Kiss and Run

Chapter XXXVI

NATALIA

Adan fell in love with me when we were in high school.

Iisa lang kami ng Academy na pinasukan nila Adan at Eva ngunit hindi kami naging magkaklase noon kaya hindi rin kami close. Noong college lang talaga kami nagkalapit ni Eva. Pati na rin si Adan.

It was on our acquaintance party when he confessed that he is in love with me. Since we were in high school. Unfortunately, the feeling was not and never been mutual. That's one of the hardest nights of my life. How will I reject Adan's feelings without hurting him? I mean, I am flattered. Maraming mga babae ang humahanga sa kanya at gagawin ang lahat para lang mapansin niya. Bukod kasi na mahusay siya sa mga acads, dagdag points pa ang itsura niya.

I feel so bad that I never felt the same way, I feel so bad for not noticing that he is in love with me, I feel so bad that I only see him as a friend.

But at the same night, I realized, kahit ano pang pag-iisip ko ng magandang paraan upang sabihing hanggang kaibigan lang talaga ang tingin ko sa kanya...ay masasaktan at masasaktan pa rin siya sa bandang huli. Kaya kinabukasan no'n, sinabi ko ang totoo. Ang resulta, hindi niya 'ko pinansin ng isang buong taon, hindi maikakaila ang awkwardness sa pagitan naming dalawa sa tuwing nasa iisang lugar lang kami.

Iyon din ang panahon na maraming nainis sa akin. Dahil sa rejection na binigay ko kay Adan. Masiyado raw mataas ang tingin ko sa'king sarili, feeling maganda at kung anu-ano pa. Pilit ko na lang sinarado ang aking tainga mula sa mga kritisismong iyon. Ayoko namang magpanggap na may gusto ako sa kanya. Hindi naman ako pinalaking manloloko ng magulang ko, bukod pa roon ay mas lalo lang siyang masasaktan kung magpapanggap lang ako.

Mabuti na nga lamang ay nagawan pa ng paraan ni Eva. Isang araw, napagtanto ko na lamang na pinapansin na niya 'ko hanggang sa bumalik na ang lahat sa normal. Simula noon, kami ng tatlo ang madalas na magkasama.

Though Eva's reminding me from time to time that Matt Adrian still have feelings for me. The reason why I keep on reminding his brother—in an indirect way—from time to time that we are only just friends.

He is smart enough to get the message.

"Have a seat," I instantly come back to reality by Adan's voice.

When does his voice became too manly?

"Thank you," sambit ko nang siya na ang humila ng mauupuan ko.

"Bakit sa'kin hindi ka gentleman?" Reklamo ni Eva.

"You're my sister," sagot niya na para bang iyon na ang makapagpapaliwanag sa lahat.

"Tss." Naiinis na lamang niyang usal. "Anyway," tumayo si Eva at kinuha ang kanyang bag, "Magre-retouch lang ako." Iyon lamang at mabilis na siyang umalis.

I look at Adan.

He looks back.

A moment of awkward silence.

"Oh come on," he breathes after a while. "Do you still think I have feelings for you?" he chuckles.

"Sorry," agad kong sambit at nag-peace sign sa kanya.

"Well, I am not," he said positively. "My annoying twin here," he gestures the direction Eva took, "believes that there is still hope for us." Uminom siya ng Iced tea na nasa harap niya. "She loves the idea of you being her sister-in-law. Thus, she set us up." I cringe, looking at Eva's plate and her glass of water. "I have poison here," he offered and smiled playfully at me.

"You can also read minds now?" Pabiro kong sambit.

"No," he chuckles, "I lived with my mom and my two sisters for almost 21 years. It's only enough to familiarize how women thinks."