the main reason you came here was because you wanted to find an excuse to see her. Ilang buwan na bang deprived 'yang mga mata mo from seeing her? I'm sure nangungulila ka na," he said and laughed afterwards.
"Oo, sige, manahimik ka na," sabi ko na lang para matapos na siya. Baka ituloy-tuloy niya pa ang pagsasalita at masaktan ako lalo. Dapat girl boss pa rin ako rito.
He's right when he said that I missed her. Pero hindi ko naman kayang aminin 'yon. Wala akong karapatan. Because I wanted this. I asked for this. And now that I got it, hindi naman ako masaya.
I can't admit na hindi ako nakuntento sa naging desisyon ko.
And even if I want to tell her how I feel, she would only ignore me. She doesn't care anymore. She shouldn't. Dahil kung may natitira pa siyang nararamdaman para sa 'kin, galit na lang 'yon.
Tanggap ko 'yon. Because I destructed her peaceful world. It was my fault.
I ruined her.
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