Forgotten Love

Chapter XXXIV

(A/N: Dedicated to cessyanah18_knd.  I really appreciate your comments, and how you expressed your feelings for the characters. Thank you very much for not being a silent reader.

Dedications will be given to non-silent readers.)

XXXIV

Too Late

ONE WEEK had passed, and Ria and I became civil. Even though I still teased her from time to time, we both became serious when there were quizzes and activities by pair. Kahit na inis na inis siya sa'kin minsan, alam kong hindi siya galit.

Getting on her nerves became my habit, though. My day wouldn't end without teasing her.

We never had a decent conversation. Pag magkita man kami sa labas ng klase, kasama namin si Adrian at Clarisse. She never really acknowledged me as a friend, though.

I only got the opportunity to be alone with her outside class when I saw her crying in the sidewalk. I was driving, passing by Adrian's house when I saw her.

I slowed down the car and opened its window. "Hoy!" I called out.

She looked up, her eyes red from crying. There were still fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "Kung bi-buwisitin mo ako, parang awa mo na, sa ibang araw nalang," she said in between her sobs.

Tumakbo siya, at agad kong pinaandar ang sasakyan ko para habulin siya. I managed to catch up when she finally stopped running. Isang kilometro ang natakbo niya.

Kumunot ang noo niya nang napansin niya ako. Pinahid niya ang luha sa mga mata niya gamit ang kamay niya. She glared at me. "Sinusundan mo ba ako para asarin ako?!" sigaw niya. "Sige, asarin mo ako!"

I shook my head. Seryoso ko siyang tinignan. "Get inside the car," I said, and she seemed surprised.

Umiling siya, but I insisted, "Get inside. Kung hindi mo gagawin, kakaladkarin kita mula diyan."

She conceded in the end. She slid into the passenger's seat silently. I drove when she got inside. "Ano bang nangyari?" I asked, my eyes on the road.

For a moment, she didn't speak. Akala ko hindi na niya sasagutin ang tanong ko, pero nagsalita siya ulit. "F-Family problem," she said hoarsely.

I was aware about the Andrada's family problem. It'd been going for a year, and it was a surprise their parents still came around. "Tell me."

"Bakit ko naman sasabihin sa'yo?"

"I'm a good listener. You can let it all out, and I won't talk. I know you just want someone to listen."

"Wag dito," she said.

I parked my car outside the restaurant. When she saw where we were, she looked questioningly at me. "Bakit mo ko dinala dito?"

"Favorite resto mo 'to, di ba?"

"Paano mo alam?"

"Adrian told me about it. He brought me here once."

She sighed.

I stood up, got out of the car, and opened the door for her. Tinignan niya lang ako na para bang natubuan ako ng dalawang ulo.

"Ba't mo yan ginagawa? Ba't ka nagpapaka-gentleman?" she asked suspiciously.

"I've been taught manners. Ganito ako sa lahat ng mga babae," I said, lying. Of course it wasn't true. I would never open car doors and regular doors for any females unless it's a cousin, an aunt, a sister, or someone . . . I like and take seriously.