I Can't Make You Love Me

Chapter 4

4
Am I losing you or are you just really drifting away from me slowly?

Nakahiga ako nang maluwag after ng interview ko. Halos himatayin kasi kanina lahat ng parte sa katawan ko dahil iyong aksidenteng napagtanungan ko ay sya palang anak ng may-ari nitong L.I. at acting CEO ngayon.

"Kinabahan ka ba? Para kasing nabunutan ka ng malaking tinik.." she laughed heartily.

"Sobra po. Ayoko po kasing ma-disappoint si Mama. She really wants me to get in."

Oh why? She smiles sweetly. Ang unfair talaga ng buhay. Magsasalita pa yata sana sya pero someone knocked and came in. She kissed Miss Lopez in her cheeks.

"Love, nasa labas iyong pinsan mo. Nagwawala na nga yata dahil ang tagal daw ng interview mo." she grins.

Nahiya naman ako sa pinsan ni Miss Lopez, ha? Kailangan ko na yata talagang umalis.

"Bakit daw?"

"May ita--"

Biglang pinatigil ni Miss Lopez ang kumakausap sa kanya. "Oh, love! How rude of me. This is Gabrielle Gonzales from San Abrenica. Gabrielle, this is my wife, Georgina Lacuesta."

I got really confused by what they had said. And I think confusion was really written all over my face.

"Ah.. We got married last year." it was Miss Georgina who confirmed my silent question.

"Wow.. Really.. The two of you look good together."

Why on earth? It's unfair! They are Goddesses! So, so beautiful!

"Well, thank you--"

Someone stormed inside the room. Halatang inis na inis dahil lukot ang mukha nito. Nagulat ito nang bumaling sya sa akin.. kahit ako!

"Kenneth! Don't you know how to knock?!"

"I'm sorry about that, ate." after that he turned to face me. "You! I told you na magsasabay tayo! I've waited for you for hours! You made me look so stupid!"

Halos mapa-igtad ako dahil sa paninigaw nya. Natigilan din ang dalawang kasama ko dito sa kwarto.

"Let's talk outside. Nakakahiya dito." pag-aya ko sa kanya.

Umigting ang panga nya at saka lalong tumalim ang titig nya sa akin. "No! Let's talk right here, right now! Now tell me, what the hell is your problem?!"

Nahihiya na ako kaya nilingon ko si Miss Lopez.. but she seems to be enjoying the show.

"Ken, please.." pakiusap ko.

"Don't. Make. Me. Lose. Patience. Gabrielle Gonzales." sabay hampas nito sa mesa.

Gusto ko ng maiyak sa sobrang kaba at takot kaya umimik na si Miss Lopez.

"You seem so troubled, little cousin. Alis muna kami ni George para makapag-usap kayong dalawa, just please don't break anything here in my office. And one more, I don't want you yelling at this girl. She just got in and ikaw hindi pa kaya kung gusto mong makapasok dito, show some gentlemanliness! 'Wag mong ipahiya ang pamilya natin. Let's go, baby."

Pagkalabas ng dalawa ay agad akong tumayo sa harap nya at saka sya sinampal kahit nanginginig ako sa takot.

"Pinahiya mo ako sa may-ari ng eskwelahang papasukan ko! Siguro nga sanay na lahat ng taong nakapaligid sayo sa ganyang ugali mo but I hope na sana iwan mo 'yan sa pagiging highschool student mo! Grow up! Para kang bata!"

Aalis na sana ako sa harap nya pero dahil mahilig syang manghablot.. 'di ako nakaalis.

"Sorry na, Gabbi." he looks helpless. "Hindi kasi ako sanay na ganito ka. Hindi ako manghuhula para malaman kung ano ang problema mo sa akin! You've been avoiding me for weeks now and you were acting like you don't know me at all in front of everybody!"

Tahimik ko lang syang tinitigan. Ayoko munang magsalita..

"Am I losing you or are you just really drifting away from me slowly, Gabbi?"

Sa puntong ito ay hindi ko sya maintindihan. Ayokong ganito sya sa akin! Mahal ko sya kahit hindi nya alam. And any signals from him ay kaya kong bigyan ng ibang meaning!

"I'm still your bestfriend, Kenneth."

I tried smiling at him. Dinampot ko ang bag ko na nasa upuan bago sya hinarap muli.

"Good luck for your interview. I know you can pass.."

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakaalis ng L.I. ng hindi umiiyak but the moment na pumasok ako sa sasakyan ay sya namang pagkawala ng mumunting hikbi ko. Sobrang bigat ng loob ko at ayoko na sanang umabot pa ako sa bahay na umiiyak. My mama won't let me sleep in peace kapag nalaman o nahalata nyang umiyak ako.

The next day was different. Maybe not, it just came back to the way it used to be. Pharalyn is here chatting with Kenneth.. Noong naging sila, nawalan ng oras sa akin si Kenneth. Siguro nga sila na ulit. Pharalyn was and still his first love afterall.

"Good morning, Gabbi." bati nito sa akin ng hindi ako nililingon.

"'Morning.." ganting-bati ko.

Pagkaupo ko ay bumalik sa akin ang alaala ko noong unang araw ko dito sa San Abrenica. It was 7th grade. I thought it was goung to be a silent year for me not until I bumped into a bully. He bullied me for almost a week. Well, I let him bullied me. Nang natapos sya ay gumanti naman ako. We were both sent in the detention room and that's the start of our friendship.

We were in the 9th grade when she met Phara and started talking about her.. always. So I avoided him when he fell in love with that girl.

10th grade. They started dating exclusively.. 11th grade, that was last year, she finally said 'yes'. This year, the day after their anniversary.. she broke my bestfriend's heart. And now, she's collecting him again.