100 Days with Mr.Stranger

Chapter 53

-Jeric’s POV-

“It doesn’t matter how long I’ve waited. It wouldn’t change the fact that you didn’t showed up… stupid!” she went inside her room and slammed the door. I was left standing, feeling guilty and all.

Alam kong mali ako. Aminado naman ako. Pinaghintay ko si Dane sa hotel, para lang kay Shelley. Kahit alam kong masyado ng late, pinuntahan ko pa din si Dane sa hotel at naabutan kong nagliligpit na yung ibang staff dun. Tinanong ko kung nasaan si Dane at sinabing kakaalis lang nito.

Sinubukan kong tawagan yung cellphone nya pero naka-off. Knowing Dane,alam kong nagtampo sya sa akin. Nahiya naman akong tawagan yung mga kaibigan nya dahil ang alam nilang lahat ay magkasama kami at ano naman ang idadahilan ko kung tanungin nila ako kung bakit hindi ko sya kasama.

Kaya naman nung past 12AM na nag-alala na ako. Hindi ko naman sya mahanap dahil baka magkasalisi kami. Pumunta na lang ako dito sa condo nya at dito sya hinintay. Kaya naman nung dumating sya ng hindi maayos yung itsura, nauna yung galit ko. Nag-alala kasi ako at naiinis ako sa sarili ko. What if may nangyaring masama sa kanya?

I went back home with a heavy feeling and messed up mind. It seems like everything happened in just a snap of a finger.

In just one night, I watched two women cry because of me. It wasn’t anything like boosting my ego as a real man but d-amn it! It was beyond torture. I felt like a glass shattering… it felt surreal. It’s too much.

The night passed by a blur that I didn’t get a decent sleep. Pictures of Shelley breaking down and Dane being mad embraced my morning.

I got up from bed and went to the bathroom.

“Ahia!” halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang marinig kong magsalita si Jeron. He was standing next to me.

“Bakit ba?!”

“Kanina ka pa kasi nakatanga dyan. Nabili mo na ba yung maynilad? Aapaw na ‘yang nasa sink oh.” he pointed out. Sht. Nasa 3/ 4 na ng sink ‘yung tubig. Nagto-toothbrush kasi ako kanina pa. Napatulala lang ng matagal.

Tinapos ko na yung pagto-toothbrush ko at lumabas na ng CR.

“How’s your date last night?” Jeron asked.

“No good.”

“Huh? Bakit naman?”

 Napailing ako “Long story to tell.” magsasalita pa lang sana uli si Jeron nung biglang kumatok yung isang maid namin at pinapababa na daw kami ni mama.

During our breakfast, I ate in silence. Wala ako sa mood magsalita o makipag-usap ngayon. Mukhang nakahalata rin naman yung iba kaya ilag sila na kausapin ako, unless may ipapaabot lang sila.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, nagpunta ako sa court ng village namin at nag-practice ng shooting.  I need to divert my attention in other things. Buti na lang, walang tao dito ngayon. Solo ko lang. Only the sound of the bouncing ball and the screech sound of my shoes against the floor will be heard.

After doing some warm up and drills, I started pacing back and forth; shooting from different areas of the court.

But I guess, I really can’t escape from it. While practicing, Shelley and Dane’s voice resound inside my head.

“Akala ko tapos na. Akala ko wala na akong nararamdaman. Akala ko nakamove on na ako. Akala ko okay na ako. Akala ko masaya na ako. Akala ko kaya ko na. Akala napakatatag ko na, pero hindi.. hindi pa pala. Lahat ng iniisip ko puro maling akala.”