Tamed [GL-Sapphics]

Chapter 30 - Bracelet

TAMED XXX - BRACELET

"ZAMY!"

"Ano'ng oras na, may balak pala siyang mamasyal dito," usal ni Kuya nang marinig namin ang sigaw ni Brent sa labas.

Kahit alas syete na ng gabi ay pilit ko pa ring pinagbuksan ito ng pinto dahil matagal-tagal na rin noong huli naming pagkikita. "Brent?"

"Good evening, babe," he greeted me warmly, flashing a sweet smile while his hands were tucked into the pockets of his pants. Hindi ko alam kung dahil mahigit dalawang buwan kaming hindi nagkita kaya ako naninibago sa itsura niya o talagang magulo ang porma niya.

My heart sank as I scanned his appearance from head to toe. His hair was unkempt, but somehow it looked perfectly messy, with a shaggy fringe falling across his forehead. His eyes looked tired and sunken, as if he hadn't slept in days, and though he was smiling, there was no sparkle in his bloodshot gaze.

"I've missed you." Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit, nagulat ako nang mapagtantong amoy alak ito kaya naman pala wasted ang lagay niya.

"Brent!" suway ko sa kanya nang higitin niya ako palabas. Binuksan niya na iyong pinto ng kanyang kotse pero nagmatigas ako at nanatili sa labas. "Ba't ka lasing na nagpunta rito?"

"We haven't seen each other this whole vacation, and that's the only thing you're curious about? Come on! Dalawang buwan mo akong iniiwasan, ang tagal nating hindi nagkita. May problema ba tayo?"

"Brent, I'm getting frustrated that you're asking me about this again. We had a conversation about it just two months ago and you know the details of what happened between us." Hindi ko na trabahong ipaalala sa kanya palagi ang tungkol sa totoong estado naming dalawa pero kung kailangan kong gawin ulit 'yon para lubayan niya ako ay 'di ako mapapagod.

"Zamy, it's not really like that, is it? The way things have shifted between us has left me feeling disconnected and sad, as if we've lost something so special."

It all happened on the last night of our stay in Casa Grande. He caught up with me to have a conversation, and it was the same night he serenaded us during the long gown ramp walk. I won the Miss Cambridge Summer Island Queen title, but things took a wild turn when Yvon kissed him on stage while I was being crowned.

Marami na akong sama ng loob na dala-dala noong gabing 'yon kaya wala ng lugar na napuntahan iyong eskandalong iyon. Todo rescue naman si Jazzver at tinanong ako sa mismong stage tungkol sa totoong status namin ni Brent kaya binulgar ko na lang iyong totoo.

"I came here to tell you, Zamy, that I've made up my mind. Hindi ko na babalikan si Yvon dahil matagal nang tapos iyong sa amin. It's still you. I'm in love with you," he said while gently caressing my cheeks. Regret was written all over his eyes. "I love you so much, Zamy, and I promise not to hurt you again. I realize how much you mean to me and how scared I am of losing the best thing that has ever happened to me. Let me give you the world. Please be my girlfriend."

"Brent," I said softly as I gently held his hands away from my face and looked down. "I'm sorry."

"Please be my girlfriend. Be my girlfriend Zamy." He pleaded desperately. "Zamy please.."

"Brent, I'm sorry, but I've come to realize that my feelings for you are only platonic. I appreciate the effort you've put into courting me, but I think it's best if we just stay friends and move on. I hope you can understand and respect that."

Para akong nakikipag-break, hindi naman naging kami. Napag-usapan na namin 'to pero bumabalik pa rin siya't 'di sumusuko. "It's not fair to keep trying when I've already told you there's no chance for us. It's not right to keep holding on to something that's not even there."