Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Twenty-Eight

It was a really hot Monday morning. Nandito na ako ulit sa condo ko, hinatid ako ni Ara rito nung Saturday ng hapon. Natulog rin siya dito nung gabi na, pero pinaalis ko na siya kahapon ng umaga kasi alam kong marami pa siyang kailangang asikasuhin sa work.

Tinext na ako ni Jerome na nasa baba na siya kaya bumaba na ako habang ginagamit na pang-paypay 'yung panyo ko, sobrang init kasi.

I made my way to Jerome's car parked on its usual spot. She gave me his signature grin as I squeezed myself in the passenger seat and Jerome did the same.

Actually, Ara has offered over the weekend na siya na lang daw sumundo sakin sa condo ko at ihatid sa Lumiere. I refused, of course, kasi nakakahiya. Pero I have to admit, nahihiya na rin ako kay Jerome. I've recommended to him more than once na mag-U'Uber na lang ako at hindi niya na ko kailangan sunduin, but he insisted.

Moments later, we arrived at Lumiere and I was about to go out of the car but Jerome got hold of my wrist.

"Mika..." He said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Oo naman, sure," I replied.

Jerome breathed deeply. "Will you be my date sa end-of-summer party?"

My heart sank. Shet. Tangina. Ano na Mika Aereen.

There was more than a minute of silence. As in, wala talaga akong masabi. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko.

"Oh..." I said. For a moment, akala ko 'yun lang salitang kaya lumabas sa bibig ko. Pero na-surprise ko 'yung sarili ko nang may marami pang word na lumabas. "Uh, Jerome, I'm so sorry. Pero... may nag-ask na kasi sa'kin. And, I... well, I said yes."

"Ah..." Jerome tried to look casual. But it was so obvious in his face that he was disappointed. "Okay lang. Fine. Great. Good for you."

"I'm sorry talaga."

Jerome only nodded. "So, who is it? Who's the lucky guy?"

"Guy?" I said. "Uhm, girl siya. She's a she."

"Oh." Jerome looked so surprised, his mouth formed the perfect O. Nanlaki rin 'yung mga mata niya. "A girl? So... so it's Ara?"

"Wha--Paano mo nalaman?"

Napalunok si Jerome. "Sobrang halata. I see the way she looks at you. And I see the way you look at her." He looked at me. "You've never looked at me like that."

Kitang-kita ko 'yung lungkot sa mga mata ni Jerome. It crushed me. 'Di ko maimagine kung gaano 'to kasakit para sa kanya.

"Jerome, I'm sorry. Sorry talaga." Pero parang walang epekto 'yung sorry sa kanya. Nag-isip ako ng pwede pang sabihin na pwedeng i-cheer up siya. "We both know I like you," I said quickly.

I do, I like him, just... not in the same way as he does to me. I instantly knew na mali 'yung sinabi ko, because Jerome had teary eyes.

He tried to smile. "And we both know it's not enough. It never was."

Wala na akong maisip na sabihin after that.

I could see the tears forming in Jerome's eyes, and, as if reading my mind, he looked away. "Mauna ka na. I don't feel very well."

"Jerome..."

"Go. Please."

I got out of the car and walked towards the building.