Take A Chance With Me (Bada Lee x Audrey Lane x Chocol)

[EIGHTEEN]

Audrey's Pov

I was alone at my apartment and it was already evening. I was trying to distract myself by watching some movies while also having snacks.

“Ang boring naman.” bulong ko at napasandal na lang sa sofa.

Kahit anong gawin at paglilibang ko, sumasagi pa rin si Bada sa isipan ko. Well I just left her earlier after our heart to heart talk. Habang abala siya sa paghuhugas ng mga plato, tinakasan ko siya para umuwi na. I was with Chocol kasi she insisted on driving me home. At first ayoko talagang idamay siya pero nagpupumilit siya so in the end sumama siya.

I'm really thankful for her because she's always there when I need someone. I'll always cherish her and I do own her a lot. Anyways, kanina pa ako tinatawagan ni Bada and I kept rejecting her calls til she stopped reaching me out. Ayoko muna siyang kausapin kasi kahit ako, naguguluhan din.

Siguro I'm still haunted and traumatized by it. Kahit na sabihin nating walang taon na ang lumipas, bawat salitang binitawan ni Tita Olive noon ay nakatatak pa rin sa puso't isipan ko.

Bakit ba mas pinipiling kong takbuhan lahat? Bakit ba tinatakbuhan ko si Bada palayo?

While I was deep and lost in thoughts, everything got interrupted by a loud noise inside my apartment. I sat up properly and picked up my phone. I got so annoyed and answered the call without checking the id caller's name.

“What?!”

“Audrey....”

I pulled away my phone a bit from my ear to check who the caller was and guess who it is... It's Bada.

“Ano bang kailangan mo?” I acted like I was annoyed.

“Bakit mo ba ako laging tinatakbuhan? Hindi kaba napapagod sa ganitong sitwasyon? Ayaw mo bang ayusin lahat?”

“Bada, please lang tigilan—”

“Mom confessed everything and I did a mistake. I'm sorry for everything she did. Audrey, alam kong nagsuffer ka rin dahil sa mga nangyari pero bakit pati ako pinapahirapan mo?”

“.....”

“Bakit pati ako? Mahal kita, Audrey. Mahal na mahal pa rin kita at hindi nagbago yun. Kahit na walang taon na yung lumipas, ikaw pa rin yung gusto ko. Akala ko nung una wala na at galit na lang yung nararamdaman ko sayo pero nung nakita kita ulit dun ko napagtanto na mahal pa rin kita.” Bada added and her voice was cracking up. It was so heartbreaking to hear.

“Please stop this.”

“Audrey, labasin mo naman ako kasi kailangan na kailangan kita ngayon.”

“W-what?”

“I'm in front of your building apartment. I will not leave until you show up and give me a chance to talk to you.”

“Umuwi kana.” I said and hung up on her.

Napatingin ako sa orasan at 11 pm na. Don't tell me kanina pa siya nandun? Inilapag ko yung phone ko sa table at naupo uli sa sofa. I tried to focus on other things, distracting myself knowing na nasa baba lang siya at hinihintay ako.

30 minutes na ang lumipas at malamang sa malamang sumuko na yun kakahintay saakin. I turned off the television para magready matulog since bukas na ishoshoot yung mega crew performance namin. I stood up and my eyes landed outside the window, realizing na umuulan na pala.

“Siguro naman umuwi na siya.” bulong ko at nagtungo sa bintana.

I was about to close the window when I caught a glimpse of a familiar person outside. Si Bada ba yun? Based on her height and yung motor na inuupuan niya parang siya nga at basang basa na siya ng ulan! Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip at dali dali kong kinuha yung payong at tumakbo palabas.

“Baliw ka talaga.” bulong ko at mas binilisan pagbaba ko sa hagdanan. I didn't use the elevator kasi may tao pa sa loob at mas matatagalan kung maghihintay pa ako.

As I finally reached my destination, I saw Bada and she looks so miserable. I took a deep breath and slowly approached her.

“Bakit hindi kapa umuuwi?” tanong ko sakanya at pinayungan siya. She had her head down but as soon as she heard my voice, she lifted her face up and our eyes met.

“Akala ko hindi kana lalabas.” mangiyak ngiyak na sabi ni Bada sabay hila saakin palapit para yakapin ako.

“Ang kulit mo talaga.” bulong ko at niyakap siya pabalik.

Hindi ko talaga siya matiis. Kahit anong takbo at layo ko sakanya, bumibigay pa rin ako at bumabalik sakanya.

Mahal ko pa rin siya—kahit anong loko ko sa sarili ko, I know deep down inside me mahal ko pa rin siya mula noon hanggang ngayon. Maybe I'm just scared to admit that because I'm afraid that what happened before might happen again. What if magkahiwalay ulit kami? Hindi ko na alam mangyayari saakin.

—

I asked her to go with me at my apartment since sobrang lakas ng ulan at malabong makauwi pa siya. I gave her my clothes para makapagpalit agad siya kasi if not, baka magkasakit pa siya.

“Thank you.” nakangiting sabi ni Bada saakin at hinigop yung hot chocolate na tinimpla ko para sakanya.

“You are so stubborn.” I said as I sat down in front of her, facing each other.

“Alam mo namang gagawin ko lahat para makita at makausap kita.”

She's so consistent. Ever since I left and disappeared from her sight, hindi siya tumigil magpabalik balik sa dating tinutuluyan ko hanggang sa napagod na lang siya. It looks like ganun pa rin siya til now and it really shows.

“Alam ko.” matipid kong sagot at tinitigan lang siya.

“Audrey, mahal kita.” Bada said once again and her voice was shaking.

I didn't say anything and let her to continue what she wants to say. Alam kong may sasabihin pa siya kaya ayokong agawin o sirain yung moment na yun.

“Ako na yung humihingi nang tawad sa mga ginawa ni Mommy sayo and Audrey, I'm really sorry kung hinusgahan at nagalit ako sayo kahit na hindi ko naman alam yung totoong rason kung bakit ka umalis. I'm really sorry.” She added.

I can feel her sincerity and alam kong galing talaga yung mga salita yun sa puso niya. She's apologizing on behalf of her mom and for the things she didn't mean to do. Bada doesn't even need to apologize because if you look at it, we both suffered.

“Please Audrey, give me a chance to prove myself—” I rose up from my seat, approaching Bada to close the gap between us and silenced her with a kiss

At first she was shocked and didn't move but as she managed to process everything, Bada kissed me back and we both cried. The kissed was sweet, gentle and also taste of a new beginning.