Jade's POV
I've always been the princess. Sanay akong ako ang hinahabol. I've been a spoiled brat ever since. Lahat ng gustuhin ko, nakukuha ko. Lahat ng kailanganin ko, naibibigay. Lahat ng luho ko, nasusunod.
Pero bakit ngayon?
Bakit hindi kita makuha?
I looked at her confused face. Para bang wala siyang naintindihan sa mga sinabi ko. Para bang wala siyang nararamdaman para sa'kin. Wala ba talaga, Althea?
"Jade, I don't understand you. Ano bang ibig mong sabihin?" She asked me habang lumalapit siya sa'kin.
"Don't. Wag mo muna akong lapitan, please." I begged.
"Pero bakit? Ano nanaman bang nagawa ko sa'yo? Ano bang problema, Jade? Sabihin mo sa'kin kasi naguguluhan na talaga ako." She said while looking intently at me.
"Wala. Wala kang ginawa. Yun na mismo yung problema, Althea. Wala ka namang ginagawa." I said.
"Ano? Hindi kita maintindihan, Jade! Ano ba talagang meron at nagkakaganyan ka?!" She said na para bang naiinis narin.
"I'm scared, Althea! Takot na takot ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero this fear's consuming me."
"Diretsuhin mo nalang kasi ako, pwede ba? Ano bang problema?!" She said.
"I'm so scared loving you, Althea. But I really do! I really do, and it scares me so much!" There, I said it. I saw shock in her face na para bang hindi siya makapaniwala.
"You love me?" She stopped.
"I fell inlove with you without even noticing it. Ngayon, ito ako, naguguluhan, nahihirapan dahil sa nararamdaman ko para sa'yo. Hirap na hirap na ako, Althea."
"I can't unlove you. You're always on my thoughts. Kahit anong bagay na gawin ko, pumapasok ka bigla. Hindi ko na mapigilan, Althea. This feeling makes me wanna burst. Para akong sasabog dahil pilit kong itinatanggi sa sarili ko na hindi kita mahal, na hindi kita dapat mahalin." I said. Nakatulong nga talaga yung dami ng alak na nainom ko sa pag-amin ko.
Nakatayo lang si Althea at nakatingin sa'kin. Para bang nasa isang staring contest kami at feeling ko ako yung natatalo. Iniwasan ko ng tingin sa Althea at tumingin nalang sa ibang lugar.
"H-Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko." She said.
Parang nadurog yung puso sa mga sinabi niya. So wala nga talaga? Ang sakit. Sobrang sakit.
"Takot ako sa heights, Althea, kasi pakiramdam ko pag nahulog ako, walang sasalo sakin, walang sasagip. At ito na nga yung kinakatakutan ko, nangyayari na. Ayoko na. Ititigil ko na 'tong nararamdaman ko. Atleast ngayon nasabi ko na nang harapan sa'yo. I'll try my best to unlove you even if it will hurt me so much. Ayoko na ulit masaktan. Tama na. I'm sorry."
Akmang tatalikod na'ko at bababa nang bigla siyang sumigaw.
"Jade, wait! Don't go." She yelled.
"Ayoko na. Please tama na. I'm already broken. Ano pa bang gusto mo? Ito na nga oh, nasasaktan na'ko ulit." I said while tears were starting to flow.
"Jade.." She said.
"Althea, ano ba?! Pagod na pagod na'ko! Itong nararamdaman 'ko, alam ko namang mali! Pero hindi ko mapigilan, hindi ko mapalitan kasi ikaw nga ang laman nito! Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. I'm so messed up because of loving you." Tumalikod na ako at naglakad.
"Akala mo ba ikaw lang?" She calmly said.
Para akong napako sa mga sinabi niya. My breath became ragged. Humarap ako sakanya. Nagtinginan lang kami hanggang sa nagsalita na siya.
"The first time I saw you, alam kong iba ka talaga, Jade. It's like seeing my other half, like looking into my ownself." She started.
"Alam kong nasaktan ka na, at hanggang ngayon sinisisi ko ang sarili ko kasi nasasaktan narin kita. It's not my intention to hurt you, Jade dahil mahal kita." She went infront of me. Hindi ko na mapigilan hindi maiyak. This feeling is so unexplainable.
"Jade, I'm ready to fight for us. Handa akong gawin lahat para mapasaya ka because you mean the world to me. I promise that I'll be the best partner you'll ever, because in the first place, I have no plans on letting you go." She added.
"Let me always be by your side and let me show you how it is to really live. Jade, I'm not perfect, but I'm perfectly inlove with you. Let me show you how worthy I am of your love." She said as she hugged me.
"I know that you're scared of what's happening. I know that you're full of doubts. But believe me, we'll overcome these things at mas magiging masaya tayo." She said while looking into my eyes as if she's searching my soul.
"I'm always here to love you, Jade. Sana ganun ka rin sa akin." She smiled while wiping my tears away.
I hugged her tightly. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Our feelings are mutual. We're on the same road.
"Hush. Wag ka nang umiyak. I don't want to see you crying because of me." She said.
"I'm not crying because of you!" I defended.
"Oo na. Sabi mo eh. Haha. Ang cute mo!" She said while pinching my cheeks.
"So, are you now my girlfriend?" I teasingly smiled at her.
"Do you want me to be?" She returned the question.
"Yes. Let it be known that you are mine." I said while smiling.
"Fine with me. Hahahaha!" She said as she hugged me for the last time.
She held my hand and we walked towards the party.
"Kayo na?!" They both asked.
"Maybe! Hahaha!" Althea said. This girl.
"Effective pala yung plano natin na pagselosin eh!" Batchi said while giving Wila a high five.
"You knew?!" I asked her.
"I've always known. Nakita kaya kita sa condo ng bestfriend ko! Hahaha!" She said and I reddened like a tomato.
"Sorry, girl kanina ha? Kasama yun sa plano eh. Haha! Pero pag pinaiyak mo 'yang si Althea, sisiguraduhin kong mapapasakin na 'yan!" Wila said at binatukan siya ni Batchi.
"Ewan ko sainyo. Haha. But, thanks guys. Utang namin sainyo 'to." Althea said while smiling at me.
"Yun oh! Hahaha painom ka naman, tsong!" Batchi said.
"Next time na! Uuwi na muna kami ni Jade kasi parehas kaming nakainom." She said.
"Sus gusto mo lang ma-solo 'yang girlfriend mo eh!" Batchi teased.
"Siguro nga. Hahaha una na kami!" Althea said. She grabbed my hand as we walked towards the bar's exit.
"Let's go, lablab!" Althea said.
Lablab?
