GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

38.5 REJECTION?

After I said those two words, tagumpay niyang natanggal ang mga braso kong nakayakap sa kanya.

Akala ko aalis na siya at iiwan ako, pero nagulat ako nang bigla siyang humarap pabalik sa akin.

"I never thought you'd misunderstand the way I cared for you." bulong niya, habang diretso siyang tumitig sa mga mata ko.

Ramdam ko ang malamig na hangin na sumasabay sa bigat ng mga salitang binitiwan niya.

"Cared?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"I don't have feelings for you, Maloi." she continued, her words cutting deep. "Everything I've done, it was just care. Nothing more."

Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Halos hindi ako makagalaw, parang pati paghinga ko'y huminto.

I didn't see this coming.

I got too carried away by my own expectations.

But I shoved those thoughts aside and reached for her hand at hinawakan ko ng mahigpit.

"Loving you doesn't mean I expect anything in return. I just want you to know-I'm willing to wait. As long as it takes, until you've completely healed from everything you've been through."

Hinahayaan kong bumuhos lahat ng emosyon ko sa bawat salita.

Tumingala ako at tiningnan siya, pero hindi ko pa rin siya mabasa.

"I could wait forever if that's what you need. I won't get tired, Uyab." I paused, but I pushed through, my gaze never leaving hers.

"You're right-it's easy to say all of this. But I'll show you. I'll prove it to you. No matter how long it takes."

My grip tightened as I looked at her with pleading eyes. "You can share the problems you're carrying with me... or rest for a while hayaan mong ako na muna ang magbuhat ng mga problema na dinadala mo."

She just stared at me, unreadable.

Ang mga mata niya'y tila maraming gustong sabihin, pero walang salita ang lumalabas sa bibig niya. Para siyang puzzle na hindi ko mabuo.

I nodded slowly, a realization dawning on me. I let go of her hand and took a step back.

"How funny, right? How could I even think of carrying your problems, kung sarili kong mga problema ay tinatakbuhan ko?"

Nanatili siyang tahimik. She didn't say anything.

Ramdam ko ang distansya sa pagitan namin, kahit ilang pulgada lang ang layo namin. Pero para bang milya na ang agwat.

"I don't regret anything I said because it's all true. Especially the part where I said I love you. And that I would risk everything for you..."

Kita ko ang paglambot ng kanyang mukha.

I took a breath and forced a smile. "But for now, I should go. Sorry sa disturbo and thanks for listening."

I was about to turn around when I felt her hand grab my wrist.

"You... you can s-stay." she whispered, almost like she wasn't sure if she should have said it.

Before I could even react, she walked over to my car and opened the trunk, pulling out my suitcase.

I blinked, caught off guard by the gesture.

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya at nagulat sa bilis ng mga pangyayari.

I smiled and followed her habang tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang bawat hakbang niya.

--

We stepped into the elevator, and it was just the two of us-alone in this small, quiet space.

She pressed the button for our floor, at marahan siyang tumabi sa akin. Our arms almost brushed as we stood side by side.

After that confession, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. No heaviness, no awkwardness, even though I was rejected. Somehow, I felt lighter.

Because I know what I feel for her is pure and real.

I turned to glance at her, and to my surprise she looked at me at the same time. Mag-iiwas na sana ako ng tingin, pero bago ko pa magawa iyon, marahan niyang inilagay ang kaliwang kamay niya sa pisngi ko.

"Punasan mo nga 'yang luha mo." bulong niya, at naramdaman ko ang hinlalaki niyang dumaan sa pisngi ko. "Baka mamaya isipin ng makakita na pinaiyak kita."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her comment, but my laughter quickly died down as her touch lingered.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, snapping us back to reality.

Napaayos ako ng tayo, habang siya naman ay mabilis na lumabas ng elevator, dala ang maleta ko like nothing had happened.

I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my racing pulse as I followed her out.

She pulled the keycard from her pocket, her movements calm and slid it into the door.

The moment I stepped inside, napahinto ako sa gitna ng living room. It felt too big for just one person.

My awe quickly shifted to confusion as I noticed the four doors scattered around the space.

Isa ba dito ang magiging kwarto ko? eme

Magtatanong na sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang isa sa mga pinto-yung pangatlong pinto mula sa kaliwa.

"Loi? Hey, what are you doing here?" It was Mikhs, casually leaning against the doorframe.

I stayed silent, caught off-guard by her sudden appearance.

Mikhs turned her gaze to Uyab, standing beside me with her suitcase in hand. Her eyes flicked to the luggage. "Owwww, so you're staying here?"

"Yes." Agad namang sumagot si Uyab.

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Mikhs. "You can use my room, Loi." Mikhs offered, sabay turo sa pintong pinanggalingan niya. "Minsan lang naman ako matulog dito, so it's no problem."

But before I could say a word, Uyab spoke again.

"She stays in my room."

It wasn't a suggestion-it was a declaration.

Bago pa makapag-react si Mikhs, hinawakan ni Uyab ang kamay ko at marahan pero may halong diin na hinila ako papunta sa ikalawang kwarto, the one right next to Mikhs.

Pagkapasok namin, padabog niyang isinara ang pinto sa likuran namin.

Uyab placed my suitcase by the edge of the bed before sitting down at the corner. Silence filled the small space. I took a moment to glance around.

Hindi siya ganoon kaluwag kumpara sa living room, pero sapat na para sa isang tao. But the bed was big enough for two.

I heard Uyab exhale deeply before standing and walking over to a closet. I watched her in silence as she opened it and began moving her clothes aside.

"You can use this half of the closet." she said, her voice softer now, as she pushed her clothes to one side to make room for mine. "This side is yours."

"Uyab.." I whispered.

Nagtatakang lumingon siya sa akin.

"Thank you for letting me stay with you."