My Perfect Stranger

-Truth-

We're both standing in front of the tree near the tables. The air is a bit freezing. I could feel it on my legs. Good thing, I'm wearing Aidan's jacket. I waited him to continue.

"She's my bestfriend, like you and Daryl. Classmate ko siya since kindergarten. Kami-kami nila Aidan, Rigo and Keith. I was in love with her for quite a time until I realized that it's just another story of an unrequited love. I knew, he loves somebody else kaya I just settle myself to be her bestfriend kasi yun yung tawag niya sa akin. At least I'm still part of her life kahit na-friendzoned ako. I promised her that I'll be there whenever she needs me. Kaya siya nagpapasama sa akin sa lola niya kanina because of that promise. I never broke any of my promises to her. Like any other bestfriends, may mga routine din kami like ng pagsisimba. But it hurts big time kasi alam ko hanggang dun lang. It was killing me slowly, knowing that I'll just be forever her bestfriend. In my desperate attempt to make her jealous, I tried to have different girlfriends at ipinakikilala ko sa kanya lahat but it's useless. I still didn't get what I want. Her attention and love was all I ever wanted back then." he paused for a while and looked at me. Hindi ko masyadong ma-digest lahat.

"I thought I'll be forever in love with just one girl. Sabi nga nya di ba, she's my favorite girl. Kasi yun yung sinasabi ko lagi sa kanya noon kahit na may girlfriend ako. Gago ko lang di ba. Siguro kung alam ng mga naging girlfriend ko yun baka binitay na nila ako sa gitna ng Luneta." he laughed darkly.

"Nanggagago ako ng iba habang nagpapakatanga ako sa kanya. That was me. That was Dax Harold Lagdameo's older version." he shifted his gaze at the sea.

"What do you mean?" I knitted my eyebrows.

"Kung nakikinig ka ng mabuti. Lahat ng sinabi ko past tense na. In tagalog, tapos na. She's still my bestfriend though but that's it. I wouldn't try to cross that line again. I'm an upgraded version of myself. Thanks to you. You brought me to my senses again." he smiled.

I want to know more. "Bakit ganun yung reaksyon mo kanina nung nakita mo siya?" Iba talaga yung reaction nya kanina eh. Wagas. Pati nga mga kaibigan ko nakita at nadama yun.

He laughed. "Remember the time nung unang beses mong nakita si Bricks sa mall after nung break-up nyo? Like you, ganun din ako. Nagulat lang ako kasi ang tagal ko siyang hindi nakita. Quite a while."

"So does it mean na in-love ka pa din sa kanya?"

"Bakit ikaw ba nung nakita mo si Bricks noon, in-love ka pa sa kanya?" I shook my head. Ang alam ko hindi eh. Nagulat lang talaga ako.

"I thought I'm still in love with her because of my reaction but I was wrong. Yung nakita mong nag-uusap kami kanina sa room ko. I'm really sorry for that. Ginawa ko yun kasi I wanted to be sure with what I felt when I saw her. I thought I was still affected pero hindi na pala. Namiss ko lang yung bestfriend ko. Yun lang." Nararamdaman ko namang sincere siya sa sinabi niya.

"Eh, bakit hindi ka nagrereact sa topic kanina dun sa table?"

"Ano dun yung kay Bricks ba? Kung pwede ko nga lang suntukin lahat ng taong nagbanggit ng pangalan ni Bricks kanina at sumama sa usapan na yun, ginawa ko na. Kahit si ate pati yung mga kaibigan mo. Sobrang pagtitimpi kaya ang ginagawa ko kanina para lang hindi magwala. Tapos yang bestfriend mo, si Jeorge at Bulag, kung anu-ano pa yung mga sinasabi. Kung hindi mo lang bestfriend at babae yung dalawa tinamaan na sila sa akin." Tsk! Sira ulo kasi. Nagulat din ako sa mga pinagsasabi nila.

"No, not that one. Yung kay Nikola yung tinutukoy ko. It started nung sa shrimp. Favorite mo pala yun, you didn't tell me. Tapos yung sasamahan mo siya."

"Ah, you got that one ha. Now you know, I like shrimps. Hindi mo kasi ako masyado tinatanong. Samantalang ako halos yata lahat alam ko na tungkol sa'yo. About that, ayoko lang kasi siyang ipahiya sa inyong lahat. Mahirap tumanggi kasi she's not used being rejected especially kung ako gagawa. Ayoko naman ding um-oo kasi nga magiging issue yun. Kaya I prefer not to say anything. Hinayaan ko na lang si Aidan na sawayin ang girlfriend nya." Tama nga si Aidan. Yun yung tingin nila, na they were a couple. Ayoko ng tanungin yun kay Harold. Hindi naman namin issue yun. Sa kanilang dalawa na yun.