The (not so) Sweet Serendipity

33.4

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KENNETH

I offered to drive Louise home. Kasi naman, I saw how tired Maine looked already like she had enough from this day. Wala naman akong maisip na ibang way to make her feel better or at least lessen her stress but through this. Maliit na bagay.

I check on Louise sa likod through the mirror, nakahiga lang, tulog lang naman siya. Hindi naman hassle sakin ihatid siya pauwi. It was a quiet drive so I decided to turn on the radio. It was a mistake kasi nagising ko ata si Louise.

She opened her eyes slowly pero nakahiga pa rin. We made eye contact through the rear view mirror. So I just smiled at her.

"Sorry kung nagising kita, malapit na rin tayo sa inyo."

"Tangina Kenneth." Tumatawa siya pero parang may pagka bitter yung tono niya. "Tangina mo rin eh noh."

Hindi ko naiintindihan pero since lasing siya pinabayaan ko na lang.

Hanggang sa naririnig ko na siyang umiiyak, I looked at her through the mirror again, and yup, she is crying. I just leave her alone. Hinayaan ko lang siya, maybe she just needed to let it all out.

"Mahal mo rin naman siya diba? I see how you look at her and how you take care of her. Daig mo pa nga si Richard minsan eh." Kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam ko sinong tinutukoy niya. Gets ko yun.

"Oo. Hindi rin naman siya mahirap mahalin." Natawa siya sa sagot ko. Tapos tahimik lang siya ulit.

Until she would direct another question at me. "How do you do it Kenneth?"

This one I honestly didn't understand. "Do what?"

"Yan, maging ganyan. Act like its nothing, as if wala lang sayo yung nangyayari, yung naririnig mo, yung nakikita mo. Hindi ba masakit? Hindi ka ba nasasaktan? How do you do it?"

Medyo nagegets ko siya pero I can't be too sure. So I ask again, "Ang alin nga?" Pero I kept my voice low and gentle kasi ayoko naman iprovoke ang lasing.

"How do you handle everyday being with her and just loving her in silence, from afar?"

Ako naman ang natawa dito. It's not like it's the first time I've been asked. Kay Valeen palang quota na.

"Simple lang naman." Tapos I smiled at her again. "Cause I love her."

"Ang martyr mo naman. Hindi ka ba nasasaktan o manhid ka na? Wala ka bang feelings?"

"Wala naman ako mapapala kung puro sarili ko lang iisipin ko. I'm happy na sa kung anong meron kami at alam ko rin kung hanggang san lang ang kaya niya ibigay sakin." I told her with a smile pa rin.

"Eh bakit puro siya naman, pano ka?"

"Okay na nga ako. Matagal ko nang tanggap na friends lang talaga kami ni Maine. She needed a friend and I gave her that. I became that friend to her cause that's what she needed."

"Ganun mo siya kamahal na puro siya lang iniisip mo. Grabe ka."

"Ganun naman talaga dapat when you love someone diba. Their happiness become your happiness as well."

"So bakit wala ka pa ring girlfriend kung tanggap mo na hindi talaga magiging kayo?"

"Choice ko naman kung bakit wala akong girlfriend. I guess kasi ayoko lang maging unfair sa future girlfriend ko knowing na I can't fully give my heart to her yet. You know what I mean?"

"Kasi alam mo iba pa nilalaman nito."

"Yeah exactly. Gusto ko if mangyari na yun, ready nako..."

Natawa siya pero tinapos niya yung sinasabi ko. "Para hindi maging katulad ko future girlfriend mo." She let out a sigh. "Buti ka pa Kenneth. Bakit kasi na aattract tayo sa mga taong alam naman natin di tayo kayang mahalin."

"O, huwag mo kong isali diyan ha. Ikaw lang yung ganyan. Tsaka magkaiba mga mahal natin. At least yung akin..." Hindi ko na tinapos kasi alam ko gets na niya.

"Oo na, mas okay na yang mahal mo kesa sa mahal ko. Pinaasa ako nung akin at pinag mukhang gago. Okay na po?"

Natatawa lang ako ako. Sobrang hard niya lang sa sarili niya at kay Richard.

"Thank you Kenneth ha. I really appreciate it. And na enjoy ko yung talk natin kahit papano."

"Your welcome. Inom ka maraming tubig, sakit ng ulo mo bukas sigurado."

"Nadagdagan ata reason ko kung bakit ako nagseselos kay Maine. Nasakanya na talaga lahat."

"Baliw. Good night Louise."

"Bye Kenneth, ingat ka."

I drove off na. Pagka uwi ko, being that good and concerned friend that I am. I sent Maine a message. She doesn't have to reply. I just want her to always know I'm here.

*Maine Calling...*

Here we go, Kenneth Medrano, reporting for duty...

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End of this chapter. Hope you liked it! Sorry kung bitin and thanks for reading!