The Next Stage (COMPLETED)

ONE: The Start

Julia

"Hey, Julia!" he said to caught my attention. Earth to Julia, please. Bakit ko ba kasi inaalala yun? Pero kahit na, I must think about it to make everything right. 

"Uhm, Zach? Can I go to the comfort room before we eat?" I smiled. 

"Sure, make it quick." 

I sighed and said "okay" before I leave. 

I directly headed to the comfort room. I just want to think. Hindi ko kasi sya magawa habang nasa harap ko sya. 

Ano ba kasing nangyari?

*flashback*

"Hey, Zach. Bakit ayaw mo ako kausapin? Is there any problem?" we're here at the restaurant. Parang after celebration kumbaga after we won earlier. 

"Sino sya?" takang tanong nya. He looks mad at me. Bakit, kasalanan ko bang I approach nya ako?

"Zach, wala lang sya. He's nothing in my life." napatingin lang sya sakin as if he's not convinced sa statement ko. 

Fine, fine. If that's what he really wants, then okay.

"Okay, okay. He's my ex- boyfriend. Okay na ba?"

"Tss." wow ah, ano bang ikikinagalit nya?

"What's the problem about it? It's totally fine, Zach."

"Fine? What is he doing here? Is he going to get you back? He still loves you, right?"

I sighed. "You know, bakit ka ba nagkakaganyan? Eh ano ngayon? Am I still inlove with him? Am I going to get him back?"

He was speechless. Kasi tama naman talaga ako. "Natatakot lang ako." he doesn't looking directly in my eyes. He feels guilty. 

"Natatakot saan? Why are you scared? Are you threatened by his prescence? Eh Zach, ano namang pakialam ko dun?!" I feel that all the people here are watching us. Mga chismosa. 

"Baka balikan mo sya. 'Cause you know, Julia? I saw in your eyes that your still inlove with him." 

What the..dahil lang sa mga mata ko?

"Zach, believe me. Mas paniwalaan mo naman yung salita ko kaysa yung tingin ko." I looked outside the restaurant. All the people are busy, but at the same time, they're happy. 

But me? Us? Ewan ko. Ano na bang nangyayari? Parang kanina lang, we're happy. But since that my stupid ex boyfriend came, our world falls apart and breaks into pieces. Dumami yung problema because of him. 

We stayed quiet. The only thing that I am hearing is the people around here talking loudly. 

"Sorry." I didn't response. I still need some time to think of what am I saying to him. 

*end of flashback* 

That night ended with that sorry. After that, I left that place without talking to him. I need to have a time to think. Parehas kaming galit kaya walang mabuting maidudulot kung patuloy kaming mag-uusap. 

After that night, 3 days kaming di nag usap. We're really awkward that time. 

And then yun, hindi na naayos at hindi na napag usapan. I don't know if he's my boyfriend or not. Hindi naman sya nagtatanong. He doesn't like to talk about that. 

Buti nga nagkaayos pa kami. He just say sorry and then that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Dun naman talaga sya magaling eh, ang takasan ang problema. He's afraid, scared, he has no confidence. Lahat ng connected sa salitang TAKOT, lahat yun, nasa kanya na.