lilies.

83

Kabanata 83

Lily's POV

I asked Adriel to come with me alone. Nagpunta kami pareho sa malayong parte kung saan kaming dalawa lang ang maaaring makarinig sa isa't isa. Hindi ko gustong may makarinig ng pag-uusapan namin.

Ngiting-ngiti si Adriel nang tumigil kaming pareho sa paglalakad. It's like he felt triumphant. It seemed like he won at something very significant.

Maybe because I finally said yes.

"I'm not marrying you," mahina ngunit malinaw at seryoso kong simula sa usapan namin.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo at ang kaninang ngisi niya ay unti-unting napapanis. He stepped closer. This is his usual stance when he is about to scream his lungs out. He is angry. I am sure of that. However, I don't want to end the night without telling him that I am not going to marry him.

Never. Maybe...14 years ago, I would be elated to hear his proposal. I would definitely jump for joy if I was my thirteen year old self. Time is different now.

Even though I am still Catlyn Lily Acosta, I am not my 13-year-old version of me.

"Why? You already said yes."

"You pressured me to say yes," I put emphasis on each word.

"I didn't do that. Ganoon naman talaga magpropose, Lily!"

"You know how I hate the crowd. You know how much I hate being put in the spotlight. With full knowledge of that, you'll do that to me? To be romantic? Do not kid me, Adriel."

"Ganyan ka lagi, parati mo akong pinagmumukhang masama. Pati ba naman sa proposal ko sa'yo? This is supposedly a happy night, sinisira mo."

I looked at him like he is the most ridiculous person in the world right now. He is.

Ganito na siya kahit noon pa. How can I forget that? I hated myself for choosing to stay over and over again.

He picked me up at school even when he only commutes. The courting lasted a month. The moment I said yes, I am sure that destiny really interferes to make sure we will end up together. That everything happens for a reason.

The effort he made to make me say yes seemed to fade now. He always has a reason for everything. He is busy with school work. Understandable. I am busy too. Kulang ang pera niya. Malapit na maubos ang allowance niya kaya hindi na niya ako masusundo. Naiintindihan ko. Hindi kami pareho ng estado sa buhay.

When I introduced him to Grandma, she made sure that I would remember that. That me and Mom are the same. We have poor taste in men.

Ayaw ni Grandma sa mahihirap. Kaya ayaw na ayaw niya kay Adriel.

Despite that, I am happy with him. I am living in a fairytale. It is rare to be with someone you are in love with when you are 13. There's no way for us to meet again but destiny...destiny...

"Kinalimutan na tayo ni Rai!" sigaw ni Gab at lumagok mula sa bote ng alak na hawak niya.

Nasa Pop Up kami ngayon, kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. Katabi ko sina Celine at Anya.

"We're friends with her sister, Fei, and cousin, Remi, it seems like he is always hanging out with Kai and Ian now," Celine stated. Sumisimsim ako sa baso ko ngunit tuon ang tainga ko sa sinasabi niya kahit na gaano pa kalakas ang tugtog.

"Nakakausap niyo ba?" tanong ng isa sa mga kaibigan namin.

Umiling si Anya, "Batian na lang. Hindi rin kami masyadong pinapansin."