I Am Not Her

Chapter 4

Its been one week since my first day at school and I still havent talked to Theo. I have no idea kung gaano sya kaaga pumasok thats why hindi ako magkaroon ng chance to talk to him.

Sunday morning I woke up very early to jog around our village. Its the only day I can have my exercise since  Monday to Saturday ang class ko.

Palabas na ako ng gate when I saw Theo coming out of their gate as well. What a perfect timing!

"Good morning Theo!" I greeted him.

He was a bit startled when he saw me. But when he recovered he just give me that bored stare as if I didnt say anything.

I knew he was gonna ignored me so I walked towards him.

"Magjo-jogging ka rin ba?" I asked though its pretty obvious na magjojogging nga sya because of his outfit. He's wearing a running shoes, white shorts and gray sando.

"What do you want?" Supladong tanong nya.

"Uhm.. I just want to ask.. Uh, if.. If your wounds are ok? You know, when you crushed your bike sa trash can." I gave him an awkward smile.

Theo glared at me and looked at his leg na matagal nang magaling. He didnt say anything.

"Well, it looks like its already healed! Mabuti naman." I let out a very awkward chuckled.

Napailing sya saka nag umpisang magjog palayo sakin. I started to jog after him.

"Theo!" I called.

"Get lost!" He snapped.

"We're not in school anymore, so you can stop avoiding me!" I said while keeping with his pace.

"Sinong may sabing iniiwasan kita?" Nakasimangot na tanong nya.

"No one! Na-feel ko lang." Hinihingal na sagot ko. He's not jogging anymore, he's running. Running away from me.

"It never occured to you that I just dont want to talk to you?" He said and tuluyan na syang tumakbo palayo sakin.

But I tried my best to catch up with him. "Bakit? Dahil naaalala mo si Nicasha pagnakikita mo ako?"

He didnt answer and continued running.

Mas binilisan ko naman ang pagtakbo. If anyone who could see us they might think we're getting ready to join a marathon.

"M-may.. gusto.. g-gusto lang a-akong.. itanong!" Hinihingal na sabi ko. Im having a hard time trying to catch up with him.

Sobrang bilis naming tumakbo that's why when he suddenly stopped nahirapan akong huminto agad. I lost my balance and at the corner of my eye I saw a car running towards me.

"Aay!"

Im not really sure what happened because I shut my eyes before the car hits me but I felt someone grabbed my arm and when I open my eyes I found myself in Theo's arms.

"What an idiot." I heard him say.

"Ano-" I was about to argue with him but when I saw that he's not refering to me but to the driver of the car natahimik nalang ako.

I felt his hands on my shoulder and pushed me gently. Napaatras ako ng konte but his hands are still on my shoulders while looking at me.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

Tumango ako. "Yes. Thank you. Muntik na akong mamatay."

I saw his lips twitched as if trying not to smile at hindi nakaligtas sakin ang cute nyang dimples sa baba ng lips nya. I never thought it exist until now, hindi kasi sya ngumingiti.

Before I could say anything tumalikod na sya at naglakad palayo. I frowned, whats wrong with this guy! I have the feeling that he wants to hide his smile to me.

"Theo!" Sumunod ulit ako sakanya. Thank goodness hindi na sya tumakbo palayo but he didnt turned nor stop walking kaya sumabay nalang ulit ako sa paglalakad nya.

"Will you atleast tell me kung bakit mo ako iniiwasan?" I asked.

He gave a harsh sighed and stopped walking. "Kapag ba sinagot ko tanong mo titigilan mo na pagsunod sakin?"

"Yes." Agad na sagot ko. I looked at his sweating face and gulped, boy he's so cute kahit pawisan!

He stares at me and crossed his arms in his chest, waiting for my question.

"Uhm, actually madami akong tanong." I said awkwardly. I've waited for this moment for a week and now Im speechless, dahil ba sa mga titig nya?

He shrugged and started to walk again. Syempre sumunod ulit ako.

"Hey akala ko ba sasagutin mo mga tanong ko?" Inis na sabi ko.

"I will. But since you have lots of questions we cant talk dito sa kalsada. You need to treat me a cup of coffee." He said.

"Huh?" Napakanot noo ako, Im not sure if I heard him right.

"May malapit na coffee shop dito." He said.

Five minutes later I found my self seated in a coffe shop with Theo. He was already drinking his coffee feeling relax while ako kanina pa natetense for some unknown reason. It just occurred to me that this is my first time to be with a guy in a coffee shop, no scratch that, this is my first time to be alone with a guy. Not totally alone since nasa public kami but I still consider this alone since sya lang kasama ko.

"You have to know that I love coffee so much and if you dont ask your questions I might decided to order my second cup." He said while staring outside the glass window.

"Sana kape nalang ako.." Wala sa sariling bulong ko.

He looked at me. "What?"

I felt my cheeks burned. "W-wala!" Napapailing na sagot ko.

Goodness! Miliscent whats wrong with you! Focus, okay?

I took a deep breathe and looked at him. He was staring at me with amusement. Hindi na sya nakasimangot but he's looking at as if he's looking at an alien.

"Uhm, sasagutin mo ba lahat ng tanong ko?" I tried to look straight to his eyes pero sobrang naiilang ako kaya yumuko nalang ako sa kape ko.

"Yes. Tigilan mo lang ako." He answered.

I nodded. "Okay.. So.. Tama ba yung hinala ko na ex mo si Nicasha?"

Nag isip sya sandali then nod his head. "She's my girlfriend when she died. So yes, ex ko sya."

I felt a little squeeze at my chest at his answer but I ignored it, somehow Im already expecting his answer.

"Is it okay if I ask how she die?"

"Nasama sya sa nasusunog na building." He answered then took a sipped on his coffee.

His answer made me dizzy and he said it as if wala lang, as if its not a big deal, na parang kala mo normal lang na mamatay girlfriend mo sa sunog!

"I-im so sorry." My voice is shaking and I dont know what to say.

"Im not." Seryosong sabi nya while watching my expresion.

"What?" I frowned at him, did he just say that he's not sorry for what happened to his ex?

He sighed. "Next question."

***Guys I really appreciate if you comment down and tell me what you think of this story.. Really need a motivation right now.. hehe.. thanks!