T-Shirt Girl (COMPLETED)

TSG 18 - I Can't Make You Love Me

"I can't make you love me if you don't. You can't make your heart feel something it won't." –I Can't Make You Love Me, Nina

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Ni-like ni Jae ang picture kung saan naka-tag si Toby. It's to let him know that she knew what happened. Gusto niyang makunsensya ito. Alam niyang makukunsensya ito. Maya-maya'y nag-message ito sa kanya na gusto nitong makipag-usap. She replied OK and logged off.

Hindi niya alam kung saan o kailan sila mag-uusap, but she didn't care. Gusto niyang umiyak. Gusto niyang magwala. But her tear ducts were dry and she felt so tired.

--

Kinabukasan ay hindi siya sumama sa mommy niya. Nag-aya kasi itong dumalaw sa mga kamag-anak nila sa Pampanga. She took the time alone to meet with Toby. Since she have no phone, sa Facebook na lang siya nakikipag-usap dito.

Toby Ahn Legaspi:

--Bakit palaging out of coverage ang phone mo?

Jazmin Eloisa Clemente:

--Trip ko lang

Toby Ahn Legaspi:

--Okay lang bang pumunta dyan?

Jazmin Eloisa Clemente:

--Sure

Toby Ahn Legaspi:

--Sige. Nandyan na ako ng 1pm. Nag-halfday ako.

Wala siyang naramdamang tuwa nang malaman niyang nag-halfday pa ito para lang makipag-usap sa kanya. Kung tutuusin ay ayaw nya na nga itong makita. If he could just evaporate into thin air, that would be great. But she needs to end it. This has to end, for real.

--

Unang ring pa lamang ng doorbell ay tumayo na kaagad si Jae at binuksan ang pinto. Toby was standing outside with a bunch of beautiful flowers in his hand and an apologetic smile on his face. She opened the gate and let him in.

Pagkasara nito ng pinto ay agad nitong iniabot ang bulaklak sa kanya.

"Jae, tungkol dun sa picture—"

"Pakisabi sa kanya, congrats."

"Galit ka ba?" he asked warily.

She didn't answer. Instead, she walked to the kitchen and shot the bouquet in the trash bin. Saka niya ito nilingon at nginitian. "Did that answer your question?"

Toby sighed. "Can you at least let me explain?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya at naupo. "Sure."

Naupo ito sa tabi niya at nagsimulang magkwento. Siya naman, kinuha ang headset, isinaksak sa tablet at saka nakinig ng music in full volume. Napikon yata ito dahil hiniklat nito ang isang earpiece mula sa tenga niya.

"Akala ko ba hahayaan mo akong mag-explain?" pikon nitong tanong.

"Bakit? Sinabi ko bang makikinig ako?"

"Jae, wala namang gaguhan. Please lang..."

"Wow ha! Kapag ikaw, okay lang pero kapag ako, hindi pwede?!"

"Jae..." Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya. Agad naman niya iyong binawi at saka ito itinulak. Hindi pa siya nakuntento. Sinunggaban niya ito ng suntok.

"That's for breaking a promise you should not have given in the first place!"

She said that she would not cry, not in front of him. Ayaw pa rin niyang tapusin ang deal nila. But this must be it. Baka hanggang dito na lang talaga. She was so angry with him. She wanted to kill him right at that moment. Yet seeing him in pain hurts her at the same time.