I Like You, Teacher

One Shot

Aira's POV

Ever since we got back here in Manila, I've been staying Gab muna. Ate Gianna flew back to Canada a week after Tita's burial. Ayaw na nga nyang bumalik eh since walang kasama dito si Gab, but it was Gab who said that he's fine here.

I remember when we took her to the airport. Inaya nya ako sa isang tabi para kausapin.

-
"Aira, I don't know how I can repay you for all the things you've done for Gab and our family. I'm just really grateful for all the support you've shown him" She said.
"You don't need to repay me, Ate. I did all of that because I love him" Ngumiti naman sya tsaka nya hinawakan kamay ko.

"Please, don't leave him. Tayo na lang ang meron sya. And right now, ikaw na lang ang makakasama nya. I'll call you from time to time. Please take care of him" I nodded.
"I will Ate, don't worry. Hindi ko papabayaan si Gab"  She hugged me.
"Thank you, Aira. Thank you so much" She said while we're still hugging.

"If you need anything, just call me okay? I'm just one call away" She said as she pulled out of the hug. I nodded and then we bid our goodbyes. She also said a lot of things to Gab and kasama na dun yung wag daw ako bibigyan ng sakit ng ulo ni Gab. Natawa na lang ako kasi nod lang nang nod si Gab.

-
"What do you want for dinner, mahal?" I asked as soon as I saw him sat in the sofa. Halos buong araw lang syang nasa kwarto nya eh.
"Kahit ano" He proceeded to scroll through his phone. Okay. I guess, I'll be the one to decide again.

He became very distant from me. It has been a month and few weeks now and parang napapalayo yung loob nya sakin. Naiintindihan ko naman but sometimes, it just gets to a point na hindi nya ako kakausapin the whole day. His reason is that gusto nya mapag isa.

Lagi ko syang kasama, 24/7. Ilang beses ko na syang niyaya lumabas, umalis para sana new environment for him, hindi yung puro lang dito sa bahay. I thought that it would be good for him to smell some fresh air. Pero ayaw nya. Lagi syang tumatanggi.

Honestly, may mga dapat din akong asikasuhin aside from him. May mga dapat din akong gawin sa work na hindi ko magawa kasi nag aalala ako sakanya. Because, kung hindi ko sya papakainin, hindi sya kakain. It's that serious.

After preparing our dinner, pinuntahan ko na agad sya sa sala para yayain syang kumain. Nadatnan ko naman syang nanunuod lang ng videos sa phone nya.

"Mahal, let's eat na" I told him. Di naman nya ako pinansin kaya tinabihan ko sya.
"Kain na tayo" Di nya pa din ako pinansin kaya paulit ulit ko syang tinawag.

"Ano ba? You go eat if you wanna eat" Nagulat naman ako sa naging sagot nya.
"Bakit ka galit? I'm just telling you that it's time to eat. Ang konti lang ng kinain mo kanina kaya alam ko gutom ka na" I said in response.

"Hindi ako gutom, okay? Hayaan mo na muna ako. Kakain na lang ako" Bumalik naman sya sa phone nya.
"Do you really have to do that? Do you really need to make me feel that I don't matter to you?" I asked. Tumingin naman sya sakin.

"Anong pinagsasasabi mo? Ayoko lang kumain. Wag mong gawing issue yun" Habang sinasabi nya yan, patuloy pa din sya sa phone nya.
"No. It's not just about eating. Ang tagal mo na akong ginaganyan Gab. You sometimes act that I'm invisible, minsan di mo ako pinapansin. Parang wala kang kasama. Parang wala ka ng gana sa akin, sa lahat. Hanggang kelan ka ganyan?" This time I got his attention kaya he put his phone away.

"Tingin mo ba ganito ako kasi gusto ko? Nawalan ako ng mama, Aira. Do you expect me to just move on and go on with my life? No. Hindi ko kaya yun" He said. Yung tono nya, galit na.
"I'm not expecting you to move on agad agad, Gab. It's just that you still have a life to live. Tita wouldn't be happy -..." Tumayo naman sya kaya di ko na natuloy yung sasabihin ko.

"You don't understand, Aira. You still have a mom while I don't. Hindi mo naiintindihan yung nararamdaman ko" Tumayo na din ako kasi medyo nainis naman ako sa sinabi nya.

"I'm trying Gab. Iniintindi ko lahat. Kaya nga pag sinisigawan mo ako, hindi na lang ako umiimik, diba? Kapag hindi mo ako pinapansin, hindi kita kinukulit. Kasi nga, alam ko that you're hurting. You're still hurting. Iniisip ko na lang na lahat yun nagagawa mo lang dahil sa situation mo" I took a deep breath.

"What I'm trying to say here is that wag mo akong ipagtabuyan kasi wala naman akong ginawa kundi intindihin ka" I said.
"Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi mo nakikita yun. Lahat ng efforts ko to communicate with you, to make you feel better, hindi mo yun nakikita" I bit my lower lip to prevent me from crying. Ayokong umiyak.

"For a month, pinili kong mag stay sa tabi mo. Kahit na ang dami kong dapat gawin sa work, I still stayed with you kasi alam kong kailangan mo ako. Pero di mo man lang naappreciate yun. Imagine, isang buwan mo sakin pinaramdam yung ganun yet I am still here" I explained myself.

"Did I tell you to stay with me? Hindi naman diba. Go. You can go. Kaya ko sarili ko" He suddenly spoke.
"My god, Gab. Hindi ka na bata!" Nainis naman ako sa sinabi nya.
"Oo, hindi na ako bata kaya you don't need to take care of me. Kaya ko ang sarili ko. Hindi kita kailangan" Tumingin naman ako sakanya.

"Hindi mo ako kailangan?" I asked, kung tama ba yung narinig ko.
"Hindi kita kailangan kaya umalis ka na" He said coldly. Hindi na napigilan ng luha ko. Pumatak na sya. Wala naman ako ibang pinakita sakanya kundi pagmamahal eh. Kaya bakit ganito?

"Okay, you don't need me. I'll leave" Nasaktan ako sa sinabi nya kaya gagawin ko ang sinabi nya. Siguro he'll learn to function properly again pag umalis muna ako sa tabi nya. Yeah, he probably will.

Pumunta ako sa kwarto and niligpit mga gamit ko. Madami dami na din akong gamit dito since I've been staying here for a while now. Pag labas ko naman, nandun pa din sya sa sala. He's just on his phone. Pati nung pag labas ko ng pinto, hindi nya man lang ako liningon. Parang wala na talaga syang pakealam sakin.

Sana bumalik na sya sa dati. I know it will take a while but I'm hoping for that day to happen.