Found

Chapter 29 - A Good Man

"Isn't it too soon?" Tumingin ako kay Titus at nagkibit balikat.

"I think I need this. A new place, new environment and maybe to know new people. What happened to me might be a wind to propel me to move forward." Ayokong magwallow sa kung anong nangyari sa akin. I don't know what really happened cause the results has not been released and I don't want to believe Enzo's statements. Ang gusto ko lang magmove forward. Mabuti na rin siguro na wala na akong recollection ng nangyari. Mas mabuti na rin iyon.

"The semester is not open until next two months. Aalis ka na agad? Kailan mo naisip ito? Ganoon na lang?"

"My parents approved it as well as ate. Sa palagay nila makakabuti na rin sa akin ito. After all the heartaches."

"The heartaches." Tingin nitong makahulugan sa akin. "You haven't spoke with him. The last time was when he visited you in the hospital."

"Bakit pa?" Irap ko rito. Dumeretso na ako sa oven at nilabas ang binebake ko. "Mabuti na rin iyon, Titus. Kailangan ko na rin tuldukan ang kahibangan ko sa kanya. Simula ba naman noon bata. Tama na siguro."

"Hindi mo ba ipapaalam sa kanya na aalis ka?" Tiningnan ko lang si Titus na hindi makapaniwla.

"What for?"

"Wala..." Iling pa nito. "I like him, Belle. I think he is a good man." Tinitigan ko si Titus.

"Really?!" Irap ko rito. "Type mo na siya? Naku sinasabi ko sa'yo you are in for a heartache. He is still in love with Liv." Tinanggal ko na ang cupcakes sa mold kahit mainit pa ito. Nasanay na ata ang kamay ko sa paso.

"Hindi ko siya type." Irap pa ni Titus. "Hindi kami bagay." Lapit pa nito sa akin. "I like someone younger... but more than that Eki is not good for me."

"Wow lang ha, Titus. Wow lang!" Binuhos ko na ang tea sa dalawang mug at nilagay ang isa sa tapat ni Titus. Humigop rin ako ng mainit na tsaa.

"Eki is not good for me for he is good for you." Nabilaukan naman ako sa sinabi nito. Nakailang pag-ubo pa ako. Pinandilatan ko lang ito ng mata.

"Really Titus? Hindi ba't ikaw ang nagsabi sa akin na layuan siya? Anong nangyari?" Taas ko ng kilay rito.

"I saw how he really cares for you, Belle. It was obvious that he really cares and that he loves you." Natawa ako ng malutong.

"Of course he does. He sees me as his little sister. Ilang beses ko ng sinabi ito sa'yo. At sinabi niya iyon. He even rejected my kisses. Maliwanag pa sa araw ang lahat. Ganoon ang ginawa ni Julianne kay Michael at hindi nagkissback si Michael. Kaya...kaya alam ko na ang feeling. Masakit. Nakakalokang sakit. I already know now pretty well the feeling of not being loved in return."

"Belle, you might be as beautiful as Julianne in the movie but she is not you and obviously Michael is not Eki who is going to marry Kim. Magkaiba kayo. Kaya I say, make a move again, tell him you love him again and maybe this time he won't hold back. Because maybe this time he already knows what he truly feels."

"Hindi kita maintindihan. There was this one time that you don't like him and the second time you like him?"

"Kasi nasaksihan ko...how worried he was and he blamed himself for letting you wait for him. How he sprang out to confront Enzo and how frustrated and angry he was. Akala ko hindi makabasag pinggan iyan si Eki mo pero hindi. He beat him to a pulp. Galit na galit siya, Belle."

"Bakit ikaw ba natuwa sa ginawa ng hinayupak na iyon?"

"No...what I mean is...tsk! Basta." Buntong hininga pa nito. "When we rushed you in the hospital he was very worried about you. I was worried about you but he was way more than worried. Iyon pakiramdam na mamatay siya kapag namatay ka. Ganoon ang feeling, Belle. Ganoon siya. Kaya right then and there alam ko na mahal ka niya. Because his gestures said it all."