Lagot Ka Kay Coach

Chapter 57: [Her Story]

Jeric’s POV

                I am momentarily speechless. Ilang segundo pa akong tahimik bago nag-sink sa akin ang sinabi ni Cheska.

                No?

                Ang sakit naman nun. Yung feeling na wala ka pa ngang natatanong pero nakapag-isip na siya ng sagot niya. I frown as I look at the tears on her cheeks. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at pinunasan ang mga luha niya. Hindi ko mapigilan eh. When Cheska cries, my protective side surfaces. Kahit anong pagpipigil ko, hindi ko kayang hindi gumawa ng paraan para mapasaya siya o para maalis ang sakit na nararamdaman niya.

                She pushes my hands away and wipes her tears herself. Hindi ko alam kung bakit lalo akong nasaktan dahil sa ginawa niyang yun.

                “I’m sorry,” She whispers. Hindi niya ako matignan.

                And suddenly realization dawns on me. I hold her chin and tilt her face up so she’s looking at me. Her eyes are puffy pero ngayon ko pa lang siya nakitang umiyak. Ibig sabihin umiyak siya kani-kanina lang. Siguro nung kasama pa niya si Juami.

                “What happened on your date?” Tanong ko. Hindi medaling magbago ang isip ni Cheska. Not unless something triggered this reaction from her.

                Her lip trembles and she looks like she’s about to cry again.

                I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight against me. “I don’t believe you. Alam kong hindi yan ang gusto mong sabihin sa akin.”

                She shakes her head and tries to push me off her but I hold her tighter. “Why are you pushing me away?”

                She still doesn’t answer.

                “Cheska, nasasaktan ako.” I tell her, my voice breaking on the last word. Hindi ko na kaya ‘to.

                She stops fighting me and lifts her head so I can see her face. “I’m sorry.” Sabi niya.

                Umiling ako saka pumikit. This time she’s the one comforting me.

                “Don’t I at least deserve an explanation?” Tanong ko.

                Her lip trembles. “You do.”

                “Something happened earlier,” Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari kanina. O kung ano ang sinabi ni Juami sa kaniya kaya siya nagkakaganito pero alam kong hindi gugustuhin ni Cheska na ganito ang mangyari kung siya lang naman ang masususnod. “Anong ginawa sa’yo ni Juami?”

                Cheska’s eyes widens. “Walang ginawang masama si Juami. Ako ang may kasalanan sa lahat.”

                I’m confused. “Pano nangyari na kasalanan mo?”

                She pulls back and lets me go. She pulls on the jacket she’s wearing. I didn’t have to ask her. Alam kong jacket ni Juami ang suot niya. And it annoys me.

                “You know how trust is needed in a relationship, right?” She asks me. Bakit biglang napunta ang usapan sa ganitong topic?

                I nod.

                “Bago kami naghiwalay ni Juami noon, maybe a month before everything went wrong, I was very very happy.” She smiles as she remembers something. And it hurts me to see that smile on her face because someone else made her happy. “He took me to prom. We danced. We laughed. He promised to give me more nights like that one. He said, ‘If a night with you will always be like this, feel like this, then I’ll be sad to see the sun rising.’” She laughs.