Pulling Out The Strings

Chapter 4

POTS4

I'm with Samantha --- kaklase ko and she's cool at helping me out on my projects. I helped her din naman. Katatapos lang namin gumawa so I decided na i-treat ko siya sa favorite Café ko. She ordered Melted Cookies while I ordered as always my Ginger Coffee Brown.

"Na complete mo na each task?" I asked her. While I'm checking my phone since nung nag message si 'BOYFIE' sa akin. Kagabi nga he wanted a Video call but I declined. I'm not in the mood in that night. Kasi naman pinaliwanag ko na sa kanya noon pa na dapat no feelings attach. Pero parang wala siyang narinig at tuloy tuloy lang sa pag kukuwento niya.

"Yeah. Learning task number 9 na lang. I have to go na ah? Maaga kasi ako na attend ng class." Inayos niya ang salamin niya. I just give her a simple nod and she waved at me as saying goodbye. I waved back at her.

Kinuha ko yung chips na nabili ko kahapon sa grocery. I always bought an chips for myself.  Specially sa mga hard days ko. Umorder na rin ako ng fries. Favorite ko rin kasi yun. Habang nakain ako ay may kumalabit sa akin. Bale nakatalikod ako from the glass door and I'm pacing the wall. Dinidikit ko usually mga gusto kong sabihin kaya naging favorite place ko ito.

Nang lingonin ko kung sino ay napa irap na lang ako. "What?" Sumubo ako ng fries. He stared at me for a while bago tumabi sa akin.

"I'm just going to ask if... we're cool?" Napakamot siya sa batok niya. I side glanced at him.

"You know what? I will totally be honest with you. I felt betrayed. Kasi alam mo yun? I trust you as a FRIEND at akala ko friends, friends lang? Edi sana sinabihan mo na ako para naagapan natin." I continued to eat my fries. He opened my chips.

"I knew sa simula pa lang na ganyan ka magrereact so I kept it to myself for many years. I just thought na alam mong may feelings na ako for you." Nakaharap siya sa akin so umiwas ako ng tingin. He's waiting for my reply.

"And you think I'm happy of what you did? Sa tingin mo mas naging cool ang lahat?" Humarap na rin ako sa kanya. This is why we can't have nice things; One, he hide. Two, he remain silent.

Binaba niya ang chips ko. "Alam mo kasi Leona, may mga bagay na mas mabuting itago na lang kasi it makes everything alright. No flaws. No wrong. Even it can defined such as perfect crime it will sooner getting more complicated. So I hide it. I want us to back what we had before. Please." I can see the pain in his eyes. He held my hand but tinanggal ko din.

"But kahit anong klase ng tago ang gawin mo, mabubulgar at mabubulgar din ang katotohanan. And mas worse pa ito. Kaya nga mas mabuti ng umamin sa una kase sa dulo mo pa malalaman na mas masakit pala." He just turned his gazed down. I don't want to pretend na gusto ko siya just to ease his pain. I can't feel anything for him. Bakit ba ang hirap hirap intindihin?

"You know me well diba? Marked my word nga diba? Pag sinabi ko gagawin ko talaga." I faked smiled at him. "Yes I loved you as a friend pero hanggang dun lang. Nasira na yung friendship natin. Hanggang concern na lang ang kaya kong maibigay. Sorry."

"Bu-" He got cut off by someone's interrupting him. We both turned our gazed at him. Great. Another pain in the ass.

"Mind if I join you two?" He wiggled his brow. I threw him a sharp glared.

"Ano ba? Hindi niyo ba ako titigilan?" I hissed at him. Hindi ba nila gets na hindi ko sila kailangan? I don't need anyone in my life.

"Never"

"No"

They both replied.

I rolled my eyes at them.