Don't Go (EXO Series II)

ix

January 24, 2014 @2:00am
_______________

ix

Kris

I wanted to beat myself for feeling this way. This was something I wasn’t expecting. Something I was afraid of feeling. Something I wasn’t ready for… yet. But what could I do? No matter how many times I asked myself, isang bagay lang 'yung isinasagot ko sa sarili ko. I was falling for this girl.

And I was falling hard.

It was so fast. So fast I had no time to realize I was already falling for her. Naalala ko 'yung sinabi ni Sara. ‘Nothing’s too early or too late when it comes to liking or loving someone.’ But a week? A week, for heaven’s sake! Who was I kidding?

I wanted to scream. I wanted to convince myself na lahat ng ito, mawawala rin kapag umalis na kami sa lugar na 'to. Magkakahiwalay rin kami. Makakalimutan ko rin siya. Hanggang dito lang 'to sa isla. Everything’s but temporary. But why the heck was I enjoying this feeling? Hindi ako natatakot masaktan if it’s Rei who would cause that pain. Naloloko na yata ako.

Yeah, I was turning into a crazy man because of this young lady in front of me.

“So yeah, that’s the story of my life.”

I stared at her beautiful face. She was smiling so sweetly as she finished sharing her story. Nililipad ng hangin 'yung mahaba niyang buhok. She looked so happy in spite what happened earlier.

From the sala, I carried her papunta sa beach. We sat under the shade of the Narra tree. Nagpatulong ako kay Ate Cory sa paglagay ng mat na uupuan namin. Nagbilin na rin ako na hatiran na lang niya kami ng lunch.

Kumunot 'yung noo niya and she pouted. “Hindi ka naman nakikinig, e,” she sadly said.

Iniwas niya ang tingin sa'kin and looked at the beach.

“Kanina pa ako nagki-kwento, nakatunganga ka lang diyan,” dugtong niya. “Nakinig naman ako sa kwento mo, ah? Haay, ang daya.”

I chuckled silently. Though I knew she was just acting out, ang cute niya pa ring tingnan.

She glared at me. “Now you’re laughing at me? Nakakaloka ka, Kris ha. Hmp.” She even crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Then she started to stand up. Halatang hirap na hirap siya dahil sa sugat niya.

Naalarma naman ako. “Where are you going?”

“Aalis na. Hindi ka naman kasi nakikinig. Si Ate Cory na lang kakausapin ko.” She managed to stand up.

Napangisi na lang ako sa sinabi niya. I thought she was just kidding so I didn’t buy her act. Pero nang magsimula nga siyang maglakad kahit masakit 'yung sugat niya, that’s when I realized she was serious.

I held her hand right away to stop her. “Hey,” I said in spite the ticklish feeling I had when our skin touched.

She looked at me. “What?”

'Di ako nakasagot. What do I need to say for her to stay?

“See?” She loosened my grip with her other hand. “Papasok na lang ako.” She started to walk away, trying so hard na 'wag ipakitang nahihirapan siya. She was limping.

I stood up and quickly walked to reach her. Tumayo ako sa harap niya. I held her in the shoulders and pulled her close. The next thing I knew, I was hugging her--hugging her tight as I closed my eyes. “Don’t leave.” I whispered those words in her ear.