Run Away, Bride (as published by Lifebooks) - Complete

Chapter 7: Aquino's Downfall

NANINDIG LAHAT ng balahibo ni Bride nang pinili ni Slance ang "Share". Lalo na nang tiningnan siya nito ng matalim bago tuluyang tumayo. Kinabahan siya sa nakita niya sa mga mata nito. Did she push him too much? Did she hurt him too much?

He deserved it, Bride. He deserved it, pangungumbinsi ng isip niya.

"Once upon a time in high school, nagmahal ako ng isang babae. At that time, she was the most beautiful girl in my eyes even if she never saw it herself. Iyong problema, lagi niya akong tinatakbuhan. Iyong mas malaking problema, sunod naman ako nang sunod sa kanya. On our graduation ball, I planned to ask her to dance and declare my feelings. It took me years to think of the right words. It took me years to have the balls to tell her. And when I did, she shook her head and ran away. There I was, standing in the middle of the whole student body, rejected, humiliated and left behind. Ang masakit pa, she never ever looked back at me. She kept running. Sobrang sakit. Napakasakit. You know that feeling when your dream was within arms reach but it won't accept your hands? I was so mad at her. So hurt for what she's done.

"Pagkalipas ng ilang taon, nagkita kami ulit. At alam niy kung ano na siya? She was alone, sad, and single. And she still loved me! When we were having coffee, she started spilling her feelings for me, desperate to be loved. Mahal niya pa raw ako, mahal na mahal. Imagine watching the girl who broke your heart confessing that she loved you. Nakakasuka." Itinaas nito ang isang bote ng beer. "So this is for the girl who broke my heart. I'm sorry I'm no longer the boy who went crazy for you. And I'm sorry that no other man will ever love you." Uminom ito mula sa bote saka tumingin sa kanya, eyes conveying another message. "I hope this makes you happy."

Suddenly, all eyes were on her. Walang sinabing pangalan si Slance pero mukhang alam ng mga itong siya iyon. Obviously, everybody was shocked. Biglang bumalik sa kanya ang nangyari sampung taon na ang nakakaraan. When people were looking at her and Slance, murmuring how unfit she was for a guy like him. How unwanted she was in a world of perfectly normal people.

Dumapo ang mga mata niya kay Barbara, asking forgiveness. Nang umiwas ito ng tingin ay tumayo siya. And just like what she did before, she stood up, fighting the tears in her eyes and ran away.

There was so much pain in her heart. Kailangan ba talagang ikwento iyon ni Slance sa harap ng mga kasama nila? Alam niyang sinabi niya ritong saktan siya nito pero bakit sa harap ng mga taong importante sa kanya?

She tumbled down and fell on the ground. She noticed her knees were bleeding but not as many as the blood streaming from her sliced heart. Nanatili siyang nakaupo sa lupa. Medyo nakalayo na siya sa venue. She held her chest as if preventing the hurt to continue, as if holding it would prevent it from falling off.

Alam niyang sinabi niya ditong saktan siya. Hindi niya lang inasahan na gagawin talaga nito. She hurt him by betraying him with his engagement with Barbara and she knew she deserved to be hurt back. But not like that. It was too much.

"Ate," said a quivering voice behind her. Si Barbara iyon.

Huminga siya ng malalim saka pinunasan ang kanyang luha. "I'm sorry, Barbie. Sinira ko iyong dapat ay engagement party mo. Uuwi nalang ako bukas agad. Pasensya ka na, ha?"

Lalo itong umiyak. "Ate..."

She smiled bitterly. "Iyong tungkol ba kay Flip? Totoo 'yun, Barbie. Hindi ko sinabi sa inyo dahil sobrang sakit aminin na mahal ka n'ong taong hindi ako kinayang mahalin. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you."

"Ate..." Umaapaw na ang luha nito at kunot na kunot ang mukha. Parang isang bata na nakakita ng kawawang tuta.

Awa. Ilang taon na ba siyang kinaaawaan ng tao?