Piper's Point of View
"Oh."
I almost slapped myself. Anong klaseng reaction 'yon? Oh? Really, Piper? That's all you've go to say? Oh?
But... ugh! Why did he have to say that? Akala ko assumera lang ako kapag nakikita ko ang secret glances nila ni Nate kapag magkakasama kami. Akala ko he's just being nice just like he always used to. He treats everyone nicely kasi. Akala ko wala lang siyang choice because ako lang ang available most of the time kaya madalas kaming magsama.
My thoughts are drowning me when I heard him chuckled. Ito na ba? Ito na ba 'yung part na sasabihin niyang joke lang?
"Kung anu-ano na naman ang iniisip mo, ano?"
I gulped. Malamang mag-iisip ako ng kung anu-ano. I was taken aback. This is unexpected... or is it really?
"We were young back then, Russel. We were both young even when you left. I haven't seen you for years. I haven't seen you for half of our life. Isn't it..."
"Weird?"
"Yes! Isn't it weird that you still like me after all those years? I mean... happy crush lang naman 'yon 'di ba? And when you left, nawala na rin ang connections natin. Hindi mo na ako kilala. I've changed, Russel. I'm not the little girl you used to know. That's why I find it weird that you like me even after all those years."
"When it comes to the matters of the heart, some things are just inexplicable."
"Hindi kaya nako-confuse ka lang? Akala mo lang na gusto mo pa ako kasi ayan ang nakasanayan mo. Parang si Warren. Been there; done that."
He chuckled again and shook his head, "Alam mo, Piper, mas ayos pa na sabihin mo na lang na ayaw mo sa akin. Mas ayos pa 'yon kaysa kwestyonin mo ang nararamdaman ko. Ilang buwan na ba magbuhat nang makabalik ako dito? Matagal tagal na rin 'di ba? Imposibleng nakasanayan ko na lang ang gustuhin ka. Kasi habang nagtatagal, mas lumalalim ang nararamdaman ko para sa 'yo.
"Sige, hindi nga ikaw ang batang kaibigan ko noon. Nagbago ka na. Pero hindi pa rin 'yon naging dahilan para ayawan kita. Kasi gusto pa rin kita, Piper, kahit ano mang pagbabago ang mangyari sa 'yo."
Gusto ko pang magsalita. Gusto ko pang magtanong. Kaya lang walang lumalabas na salita sa bibig ko.
"Tara na. Ihahatid na kita sa inyo. Mag-usap na lang tayo kapag hindi ka na naguguluhan sa mga sinabi ko."
***
"Bato ka talaga. Halata naman."
Napanganga ako sa sinabi ni Warren. I even looked at Hailey and Tamara who nodded in agreement. So they knew. They all knew except for me. Woah.
"Anong naramdaman mo noong narinig mo ang mga sinabi niya?" Hailey asked.
"Marami. I was shocked, confused, grateful, kilig, sad. Hindi ko na alam kung ano mas angat na naramdaman ko. That's so messed up, isn't it?"
"Gusto mo ba?"
"Gusto ang ano?"
"Gusto mo ba si Russel?"
BINABASA MO ANG
The Relationship Code
Novela Juvenil(Completed) Book 2 of The Trouble with the Rule: Every relationship has its ups. It's all about flowers, butterflies and rainbows. Every relationship has its downs. The flowers will wither. The butterflies will die. The rainbows will disappear.
