*****
Bumibili ng mineral water sa isang kiosk si Alex. Iniwan niyang nagbabasa si Blake sa ilalim ng paborito nitong puno. Basta oras ng pag-aaral ng lalaki, lagi siyang gumagawa ng palusot para makaiwas. Ilang saglit siyang tumambay sa tindahan at nang matantiya niyang malapit ng matapos ang lalaki sa ginagawa, saka lamang niya naisipan itong balikan. Bago siya umalis ng tindahan ay ibinili niya na rin ito ng tubig.
Habang naglalakad pabalik, namataan niya si Marianne. Nagmamadali itong lumapit kay Blake nang may seryosong-seryosong mukha. Inihahanda niya na sana ang sarili sa mga pagtataray na maari na namang marinig mula sa babae subalit bigla siyang natigilan nang maulinigan niya ang pag-uusap ng dalawa. Naupo siya sa likod ng isang kalapit na puno habang panaka-nakang sumisilip.
“I’ve heard that you went to a strip club again. Is that true?” ungkat ng babae.
“It’s none of your business," sagot ni Blake habang hindi inaalis ang mga mata sa binabasang libro.
“It is still my business Blake. What are you doing to yourself? You are not this kind of person!” galit na sabi ni Marianne.
Tumayo si Blake at hinarap ang kausap. Ngumisi ito at tinitigan ng diretso sa mga mata ang babae. “Why Marianne? What kind of person should I be? Do you still long to see the guy whom you could easily cheat on?”
Ilang sandaling hindi nakapagsalita si Marianne at iniwas ang mga mata sa titig ng kaharap. “H-how many times do I have to tell you na hindi kita niloko Blake.”
“Then was it my eyes who cheated me? Nagha-hallucinate lang ba ako nang makita ko ang girlfriend ko na may kahalikang ibang lalaki?”
“I was forced Blake! I was tricked by that guy! You were unfair to me. You easily judged and dumped me without even giving me a chance to explain.”
“Do you expect me to be fair to the person who hurt me the most?” tatawa-tawang sagot ng lalaki.
“At ano sa palagay mo Blake? Hindi ako nasaktan? This pain is making me crazy until now! And it’s even making me crazier because of what you are doing to yourself now!”
“Who told you to still care for me. There’s nothing for you to worry. I’m happier now. Thanks to you I realized that there's more to life than books, school, love and relationships!”
“You’re happier? You are pretending Blake. If you hate me, fine hate me but stop doing these craps to yourself!”
Napansin ng lalaki na nag-iinit na ang kanilang pag-uusap. Huminga ito ng malalim at ikinalma ng ilang saglit ang sarili. “Let’s stop this nonsense Marianne. Let start moving on with our lives. Matagal na tayong hiwalay. I’ve got a girlfriend already and I love her.”
“You love her? Do you love her more than you loved me?”
Hindi sumagot si Blake.
“If you really love her then itigil mo lahat ng mga kalokohan mo Blake. Because if you don’t, it only means one thing to me…that you are the one who can’t move on from me.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Ang Alalay Kong Astig! ( Published Under Pop Fiction/Summit)
RomanceBlake Monteverde is a living proof that prince does still exist. He is the ideal boyfriend every teenage girl could dream of. He's the man every lady wishes to date. And he is the husband every woman aspires to marry. He's handsome, intelligent, coo...
