AVS 1: Catching Flights

XXI

Chapter 21 : Accident

I looked at the cake that I made last night. It's a bit smaller than a regular-sized round cake, but it's loaded with chocolate, from the base up to the frosting. I carefully wrapped it in a red box with a cute ribbon around it. Hindi ko kasabay sina ate ngayon, wala siyang pasok and Doll is surely mad at me so I brought my own car.

After gaining enough courage, I took the box with me and got out of the car. It's a good thing that people at school minds their own business kaya hindi na ako nahirapan magbitbit sa cake. At least, walang chichismis dahil sa bitbit ko.

I decided to give it to Claeg during lunch. When Liya saw me holding a box of cake when I entered our assigned class, she narrowed her eyes at me.

I smiled sheepishly at her. "I hazily remembered that someone asked me last night about what's the best gift to give for Claeg," she suspiciously looked at me. I nodded and admitted it. "Yeah."

"And you fucking believed it?! You know you can't trust a drunk man's words easily." I shrugged, "Well, sometimes it's good to listen, because the truest of words are spoken when drunk."

Napabuntong hininga siya. "Tama nga si Doll, malala ka na." I know, but I promise this will be the last. Of course, saka ko na sasabihin sa inyo 'yon kapag tapos ko nang ibigay ang cake na ito sa kaniya.

Napabuntong hininga ako nang matapos ang morning classes namin na hindi ako pinapansin ni Liya. Alam ko namang nagtatampo lang siya sa akin lalo na at ayaw nilang nasasaktan ako, and I truly appreciate that. It's just that this is something that i could only solve because I brought this dilemma upon myself.

Kaya naman napag-isipan kong hanapin na ngayong lunch si Clay para maibigay ko na ang cake. Para na rin masabi ko na sa kaniya na nakapag-desisyon na akong tanggapin paunti-unti na talagang unreciprocated ang nararamdaman ko and all those that happened these past few years are only a product of my wishful thinking.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa ribbon ng cake habqng maingat pa ring nakaalalay sa ilalim ng box nang makita ko siyang paliko sa chapel. Lunch time kaya halos lahat ay nasa mga canteen, at alam kong kapag hindi ko pa ito naibigay sa kaniya ay mawawalan na ako ng chance. Sure akong sa canteen Alpha siya patungo dahil dito siya dumaan sa kay chapel. Malawak ang grass sa paligid ng chapel, pero kahit gano'n ay marami pa ring estudyante na siguro ay dadaan para rin magunch sa canteen Alpha o kaya ay lalabas sa gate. Naroon rin ang guard sa mini post niya sa gilid ng chapel. Maraming tao, pero kailangan kong tatagan ang sarili ko para rito. Kaya naman, bago pa siya makalayo ay tinawag ko na siya. Tumigil siya exactly sa harap ng chapel at tumingin sa akin.

"Miss Mendes, if this is one of your antics again—" Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin ng putulin ko siya.

"No! This time, it's true I swear. I just want to give you something for appreciation for what you did to me during PATTSikatan, and besides, I want to tell you something."

I nervously glanced at the box I'm holding kaya napatingin din siya rito. "I am not interested."

I ran near him and stretched out both of my hands showing him the cake. "Please, just accept this one! I swear this will be the last."

"As I said, I am not interested. I did it for Liya's sake, please refrain yourself in the future. I'm tired of hearing excuses from you saying it would be the last even though you just won't stop."

Napayuko ako sa sinabi niya, alam ko naman 'yon e. Pero still I tried to reason out with him, "I promise this will be the last, just accept this and hear me out." Inilapit ko pa ang cake sa kaniya pero agaran siyang umatras.

Umiling ito na para bang ako ang pinakabobong taong nailala niya. I still persisted and went near him until he pushed the box away from him. Alam kong pinagtitinginan na kaming dalawa dahil sa eksena namin sa harap ng chapel pero wala akong pakialam! As long as he accepts this as a token of my last effort then everything would be fine. Matalim na ang titig nito sa akin.

"For goodness' sake, miss Mendes! Learn how to accept no! You are already in college, stop acting willful, untamed, and stubborn. Even a kindergarten student knows what no is." Tumalikod na ito sa akin at naglakad palayo. Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi bago napagpasyahang habulin siya.

Last na 'to 'di ba kaya sulitin ko na. Sumigaw ako habang hinahabol siya.

"Clay, please just accept this one for the last time!" Nang makalapit sa kaniya ay walang pagdadalawang-isip akong humarang sa harap niya.

"I made this cake for..." Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ng hindi ko napansin na sobrang liit lang ng pagitan naming dalawa kaya naman no'ng humarang ako ay hindi siya nakatigil agad at nabangga ang cake na hawak ko.

"...you." My voice went soft as I stared at the cake that fell on the ground. Dahil sa pagtakbo ko kanina ng walang ingat ay gumilid ang ribbon kaya bumukas ang box no'ng malaglag at nadurog ang malaking parte ng cake.

I blankly stared at the crumbled cake. "So?" I heard a cold voice. I looked at Clay who's eyeing me with a cold stare.

"Wala na 'yong ibibigay mo." He opened both of his arms wide on both sides with palms open. "Pwede na siguro akong umalis na hindi mo inaabala 'di ba? Wala na e."

Hindi pa man ako nakasagot ay umalis na ito. Hinakbangan lang nito ang durog na cake at tuloy-tuloy na naglakad, hindi man lang ito nilingon o kung ano pa.