HEARTSTRINGS PROBLEM | Darren Espanto #2

Chapter 31: Day One

His hug tightened around my waist at hinawakan ko ang braso niyang nakapulupot sa akin. I can feel his breath on my cheek and I even get tingles because of it. His chuckle was low before whispering on my ear.

"Andito lang ako hanggang kailangan mo ako."

I immediately got up from my bed at saka napahawak sa ulo ko. Darren was a part of my dream...again. I massaged my temples tsaka nalang napasandal sa headboard. I can almost feel my head pounding.

"This is not good." Bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Ilang gabi ko narin siyang napapanaginipan. Onti nalang ay iisipin ko nang haling ako kay Darren. Saglit lang siyang mapapasali sa panaginip ko pero ang weird na talaga. It's like all the time that I spent thinking of him was not enough kaya hanggang sa panaginip ko ay siya parin. 

Sa pagsandal ko ay binaling ko nalang ang isip ko sa kung ano ang kahahantungan ng araw ko. This is the day where the tables have turned. Nasa bitag ako ni Skyler. I don't know how I'll get through but one thing's for sure, kakapit lang ako. Kahit na mapagod ako.

Skyler:

I'll pick you tomorrow at 6:45, babe. See you.

The message was sent last night kaya hindi ko na nabasa. Babe. God. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisikmurain na matawag niyang babe. Paano ko din siya tatawaging babe? It's really against my will. Nakakainis. If I wanted to call someone 'babe', everyone knows it's Darren.

I checked my phone and it was only 5:28 in the damn morning. My day won't start well. Sigurado na ako. Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko. Or paano ang reaksyon ng iba sa magiging araw ko.

Who would've thought na kay Skyler na naman ang bagsak ko?

I unlocked my phone before scanning some of the pictures. Tapos ayon, puro pictures namin ni Darren ang nakikita ko. Of course, merong kasama ko ang family ko, and Anjela and Jace pero iyong talagang sa amin ni Darren. Ang dami.

If I wasn't mistaken, mas marami kaming pictures ni Darren sa phone niya. And most are his stolen pictures of me. I wonder if he deleted those already.

Me:

Sure. See you.

Nagreply ako kay Skyler tsaka hinintay na ito na ma-send. After it was sent, agad kong dinelete ang thread ng conversation namin. Wala din naman kasi siyadong laman. Puro lang messages sa kanya na hindi ko nirereplyan.

There I saw my thread with Darren. And his contact name is 'Mi Amor.' I remember the time where he was busy fidgeting with my phone. Iyon pala ay pinapalitan na niya ang contact name niya.

"Palitan mo din 'yung akin." Darren pouted that time.

"You're annoying." Natatawa kong sabi sa kanya. "Sige, I'll change it, too."

Reminisce. Iyon nalang ang magagawa ko. I changed his name into 'Mi Amor' that time. I know it means 'My Love'. God, I'm hopeless when it comes to Darren. What I had with him was real, but what he have with Sunshine is more. Talong-talo ako.

Bumangon na ako tsaka inayos ang beddings na nagulo-gulo ko. I took a bath tsaka na nag-ayos ng gamit ko sa school. Paulit-ulit din akong nag-iisip ng possible questions sa akin at gumagawa naman ako ng possible answers.

At around 6:15 in the morning, bumaba na ako at dumiretso sa dining area. Kuya was a bit startled to see me wearing my uniform at this early.