20 - Stop
"Gale..."
Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Nilingon ko agad ang nagmamay-ari sa boses na iyon.
Si Simon.
Gusto kong tumakbo. Lumayo. Magtago. At wag magpakita. Kahit kailan.
Pero parang natuod ako. Di ako makagalaw. Pinilit ko na lang ngumiti kasi di ko magawang makatakas sa kanya.
"Tara." He said and walked towards me.
"Ano... Ah... Simon..." I stammered, "Ano kasi, may gagawin kasi ako."
Simon stopped in his tracks. Looked at me. Stared at me. Then he sighed.
"Please, Gale."
With that voice, my heart aches. I nodded at sumama na ako sa kanya.
We went to our usual spot sa cafe kung saan kami tumatambay. Tahimik kaming naupo at wala man lang nag-initiate to start a conversation. Inilabas ko ang isang notebook ko and absent-mindedly browse the pages.
Dumating si Kuya Miko, yung waiter na naging kaibigan namin. Simon ordered our food.
Kita ko na Kuya Miko is silently communicating with Simon. Nahalata ata niya na we're not the usual us. Yung puro kwento and medyo maingay.
Simon shook his head and umalis na si Kuya Miko to prepare our food. During their exchange, di ako nagsalita. Hanggang sa dumating ang pagkain namin, di pa rin kami nag-uusap ni Simon.
We ate in silence.
Nakakatakot ang nangyayari sa amin.
Pinanood ko si Simon na uminom ng juice habang nakatingin din sa akin.
"Gale."
Nag-iwas ako ng tingin.
"Gale." Ulit nya pero di ako lumingon sa kanya para salubungin ang mga mata nya.
He sighed.
"Apat na araw na." He said.
He's right. Apat na araw na nga ang nakaraan simula nung huli kaming magkasama.
"Busy ako." Mahinang bulong ko.
"Naiintindihan ko naman iyon. But..." He said. His voice almost cracked. His eyes met mine asking for some sort of explanation why I became so cold.
"Let's stop."
I smiled. My eyes watering as I listened to my heart breaking inside my head.
"Simon..." I started. I know once I said those words everything will fall apart. Things between us will never be the same anymore.
"I have fallen for you, Simon. I'm in love with you. So, let's stop."
His face is unreadable.
I stood up, grabbed my bag and left our favorite place.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Boyfriend Project (COMPLETED) #Wattys2016
Romance"I just wanna experience it. So, I'm doing this my own way." Gale Marquez
