His Other Side (on hold)

17

17 : Feelings

My mind traveled back three years ago.

Hindi ba't ganito din ang scenario na nakita ko noon?

Right in front of my eyes, I saw Dale kissed a girl for the second time.

I felt hot tears started to flow down from my eyes. Hindi ko na kaya. Sasabog na ata ang puso ko sa sobrang sakit.
 
Kinuyom ang mga palad, pinilit kong igalaw ang katawan ko na tila namanhid at tumakbo palayo.
 
I ran as the tears poured down freely. Tumakbo ako at hinayaan kong dalhin ako ng mga paa saanman nila gusto.

Wala akong pakialam. Ang gusto ko lang ay makalayo kay Dale. Baka kasi pag nangyari yun, mababawasan na ang sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon.
 
Narating ko ang school park at doon, umupo ako sa bench. Nakita ako ni Dale at ginawa niya pa rin yun? Sinasadya niya bang makita kong hinalikan niya si Cheska? Kung oo, para saan?

Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Dapat hindi na lang ako umasa kahit kaunti na may gusto din siya sa akin.

For sure, yung kaninang umaga, it was just his hormones. There were no feelings involved.
 
I was looking at the ground with a blurry vision because of tears when a handkerchief appeared in front of me.

I looked up to see the owner and saw Brent. I wiped my eyes.
 
He smiled. "Here take it," sabi niya at iniabot sa akin ang panyo.
 
Kinuha ko rin ito kahit na punong-puno ako ng hiya. I didn't treat him right yesterday and now he was here being all nice to me.
 
He sat down beside me. Pinunasan ko naman ang mga luha ko gamit ang panyo niya.
 
"I don't know why you cried but I just hope the reason worth your tears," seryoso niyang sabi.
 
I was stopped then looked at him. Tumingin din siya sa direksyon ko at nagtama ang mga mata namin.
 
Iniangat niya ang kamay at inilapit sa mukha ko. The next thing I knew, he wiped my tears using his thumb.

"You're beautiful, Reese. At hindi bagay sayo ang mga luhang yan. Honestly, gusto kitang pasayahin but I don't know what'd make you happy. Uhm... want me to buy you some ice cream?" he asked hopefully.
 
I didn't answer.
 
He pulled his hand away from my face and ran it through his hair.

"Argh! Sorry. Akala ko you'd like ice cream. Normally, girls crave for that when they're depressed, right? Akala ko kasi ganun ka din. Ugh! I know I suck at this," sabi niya at pinalo ang noo gamit ang kamay niya.
 
At di ko na napigilan ang ngiting kanina pa gustong lumabas.

Nakakatawa kasi siya. Mas mukha pa siyang frustrated kesa sa akin. And for Pete's sake, dahil sa ice cream?

I cleared my throat pagkatapos ay itinapat sa harapan ng mukha niya ang panyo. "Here. I guess you need it more," sabi ko sa seryosong boses.
 
His eyes snapped at me. His mouth was half-opened.
 
My smile widened. Nakakatawa talaga ang mukha niya.
 
"Honestly the ice cream wouldn’t do it for me pero thanks to your frustrated face, I feel better," sagot ko at mahinang natawa.
 
Unti-unting nagrelax ang mukha ni Brent saka siya malalim na huminga. "So I guess I should do that face again, what do you think? "
 
And I laughed. He was really funny.
 
"Thanks, Brent, really. I know hindi naging maganda ang pakikitungo ko sayo these past few days but you're here and comforted me."
 
He smiled. "It's okay. I know about your problem. Yung necklace diba? Wait…  diba yan yun?" he asked as he pointed at the necklace that I was wearing.
 
I gripped onto it then nodded.
 
"Oh! Wow! Paano mo nahanap?" he asked in surprised tone.
 
"I don't know how to explain it but I saw it on my locker."
 
"That's weird. Pero may idea ka ba kung sino ang naglagay dun?"
 
I looked away. "Yeah... si Cheska."
 
Ugh! Way to remember that flirt and the scene she had with Dale earlier.
 
I stood up from my seat. "Thank you, Brent. Patapos na ang lunch break, hindi ka pa ba papasok?"
 
He stood up too. "Papasok na. So hatid na kita sa room niyo?"
 
I shook my head. "I won't attend my remaining classes. I feel kind of sick. Gusto ko ng umuwi sana," sagot ko.
 
Wala na talaga akong balak pang mag-stay dito. The more I'd stay here, mas lalong sumasakit ang kalooban ko. Isa pa, baka pag makita ko si Dale, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili at umiyak sa harapan niya. And I wouldn't like that to happen.
 
He put his hands on his pocket. "Halika na," yaya niya.
 
I widened my eyes. "Anong halika na?"
 
"Halika na sa bahay niyo. Ihahatid kita."
 
"What?" I asked in shock.
 
He shrugged. "Sabi mo you're sick kaya hindi ka pwedeng umuwi mag-isa. At isa pa, walang maghahatid sayo."
 
"Pero malelate ka sa klase mo."
 
"Okay lang. At least, I'll get you home safe. Shall we go?"
 
Tumango na lang ako at hindi na nagbalak pang tumutol. Mukha ding walang magiging saysay eh. We went to the parking lot at sumakay na sa kotse niya.
 
The moment I sat on the passenger's seat, tinignan ko ang phone ko at nakakita ng ilang missed calls at text mula kay Addison.