❗short chap ahead
Sinclair Jade Navarette
I quietly watched Ace as she sang. I was about to call her because I have finished cooking, yet I found her peacefully staring at the setting sun, singing calmly.
"Bakit ganito? Sa lahat ng tao, ikaw pa ang napiling isigaw ng puso," she sang as she close her eyes, feeling the song. "Sino ba naman ako para piliin mo?"
"Tila tala sa kalangitan. Kaakit-akit, subalit ako'y hanggang tingin lang," I sang, continuing the song that she paused from singing just now.
She looked at me with surprise in her eyes. She eventually kept singing, though. "Kahit anong pilit na ika'y abutin, hindi ka kailanman magiging para sa akin."
"Ganda ng song, 'no?" I said then walked towards her direction. I stood beside her and looked at the sky.
She nodded. "It's sad, though."
"Do you relate to it?" I asked.
She looked away. "Yeah," she muttered.
Few seconds after staring at the view in silence, something came to my mind. "Did you mean it when you told me na gusto mo ako? Or were you just drunk?" I wonder, because it felt real and sincere when she told me that yet there's a part of me that tells me I might have the wrong judgment.
"Why are you suddenly asking me that?"
"I want to know."
It took her a while before answering.
"I did... I meant it," she answered, not looking at me. "But I don't want to ruin the friendship. So, we can forget about-"
"Do you remember what I said that night?" I asked, hoping that she did.
"You scolded me for going home alone while I'm drunk. Then, when I confessed, you did not buy it because I was drunk." She chuckled.
"Not that."
"I don't remember anything else, Jade," she replied. She paused, trying to remember, I guess. "There's something I remembered but it was vague so I don't really want to tell. It might be wrong."
I sighed. "Give it a try."
"You asked me to give you some time?" she said, unsure of her statement. "I didn't understand what it meant kaya hindi ko na inalala pa."
I nodded. "I see."
"Why are we even talking about it now? You invited me here to have dinner, right?" natatawang tanong niya. She must've sensed the awkwardness. "Luto na ba? Tara na." She was about to get inside yet stopped when I spoke.
"Hindi mo pa rin ba naiintindihan kung anong gusto kong iparating no'ng sinabi ko 'yon?"
She looked back at me and shook her head. "Do you mind telling me?"
"I asked you to give me some time to think. Some time to accept my feelings, myself. Some time to build courage..." I said. Confusion is evident in her face, she still seem like she doesn't have a clue.
"Para ano, Jade? Kung para sabihin sa akin na hindi mo ako kayang magustuhan dahil magkaibigan tayo, ayos lang 'yon. Tanggap ko na-"
"Para aminin sa 'yo at sa sarili ko na gusto kita." I cut her off, again.
Her brows furrowed. "Am I being delusional right now? I might have heard something off. Would you please repeat it?"
"Ace, gusto nga kita," I repeated.
Her eyes lit. "For real?"
I nodded, giggling.
"Oh, my Lord. No jokes talaga? Hindi prank? Baka prank 'to, ah!" she blabber. I just kept on nodding while laughing at her reaction. "Gosh, can we kiss?!"
My smile faded. "No, you idiot. Come on in, we'll eat."
Nilagpasan ko siya at nauna na akong pumasok. Sumunod rin naman siya kaagad sa akin. Honestly, I didn't want to turn my back at her. But damn, I felt like I'm turning red. Embarrassment finally hit me after I realized what I've done.
I mean, no regrets at all. I just had to build up so much courage before saying that. Nahiya lang ako noong nasabi ko na. Normal ba 'yon? Hindi kasi ako sanay!
"Wala na, Jade. Busog na ako," sabi niya naman habang malawak ang ngiti.
"Okay, e 'di bumalik ka na sa unit mo. If not for dinner, then what else are you here for?" I nonchalantly said.
"Wow, ang hirap biruin," bulong niya naman. "Kakain na po, Ma'am!"
"Good." I smiled.
"Pero seryoso nga, gusto mo rin ako? I thought you don't swing that way?" she asked. Sa totoo lang, kahit ako, itatanong iyon sa sarili ko, e. Akala ko ba straight ako?
"I thought so, too."
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