Napakurap kurap ako at nahihiyang iniwas ang aking tingin sa kay Gabe tapos ay mahinang umiling.
Narinig ko ang mahina niyang halakhak.
"That's impossible. Sa ganda mong yan?"
Tinignan ko siya at matipid na nginitian. Does love really comes with beauty? I think that's the most common misconception about beauty and love, being beautiful doesn't necessarily guarantee that you'll be loved.
"Wala naman iyon sa hitsura." Pahayag ko na ikinatango niya.
"Sabagay, tama ka."
Tumingin siya sa malayo habang sinasabi iyon. I can hear some hidden emotions.
"Why did you decide to change, Gabe?"
Agarang nabalik sa akin ang kanyang mga tingin. Tahimik kaming nagtitigan pero sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi na ako naiilang. The looks we are exchanging is of knowing and understanding.
"Maybe same with other people's reason?"
"That is?" Tanong kong muli. Ngumiti siya at ako naman ay natigilan sa kanyang sunod na tanong.
"Let me ask you the question, Ven. Why did you decide to change?"
Lalong lumapad ang kanyang ngiti nang hindi ako nakasagot.
"Behind these beautiful changes are some ugly scars we try so hard to hide. Am I right, Ven? Kaya ayaw nating pag-usapan. Ayaw nating malaman ng iba ang rason kasi ito mismo ang rason natin. May pilit tayong tinatago."
Napapailing na natawa ako.
"I forgot just how smart you are."
"How can you remember if you've entirely forgotten me." Nanunudyo niyang pahayag. May parte sa akin ang tinamaan dahil iyon ang totoo.
"Sorry."
Umiling siya at ngumiti.
"No need to apologize. And just so you know, I changed because I got tired of all the bullying. Some girl said that I get bullied because of my looks. Dahil mukha akong walang kalaban laban at hinahayaan ko ring apihin ako."
Napamaang ako sa kanya. Obviously he was pertaining to me!
"Omg, you, I am so sorry."
I feel so guilty to be one of the reasons why he changed. Of all people I should know how horrible it is to try to be someone you are not.
Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay maganda ang pagbabago. He is right when he said that change is like a mask but, sometimes worse, it can be like a prison.
Tumawa siya at sa gulat ko ay kinurot niya ang aking kanang pisngi. Napangiwi ako at napahiyaw.
"Why do you keep apologizing?" Tanong niya.
Masama pa rin ang tingin ko sa kanya habang himas himas ang pisnging kinurot niya ngunit ngumiti siya. At sa pag ngiti niya ay natunaw ang kakarampot na sama ng loob ko sa kanyang ginawa.
"I basically asked you to be someone you are not."
Umiling siya at muling ngumiti. How can one smile be so genuinely charming?
BINABASA MO ANG
Loving Bestfriend
RomanceCliché story of a girl who fell in love with her best friend. The boyish Veneia Angela Samonte fell in love with her best friend since birth, Yohan Vladimir Arevalo- the player. And the player fell in love with - oh no, not her but with some evil w...
