A Fool For Him

7 - Gift

7 - Gift

Nang matapos yung dinner, Mom and Dad bid their farewells to Zero. Sa kasalukuyan ay nasa gazebo kami ngayon. Walang may umimik ni kahit sa isa sa'min mula pa kanina.

My reason was that it's going to be over soon and it pains me whenever I remember the deal.

"Your parents are cool." pagbabasag ni Zero ng katahimikan.

"Yeah." I managed to say. I sat down on the chair and just looked away. Nararamdaman kong nakatingin siya sa'kin kaya lumingon ako sa kanya.

I patted the chair beside me. "Umupo ka." sabi ko. Without any word umupo siya sa tabi ko. Magkadikit yung mga braso namin and that made my heart beat fast again.

"Since this will be our last, I want you to know that what I acted today was the true me." sabi niya.

I felt glad. Akala ko kasi hindi totoo ang lahat ng yun, e. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Thanks for coming over and for hanging out with me at the mall. You don't know how much you made me happy but soon I'll have to wake up in this dream and face the reality tomorrow."

Napabuntong-hininga siya. "Niui... Ginagawa ko 'to para sa'yo. I'm sorry if I'm hurting you. Humanap ka nalang ng iba. Forget about me kasi masasaktan ka lang and I don't want anyone hurting just because of me."

Ito ba yung feeling ng rinireject? Kasi ang sakit, e. Mas masakit pa sa bagong sugat na binuhusan ng alcohol. Hindi maikukumpara sa sakit na tumalon sa 300th floor at bumagsak sa matigas na semento at nasagasaan ng 10-wheeler truck. Mas masakit pa dun yung nararamdaman ko.

"Diba sabi ko hindi ako susuko?" nakangiting sabi ko. Pinipilit kong hindi umiyak sa harap niya.

"But it's time, Niui. Wala ka talagang mapapala sa'kin. If only you knew..." he trailed off.

Napatayo na ako pati na din siya. "If I only knew what? Come on, tell me."

"Niui, just forget about it and mind your own business. How many times do I have to tell you na hindi nga kita gusto. Just stop this nonsense!"

I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears that's going to fall sooner. "You're all worth it, Zero. At kahit anong pagtataboy ang gawin mo, hindi ako susuko. Wanna know why?"

"Niui, stop it." he said sternly.

"It's because I love you, okay?! I don't know why and when! It just happened!" I blurted out.

His eyebrows were still scrunched and his expression never changed. "That's not true. You don't love me. It's just attraction and you'll get over it soon."

"But--" I was cut off when he suddenly hugged me. I was still in shock that I couldn't even move. My heart was beating so fast that it's the only thing that I'm hearing right now. He was hugging me so tight like his life depended on me.

"Forget about me. Forget everything that happened today. Just do it, please. It's for the best." he said. He pulled away and kissed my forehead. "Be well, Niui. Goodbye."

And he left, just like that. I still couldn't move. My knees were weak and I collapsed on the floor. Sitting down, I just stared into the darkness.

"Girls are really creepy when they fall in love. Tsk, tsk!" a voice from behind me said. "Just stop crying, retard. You're face disturbs me when you cry. It's so ugly."

"Shut up, dufus. Wala akong ganang makipagaway sa'yo." I said. Hindi ko namalayang umiiyak na pala ako. I mean, posible ba yun? Siguro, in my case kasi nga nasaktan na ako ng sobra at ang nagawa ko nalang ay ang tumingin sa kawalan.