Short Stories of Love Collection - Friendship Over (F.O.)

Ako si John. Senior sa isang public high school sa Marikina. I'm just an average guy, average in everything. But, a girl changed my life from being average to above average. Her name is Kyanna. A classmate since our freshmen year. Madalas kaming magkasama kaya marami ang nag-akalang "kami na". I have to be honest, I love everything about her. Hindi siya matangkad. Hindi rin siya sexy. Matalino siya. She wouldn't be able to enroll in our school if she was below average. Pareho ang interests namin when it comes to music, movies, books, color, and more. That's why I fell in love with her. 

Here's the thing - may boyfriend na siya. When we entered our senior year, she met this guy, batch mate, and they started dating. Madalas sa aking i-kuwento ni Kyanna yung mga nangyari sa date nila - their first kiss, the movie they wached together, yung chocolates na binigay ni guy, yung restaurant na kinakainan nila (the same restaurant na kinakainan namin ni Kyanna), and more. Masakit pala, pero hindi ko puwedeng ipahalata kay Kyanna. Bestfriend ang turing niya sa akin eh. But, I don't want to suffer the pain of not telling her that I loved her. I wanted to forget that I fell for her. I wanted to forget my weakness, my fear. That's why, I kept my distance from her. Ayaw ko rin namang ma-isyu pa kami. Baka sabihin nilang malandi si Kyanna. Kahit mahirap, I tried my best. 

March 2012, malapit na ang graduation. Tradisyon na ata sa school namin ang intramurals during March. I am not a sports guy. Wala akong hilig sa ibang sports except volleyball. I played with my classmates other games like chess, scrabbles and Games of the Generals in our room. Suddenly, nahilo ako. 

That's it. I got a fever. 

I went outside dala-dala ang isang armchair. Gusto kong magpahangin. I sat and inilapag ko ang ulo ko sa armrest. 

"Okay ka lang?" 

Si Kyanna. Kumuha siya ng isa pang armchair. She sat opposite me. Mabigat ang ulo ko, so I didn't bother looking at her. 

"I'm fine." sagot ko. Hinipo niya ang batok ko. 

"Mainit ka ah. Halika dalhin kita sa clinic." sabi niya. 

"No. Kailangan ko lang ng fresh air. Bakit ka nandito? Di ba may game sina Robi (her boyfriend)?"

She fell silent. I looked at her. She was about to cry.

"Wala nang kami." sagot niya. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Kinuha niya yung earphones niya from her pocket. Nagpatugtog siya and she put her head on the armrest, too. Kinuha ko yung isang earpiece. She was listening to Avril's "Girlfriend". Suddenly, she changed the song.

"Say You Like Me" by We the Kings <play the song here> 

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi?" tanong niya. Sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko, I wasn't able to respond immediately. "Matagal mo na pala akong gusto." She was crying habang sinasabi niya iyon. I was stunned. Hindi ako makagalaw. I don't want our friendship to be over. I don't wanna lose my bestfriend. 

"Sorry. Ayaw kong masira ang friendship natin." 

"But, you didn't ask me. Paano kung may gusto pala ako sa'yo?" sagot niya. I felt her arms around my shoulders. "Mahal kita, matagal na." 

O_O 

;_; 

"No!" I pushed her away. Nabigla ako sa pagkakatayo ko. Bigla na lang nawala ang lahat. 

--- 

Pagkagising ko, nasa bahay na ako. Okay na ang pakiramdam ko. I tried to recall what happened. Then I remembered Kyanna.

"Ma, sino nagdala sa akin dito?" 

"Ako. Tinawagan ako ni Kyanna. Mangiyak-ngiyak nga siya nang bigla kang nawalan ng malay eh. Ano bang ginawa mo?" 

"Wala. Wait, I need to go. I need to thank Kyanna." 

"Yun lang ba? She was crying, John. I think she really cares about you. Confident ako na aalagan ka niya."

"Ma?" 

"Puwede ka nang magka-girlfriend. That's all." 

I don't know but my heart jumped with joy. I grabbed my bike and drove to Kyanna's place.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

Walang nagbubukas ng pinto. "Kyanna! Si John 'to! Lumabas ka na please!" 

Wala pa rin. Naglabasan na ang kapitbahay nina Kyanna. I think they were startled sa lakas ng sigaw ko. 

"John?" That voice. It's her! "Maling doorbell 'yung pinipindot mo." sabi niya sabay ngiti.

Embarassing, yes, pero ang mahalaga nakita ko siya. 

"I'm sorry sa nangyari kanina. Nagulat ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Masyadong malayo sa reality eh. Tapos - " She laid a finger on my lips. 

"Huwag ka nang mag-explain." sabi niya habang naka-ngiti. 

Napangiti na rin ako and i moved closer to her face and I let my lips touch hers. Lahat ng kapitbahay nila nagpalakpakan. They were cheering for us.

And yes, our friendship was over, but it started a new relationship between us - as lovers.