Selfish Love [On Going]

CHAPTER TWELVE

“You make me want to be a better man”

As Good as it Gets

Maya’t maya ko sinisilip ang phone ko at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Maybe because … I am not receiving any messages? Pero bakit?

I turned on the airplane mode and turned it back off. It must be the signal. I told myself.

“Waiting for his message?” Tanong ni Raven sakin habang tutok na tutok sa paglalaro ng Candy Crush.

“I don’t know why Fox isn’t messaging me yet.”

“So, you were waiting for his messages now.” Puna ni Raven sa sagot ko.

“Ha!” Napasinghap ako sabay takip sa bibig ko. “You didn’t hear it, right?”

“I’ll just pretend that I didn’t.” Then Raven slowly looked at me. “But I did.”

Para akong bata na bigla na lamang nagpapadyak sa loob ng sasakyan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lamang akong inatake ng kabaliwan. Bakit ko ba nasabi yon? Bakit ko ba kasi hinihintay na magmessage si Fox? Saka masama ba na maghintay ng mga message niya?

Hindi ba pwedeng nasanay lang ako?

“Will you stop it, Lyke? Para kang bata.” Saway sa akin ni Raven.

Tumingin ako sa kanya bago ko tinakpan ng throw pillow ang mukha ko.

Beep!

Napabalikwas ako bigla ng tumunog ang phone ko. I immediately unlocked the screen. And I was surprised when I read the name flashed on my notification status. I haven’t seen that name on my phone for a long time.

Gunner and Roses:
Can we talk?

I just stared at it for a minute or two.

Gunner and Roses:
Please?

Lyke Del Basco:
Okay.

Gunner and Roses:
I’ll see you at school. I’m on my way.

Nang mabasa ko ang message niyang iyon ay agad kong tinapik ang balikat ng driver.

“Manong, paki-bagalan po ang pagda-drive.”

“Okay po Ma’am”

Hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ni Raven nang tumingin siya sakin. “What the hell is happening? Why do we have to slow down?”

“Gunner asked me if we could talk.”

“So?” Nakakunot-noo niyang tanong sa akin.

“He is still on his way, Raven. Ayokong mauna pa ako sa kanya.”

Raven rolled her eyes on me habang pailing-iling. “You’re unbelievable.”

After a few minutes, I received another message from Gunner saying that he was already there waiting for me at the car park. I took a deep breath. Bigla na lang kasing tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko.

Am I ready to talk to him?

Am I ready to fall backwards?

Am I ready to be hurt again for the nth time?

Isn’t once enough? Do I need more of his words for me to move forward?

Darating ba si Fox para ipagtanggol at saluhin ulit ako?