One Shot Story (COMPILATION)

02: Pagod na

“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” I said, my voice a little strained.

Nasa unit kami ngayon ni Kian, my boyfriend, my human diary, my food buddy, my trip buddy, my kachikahan, my rant buddy and my knight in shining armor. We are celebrating our 10th year of relationship.

Sa loob ng sampong taon na pagsasama namin hindi talaga maiiwasan ang away-bait, tampohan, selosan, pero nananatili pa rin kami sa isa't isa.

Mas pinipili naming manatili kesa ang bumitaw.

Ngunit, ang away, tampohan, selosan ay naiiwasan, pero ang pagbabago... hindi.

Change is the only permanent in this world. At hindi natin matatakasan ang pagbabago.

Nakasanay na namin 'to. Every monthsarry, anniversary dito kami nagce-celebrate sa unit niya.

He looked up from his phone, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Oh, sorry. Just checking something.”

“Checking something?” I echoed, my voice tinged with a hint of frustration. “You’ve been on your phone for the past hour, checking something. It’s like…you’re not even here.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, a half-hearted apology that did little to soothe the sting of my hurt. “I’m just…busy.”

“Busy?” I asked, my voice rising slightly. “Busy with what? Your fantasy football team? Your latest video game? You’re always busy, but you never seem busy with us.”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? I’m just stressed.”

“Stressed?” I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Stressed about what? You’re always stressed, but you never seem stressed about…well, you know.”

He stared at me, his expression unreadable.

"Well, we need to talk, Kian." Sabi ko at umayos ng upo.

Sinandal niya ang likod niya sa armrest ng upoan. "Talk? Tungkol saan?"

I breathe out heavily. "About me, about you, about us."

"Is this about yesterday?" He sighed. "Babe, sinabi ko—"

"'Yon na nga, e! Ang tagal na natin Kian, but I don't know what's important anymore. I don't know kung relasyon pa ba 'to."

Nagsimula nang magsibagsakan ang mga luha ko sa pisngi.

"Am I still important to you?" Naiiyak na tanong ko.

He sighed. "Of course. So please, 'wag mong sirain itong celebrat—"

"Is this important to you?!" I cut him off.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Of course importante 'to sa 'kin! Mage-effort ba ako nito kung hindi 'to importante sa 'kin?!"

"You're doing this because you think it's your responsibility as a boyfriend, not because you want to. Not because you treasure this moment. Not because this is important to you. Not because you love me."

Hindi ko na ramdam na mahal mo ako, Kian.

Hindi ko na ramdam na mahalaga ako sayo, Kian.

"Saan ba nanggagaling 'yan, ha? Stacey naman... Anniversary natin ngayon kaya please lang, pwede bang itabi mo na muna 'yang init ng ulo mo."

"Admit it, Kian, kasi pakiramdam ko ang layo-layo mo na sa akin kahit nasa tabi lang naman kita. Pakiramdam ko nag-iisa na lang ako kahit kasama naman kita. Everything changed, Kian, including you!"

Hindi naman siya ganito dati, eh.

Kung dati kilig na kilig ako tuwing nagce-celebrate kami ng anniversary, ngayong nagbago na, ngayon hindi na.