Broken Vessel (AMOG Series #1)

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24

Tension 

“A man sent by God would not lead you to sin, but lead you closer to Him…” huling sabi ng paring nag homiliya bago tumunog ang musika, hudyat na tapos na ang kaniyang homiliya.

Nakatitig pa rin ako kay Amare. Amare's eyes are on me the whole time. I couldn't open my mouth to speak because I was shocked by what he said. Natutulala ako na parang hindi ko maintindihan ang aking nararamdaman.

“We will stay as friends… you don't have to avoid me just because I like you, Adri. Stay with me. Nothing will change—only that I like you—but our friendship will remain. I will prove to you that there shouldn't be awkwardness between us. Is that okay with you?” He asked gently.

Nanliit ang aking mga mata. Gusto kong basahin ang kaniyang nararamdaman. Pero kita ko sa malalim niyang mata na hindi siya nakikipag biruan sa akin.

“Y-Yeah…” sabi ko na parang dumikit ang aking labi sa gulat at nawalan ng sasabihin.

He nodded gently. He slowly held my hands and chuckled a bit, like he had won the lottery.

“I have been dreaming of this for a long time, Adri," he said, then lifted his gaze to me. “I never expected this to happen here. Though I planned, this night was not my plan. He did.” He then glanced at the sky.

“Amare… wait…” napaiwas ako ng tingin. This is not right. Pagkatapos lumingon ako sa kaniya ulit. “I liked your friend…Obed,” mahina kong bulong ngunit nagdadalawang na sabihin iyon.

Tumango siya. “Yes, I know. And before I did this, I had already told him about it. Tinanong ko muna siya, sabi niya okay lang naman daw kasi hindi naman siya nanliligaw at kaibigan ka lang niya raw.”

Ang sakit ha? What? Does Obed like me, too? Alam kong kaibigan kami, pero may gusto siya sa akin!

“He likes me, Amare. We like each other!” 

“Is that so? Then, I'll remain your friend.” 

He sighed deeply as he dried his lips. Pumikit ang kaniyang mata habang binitawan ang aking kamay. Dumilat ulit at ngayon, mas lalong lumambot iyon.

“You don't have to worry that I like or love you, Adri. My feelings are my responsibility. And besides, I won't intrude on your feelings. I am just telling you this; I am not offering you a relationship yet.” Then he paused. “Only if you wanted me, too. Ayaw kong pangunahan ka.”

“What if you get hurt? ”I asked.

“I won't, Adri,” he said confidently.

“Why?”

"I have trust that I won't, that's all.”

Amare did what he said after that confession from him. We still remain friends, though I feel awkwardness in between our meetings, but as I see him handle me, it excites me more. It feels like he knows how to deal with me and talk to me like we were friends while his feelings stay.

I thought Obed wouldn't talk to me again, but after the new year, we got back to school. He texted me that maybe we would have a lunch date later. Pumayag na ako dahil wala naman akong ibang plans. Since I need a breather now, habang nagsisimula na kaming gumawa ng research paper namin. Ysa and Gab are being grouped again, but I am the only one out of the circle. Kaya ngayon nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makipag daresay Obed.

“You will be out for lunch with Obed?” Amare asked casually to me as we both walked the stairs of our building.

Tumango ako. I looked at him with an ecstatic expression. He also glances my way, and I can see that he feels the same way. My expression changed, and I felt so guilty talking about the boy I liked in front of the boy who liked me.