Behind the Clouds (Published under Viva Books)

Chapter 11: Achy breaky hearts

Mandy's POV

Si Chase pala ang sinasabi ni Star na magtuturo sa akin ng piano. Shocks! Nakakahiya. Si Star talaga, hindi man lang ako inabisuhan para kahit papano e nakapag-ayos naman ako ng sarili ko.

God! Lalo ata akong hindi makaka-focus sa pag-aaral ng piano kapag ganito ka-hot ang teacher ko. At ang bango bes. Amoy gwapo. Natapos ang session namin ngayon na wala man lang akong masyadong natutunan. Paano distracted ako sa nagtuturo sa akin.

"Thank you Chase. Sorry ha kung medyo slow ako pagdating sa music." I told her.

"It's okay. Matututo ka din. Kaunting pagtyatyaga pa. Saka yung assignment ko sa'yong finger exercise. Gawin mo yun para mas madali na next session natin." Chase told me. Gwapo na, ang bait bait pa. I just nodded as sign of affirmation. Paano kaya ito napapayag ni Star na magturo sa akin? Ganoon sila ka-close? Paano?

"By the way, may lakad ka ba bukas?" he asked me.

"Wala naman. Gusto ko sanang manood ng training ni Star kaso lang may lakad si kuya Steven e. Hindi ako papayagan na wala akong kasama." I answered him. Ang daldal ko na naman. Tinanong lang ako kung may lakad ako, ang dami ko na namang nasabi. Baka ma-turn off nito sa akin si Chase. Oh no!

"Shall we watch her?" he asked. Tama ba itong narinig ko? He is asking me if we shall watch Star? We? As in kaming dalawa?

"Hey Mandy." he said as he was snapping his fingers in front of me. Napanganga pala kasi ako kakaisip kung bakit niya ako niyayakag na manood na magkasama kami.

"Ay sorry. May bigla lang akong naisip. Manonood tayo kay Star?" I asked him.

"Yup. Kung wala ka lang namang gagawin." he said as his lips parted to give me one sweet smile.

"Okay." maiksing sagot ko. Okay na lang ang naisagot ko sa sobrang kilig ko. Kaunti na lang at sasabog na ako dito sa sobrang kilig na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Anong ginawa mo sa akin Chase? Bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko para sa'yo?

                           **********

Star's POV

Tumawag sa akin si Mandy upang ikwento ang nangyari sa session nila ni CJ. She seems very happy. She told me how happy she is because of CJ. She told me how CJ can make her heart flutter by just a simple smile. Mandy is happy. CJ can definitely make her happy.

We are having our training for the volleyball club when I saw Mandy and CJ on the bench. They were talking to each other. They were laughing. It looks like they are getting along well. Biglang sumakit ang puso ko at napahawak na lang ako sa aking dibdib. I suddenly felt pain - pain in my heart. I should not feel this. After all, it is my idea to make CJ spend time with Mandy. Hindi ko ineexpect na ganito kasakit pala ang makita silang magkasama. Napapaisip na lang ako.

Sana kami ni CJ ang magkasama ngayon.

Sana kami ni CJ ang magkausap ngayon.

Sana. Sana. Sana.

I hate this feeling. I saw Mandy waving her hands on me, "Bes! May bibilhin lang kami sa canteen. Babalik din kami." And then I saw CJ waved his hands too. As I watched them go, my heart suddenly aches. I excused myself from the training for a water break.

I am drinking a glass of water when someone tapped me on my shoulder.

"Masakit ba? Masakit na makita silang masayang magkasama, tama?" It was Steven.

"Ha? Anong sinasabi mo?" I asked him.

"Mandy and CJ." sabi niya. Bigla naman akong natigilan nang marinig kong binanggit niya ang mga pangalang kasasabi lang niya.

"I know everything, Star. I saw you and CJ in the mall last time. I confronted CJ and asked him. He told me everything." he said. Alam pala ni Steven ang lahat. Alam niya ang tungkol sa amin ni CJ.

