GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

48 THAT DAY

NICO

flashback.

"Do I deserve to be suspended for a week?" pabulong na tanong ko sa sarili ko.

Hell yeah.

If it meant landing another punch on Maki's face, I'd take the suspension ten times over.

Maloi had her next class, kaya inabot ko sa kanya ang susi ng kotse niya.

Gusto ko na lang umuwi sa condo and sleep off this headache.

I decided to take a taxi. Habang naglalakad ako papuntang waiting area ramdam ko ang pagsunod sakin ng isang kotse, maya maya lang ay tumigil sa harap ko.

I stopped walking, staring at the car, confused. The driver's side door opened, and that's when I saw her.

I froze.

The world around me seemed to blur out of focus as I locked eyes with the woman stepping out of the car.

"C-Colet... I know it's y-you." nanginginig ang boses niya habang lumalapit sa akin.

She wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug like she had the right. Like she hadn't left me shattered all those years ago.

Pero agad ko din tinanggal ang mga braso niya palayo.

The hurt in her eyes was instant, but I didn't care. I couldn't care.

"It's Nico." I corrected coldly. "Not Colet. Not anymore." I saw her flinch at my words at doon ko nakita ang mga luha na unti-unting namumuo sa kanyang mga mata.

"I missed you." she whispered, halos hindi ko marinig dahil sa mga hikbi niya.

"What do you need, Chie?" I snapped, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.

"C-can we talk? please." she pleaded habang nanginginig ang labi niya.

Lumingon ako sa paligid, paranoid that Maloi might pass by and see this scene na ayaw kong mangyari lalo na sa mga oras na ito.

Binalik ko ang malamig na tingin ko sa kanya. "Wala na tayong dapat pag-usapan." The finality in my voice was like a slap, but I didn't care.

I turned to leave, needing to get away from her but she grabbed my wrist.

Agad kong tinanggal iyon ng humarap sa kanya.

"Ano ba, Chie!" asik ko sa kanya.

"Don't you miss me, Col?" umiiyak ang mga mata niya, puno ng pangungulila at pagsisisi.

Napapikit ako saglit.

"You left me, remember?" I hissed, my voice raw with the anger I had buried for so long.

"D-do you really think I'd give you a hug pagkatapos mo akong iwanan sa ulan habang nagmamakaawa na huwag kang umalis?" my voice cracked, the pain spilling out with every word.

Her tears fell freely now and she looked devastated while her lip shaking as she tried to explain. "I... I was wrong." she stammered, her voice filled with regret.

"My decision was wrong that night. I thought Jake would give me the perfect life. A happy relationship.. just like my dad wanted for me. But I was wrong Colet."

I couldn't help it. I let out a bitter laugh, crossing my arms defensively, as if that could guard me from the wave of pain threatening to crash over me.

"Kaya ka bumabalik? Because you didn't get the perfect family you thought you'd have with him?" my voice dripped with sarcasm, but the bitterness was real.