I looked back at Grant. I saw him make a sign saying that I wait for him. I nodded to reply. And then I slowly shifted my sight to Cody. Yep, he was looking at me alright. Inipon ko ang lahat ng lakas ko at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa kanya. Kung talikuran n'ya ako ay bahala na. Kung mapahiya man ako, bahala na.
Dahan-dahan pa rin ang paglakad ko. Bukod sa kinakabahan ako ay pinapakiramdaman ko din kung lalayuan n'ya ba ako. I was about 3 feet away from him when I felt sure that he wasn't going anywhere.
"Hi Cody," I softly said.
"Hi," ang sagot naman n'ya na nandun pa rin ang kakaibang tingin sa akin.
"I'm so glad to see you."
He nodded. And then it was followed by like a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Clarq, kelan pa? Alam ko wala na akong pakialam at sinabi ko na ring hindi na kita pakikialaman but just this once can I get an answer?"
Sigurado akong tungkol kay Grant ang tanong n'ya. Siguro ito na ang tamang panahon para malaman n'ya. I need to get this over with para sa katahimikan ng lahat. Gusto n'yang malaman to help him move on kaya ibibigay ko na. At isa pa, ito rin naman ang gusto ni Grant eh.
"2 months pa lang Cody." He nodded. "Pwede ba tayong umupo muna at magusap?"
"Sige."
Naupo kami pareho but neither of us knew what to say next. Now that he knows, I wonder what difference it will make. Will he really be able to finally move on? Will he move on and still have that hatred towards me? Or will this finally be the closure that he's wishing for? Well, whatever he decides on I know for sure that I won't care anymore. Ngayong nasabi ko na ay parang natanggal 'yung maliit na splinter sa kamay ko... maliit man pero nakakairita pa rin.
I was finally able to find my voice and say, "Kamust ka na?"
"Doing fine, I guess. Ikaw?"
"Okay din naman."
"So hindi pala talaga si Martin, huh?"
Imbis na mainis dahil fixated pa rin pala s'ya doon ay natawa na lang ako sa loob ko. Hanggang ngayon talaga ay iyon pa rin ang nakatatak sa isip n'ya.
"Hindi talaga but we're good friends. Actually kasama ko nga sila kanina dito eh, silang dalawa ni Venice. Close talaga kasi ako sa kanila. Alam mo naman 'yun eh."
"So were you really not planning on telling me?"
"Hindi naman sa ganun kaya lang during that time na nag-uusap tayo ay naiinis talaga ako. If the circumstances were different, I would've told you. Sorry kasi hindi talaga tayo nagkaintindihan that time."
