Started with a Joke

Chapter 8

MIKA'S POV

Natigilan ako at unti unting nanlaki ang mata ko nung marealize kong nasabi ko ng malakas yun.

Bwiset bwiset, ano na namang kahihiyan to Reyes?

Napalunok ako bago ko siya sinulyapan. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatitig sakin. Umiwas agad ako ng tingin at saktong nadapuan ng paningin ko ang coke kaya kinuha ko yun at ininom hanggang sa mawala ang nararamdaman kong init sa mukha ko.

“Kinikilig ka? Bakit?” muntik ko nang maibuga ang kasusubo ko lang na spaghetti.

Tanungin ba daw ako kung bakit ako kinikilig?! Minsan hindi ko din maintindihan to si Alyssa, kung nananadya ba o sadyang slow lang talaga eh.

“Syempre titigan ka ba naman ng isang Alyssa Valdez, sinong hindi kikiligin.” i said bluntly as i shrug my shoulder.

At ngayon ang oras niya para magulat sa sinabi ko. Nakatulala lang siya sakin habang nakaawang ang bibig at nanlalaki ang mata.

Napatawa ako ng mahina.

Ipinatong ko ang siko ko sa lamesa at humalumbaba ako sa harap niya. I did that without even taking my eyes off her.

“Did you even know how many people crawls for your attention? And guess what,” unti unti akong lumapit sa kanya making our faces away for a few inches only.

Muntik na kong matawa nung lumunok siya, pero pinigilan ko.

“I'm one of them. I'm one of those people who'll go into war just to get your attention, Alyssa Valdez.”

DEN'S POV

I was awaken when i heard someone laughing from outside my door. Akala ko someone barge in, pero naalala ko na nandito nga pala si Alyssa.

I smiled as i thought of her.

Bumangon ako at pumunta sa banyo ng kwarto ko para mag-hilamos. My nose is still clog but i feel better now. I tied my hair into a lose pony tail. I looked at my reflection and when i find myself presentable enough, i decided to go outside.

I was about to open my door when something popped in my mind. I smiled sheepishly. Ly is a big scaredy cat. Napakamagugulatin niyan. I still remember when i first frightened her, hindi niya ko pinansin maghapon nun. She said it was not funny, pero hindi ako makaget-over sa katatawa.

Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang pinto. Sinilip ko ang ulo ko sa may pinto. I didn't find her in the living room though. Kaya lumabas ako ng tuluyan at dahan dahang naglakad papunta sa kusina.

Bigla nalang tumahimik. I covered my mouth, trying to keep my mouth shut. Hala. Baka nasense niya nang malapit na ko. Nakakainis naman.

I tiptoed on my way to the kitchen. Nasa bibig ko pa din ang kamay ko. Talagang kinareer ko na ang pagiging tahimik, magulat ko lang ulit si Ly. Makita ko lang ulit yung ganung expression niya. Magkameron lang ulit ako ng dahilan para suyuin siya ng magdamag.

I giggled as I thought of her face on my mind. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago nagstep ng isa pa at tuluyan nang makita si Ly.

“Boo!”

Unti unting nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. My legs were like jelly being burned cruely.

Dinig na dinig ko ang mabilis na tibok ng puso ko, telling my self na dapat akong masaktan. Na dapat umalis na ko hangga‘t pwede pa.

“D-den..” Alyssa stood from her chair and Mika did the same. Mukha silang nakakita ng multo. It was as if they were not expecting to see me here, in my own unit.

“What's this?” i managed to ask.

“W-well, kumakain lang kami.” maikling sagot ni Alyssa. I clenched my jaw.

God damn it Ly. Can't you think of any other reasons? Bakit hindi mo magawang magdahilan nalang. Bakit hindi mo magawang magsinungaling na lang. 'Cause i'm freaking tired of your honesty.

“Okay.” i faked a smile. I bit my cheek from the inside to prevent myself from breaking down.

Tumalikod ako at nagsimulang maglakad pabalik sa kwarto.

Please don't cry. Please don't.

Paulit ulit na bulong ko sa sarili ko. Wag. Wag ngayon. Wag sa harap nila. Wag sa harap niya.

I was ready to twist the knob of my room's door when someone grabbed my hand from behind. I looked back and it was Alyssa. Her worried look makes me feel awful.

“I'm sorry.” She whispered sincerely without taking her eyes off me.

I cursed underneath my breath as i felt my warm tears flowing down my cheek. It was like a dam who always breaks down whenever she's around. I couldn't stop it from exploding.

I smiled. “Okay lang.”

“Den..”

“Please stop.” i cut her off. Pumikit ako at huminga ng malalim.

“I will be okay Ly. Just go and live your life the way you lived it before you met me.”

I turned my back and shut the door behind. I sat on the floor, feeling empty and heavy at the same time.

Hindi ko inexpect na sakin pa mismo manggagaling yung mga salitang 'yon. Parang sinabi ko na din na malaya na siya. Na she's free to do anything she wants without worrying what would I feel.

“Den.” I stopped crying. It was Mika's voice.

“What?” i tried to sound fierce and I didn't failed to do so.

“Uhm, I'm sorry. Alis na ko.” naramdaman ko ang bigat sa dibdib niya habang sinasabi niya 'yon.

I know she didn't intend to hurt me pero wala akong magagawa. Because whenever she's around, mas lalo lang akong nasasaktan.

Knowing I was replaced by someone like her in a short period of time. Knowing that it was her who makes Alyssa happy anymore and not me. Knowing she could do so much better than I did. Knowing all those things, it tears me apart and I don't know how to stop it.

I heard the main door shut. I knew they left already.

So I cried so hard. I screamed and screamed and think of the reasons why things between me and her didn't worked out.

I felt so alone. Pakiramdam ko wala akong kakampi, that the world is trying to get me.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko at gumapang ako papunta sa kama. I crawled until I reached the top.

Binalot ko ang sarili ko sa makapal na comforter at hinayaang magpahinga ang sarili ko.

Sooner or later, puso ko na mismo ang kusang susuko.

——

I'm back— with more heartaches. Hahaha jk. Happy reading 💝