When Everything Glooms [One-Shot Stories Compilation]

BEGGAR

"Trix, have you heard the story about a man who fell in love with a beggar?" tanong ko sa girlbestfriend ko.

"Hindi pa. Bakit? Saan mo narinig ang kwentong 'yan?" balik na tanong n'ya. Ngumiti lang ako at yumuko bahagya bago ko s'ya harapin.

Nasa plaza kami ngayon. Nagkita kase kami kanina sa palengke, at na pag desisyonang dito muna tumambay.

"Kamusta ba ang feelings mo sa ex mo?" pagtatanong ko ulit. Bahagya itong napayuko. Ilang buwan na ang lumipas, pero ito parin s'ya, umaasang babalikan pa. Wala, eh. Mahal n'ya pa kasi.

"Ganoon pa rin. Walang nagbago," nahihiyang na tugon niya.

Narinig ko siyang huminga nang malalim, at bahagya akong natawa nang mahina.

"Sure ka ba? 'di ka pa talaga familiar sa kwento ng isang lalake na nagmahal ng isang pulubi?"

"Hindi nga, saang libro ba 'yan? Maganda ba ang ending?"

"Hmm, ’di ko pa alam ang ending, eh. ’Di pa kasi alam ng pulubi na pulubi ba talaga s'ya o hindi." Nangunot naman ang noo n'ya sa mga pinagsasabi ko.

"Hindi ko gets Kairo," sabi niya at napakamot ng ulo.

"I kwento ko sa'yo," panimula ko.

"There was a man who fell in love with a beggar. The man keeps waiting for her to love him back. The man can give her loyalty and love, as well as their daily needs. However, the beggar just can't love him as much as the man loves her," kwento ko sa kanya.

"Bakit naman? Bobohan lang si ateng, ganern?" Natawa naman ako sa reaction n'ya.

"The beggar's heart is just so expensive, that even a noble man can't afford it. The beggar doesn't even have a clue about what's going on with her. She's not even aware that she's a beggar," pagpapatuloy ko at lalo naman s'yang na inis sa kwento.

"That girl was actually not a beggar like you've imagined literally. But, she keeps acting like a beggar by begging so much attention with people who doesn't even cared for her." Pansin ko na natigilan s'ya.

"And unfortunately, that girl was you," ani ko at tiningnan s'ya sa mga mata. "While the man there is no other than me." Ramdam ko naman, kitang kita ko na wala talaga akong puwesto sa puso n'ya.

Tatanggapin ko naman. Alam kong matatanggap ko.

"A-ano ba ang—" Hindi ko muna s'ya pinagsalita.

"I've been cherishing you for so long despite of being rejected and being ignored by you. Pero kahit ganoon pa man, nais ko lang sabihin sa 'yo na. . . You're like an irreplaceable jewelry. So stop acting and begging other's attention like a beggar. Being such doesn't suits you well,"

"I'm s-sorry," tanging nasabi ni Trix.

"Hey it's fine, actually hindi ka naman talaga nag-iisa. Alam mo kung bakit? Kase minsan na rin akong nanglimos ng pagmamahal mo. But this time, papalayain na kita," I said and kissed her forehead for the last time.

I just hoped na susunod s'ya sa akin at yakapin ako kagaya ng mga love stories na nababasa ko. Pero mali na naman ako.