"You gave up CJ for a while to make Mandy happy. You sacrificed your own happiness. You sacrificed the times na dapat kayo ni CJ ang magkasama pero si Mandy ang kasama niya. Bakit Star? You don't have to do that." Steven told me. "You just need to tell Mandy everything. I am sure she would understand." he continued.

"Paano? Paano ko magagawang sabihin sa kanya ang lahat kung nakikita kong masaya siya tuwing kasama niya si CJ? Paano ko magagawang sabihin kay Mandy kung alam kong masasaktan siya kapag nalaman niya? Paano Steven? Paano ko sasabihin sa kanya kung sa tuwing susubukan kong umamin ay magkwekwento siya on how CJ made her heart flutter? Paano?" tears started falling on my eyes. I am definitely hurting.

Steven wiped my tears using his hanky. He hugged me tight and tapped my back. He comforted me, "Tahan na. Naiintindihan kita. You just want Mandy to be happy. Pero nasasaktan ka, Star. At mas magiging masakit pa yan habang napapalapit silang dalawa sa isa't isa."

Alam ko naman e. Alam kong habang tumatagal itong ginagawa namin ay lalo akong masasaktan. Pero anong magagawa ko? I want Mandy to be happy. I will do everything to make her life a memorable one.

                          **********

CJ's POV

Ilang linggo na din ang nakalipas. Kagaya nang napag-usapan namin ay ginawa ko ang lahat para mapalapit kay Mandy. We went out. We watched movies at home. We watched Star together. Paminsan-minsan ay nanonood din siya tuwing training namin ni Steven sa basketball. Nakasama na din ako one time sa chemo session niya. I saw how painful Mandy is feeling every after her sessions. Painful skin, vomitting, dizziness, bruises - all of these she experienced. I feel sorry for her.

But one thing is surely missing. Star. I miss her a lot. I miss us.

I saw her on the gymnasium as she was packing her things. Katatapos lang ng training niya. Mandy was not able to watch today because she is not feeling well because of her chemo session the other day.

"I miss you baby." I hugged her from her back. God! I just miss this girl. Lahat ng pangungulila ay nawala dahil sa yakap na ito. Isang yakap na handa akong ibigay ang lahat ng meron ako kapalit nito.

She reached for my right cheek and caressed it. Her hand - it feels warm. Nanatili kami sa ganoong posisyon hanggang dumating ang oras na kailangan na niyang umuwi.

"I need to go. Sorry if I can't stay longer for your practice. May lakad kasi kami ni mama." she told me.

"Okay. Kailan tayo lalabas? I miss spending time with you." I told her.

Hindi siya sumagot. Tanging ngiti lamang ang naisagot niya sa akin.

"You know that I love you, right?" she asked me. I nodded. She continued, "Whatever happens, always remember that. I love you. I love you. I love you. But we can't be together."

"What are you talking about?" confused I asked her.

"Listen to me CJ. We need to stop seeing each other. Mali. Mali na nagkikita tayo sa likod ni Mandy. We can't continue this, for now." she said in a sad voice.

"Anong sinasabi mo Star? Minsan na nga lang tayo magkita e, tapos ngayon sinasabi mo na itigil na natin totally ang pagkikita?" tinanong ko siya.

"Ngayon lang naman CJ e. Ngayon lang. Mandy needs you." she told me.

"Paano naman ako Star? I need you." I firmly stated.

"Please CJ. Do not make it hard for us. Diba I promised you that when Mandy feels better, I will tell her? You just need to trust me. Please CJ. Do this for me. Stay with Mandy." she pleaded.

"Hindi ko maintindihan. I can spend time with Mandy pero huwag naman ganito." I told her.

"Intindihin mo. Let's say goodbye for now, CJ."

Let's say goodbye for now, CJ.

Let's say goodbye for now, CJ.

Let's say goodbye for now, CJ.

Iyon ang huli kong narinig na lumabas mula sa mga labi ni Star. Let's say goodbye for now. Mahirap pero kung ito ang gusto niya, ibibigay ko. Hihintayin ko ang araw na magiging handa na siya - magiging handa na ipaglaban kung ano ang tunay niyang nararamdaman.