Sleeping Beauty

Kabanata 35

Kabanata 35

Talk

-Iya-

"Congratulations Miss Iya!"

Most of the students congratulated us as we walked pass them. Bahagya naman akong ngumiti sa kanila habang hawak pa rin ni Keith ang kamay ko at marahan akong hinahatak pasunod sa kanya para makalabas kami sa venue.

My eyes roamed around the area to look for Jerome because after Keith's confession, I didn't see him around the venue anymore. Mukhang hinahanap din siya nila Hayley kasi nandito pa rin sila.

I already texted Jas and Jethro that we'll go first since they decided to finish the whole event. May dinner party kasi after ng fair lahat ng participants at organizers pero parang hindi na ata ako sasama sa kanila doon. After this draining day that's full of realizations and feelings, I just want to go home and rest.

Nang makaalis kami sa venue, tahimik lang kaming naglalakad hanggang sa makalayo kaming dalawa sa mataong lugar papunta sa garden ng university. No one dared to break the overwhelming silence between us. Ang dami kong gustong itanong at sabihin sa kanya pero hindi ko magawa.

I just want to embrace all of these.

Right now, I'm already committed to him and I want to give him a chance. I don't want to regret any of the decisions that I made. Lalo na ngayon. I want to break our family's tradition. I want a happy relationship with the person I love. That's all I want. Ayokong ipilit yung sarili ko sa isang relasyon at sa isang tao na alam kong hindi naman talaga para sa akin.

Hindi ko alam kung tama ba na heto dapat ang mga nangyayari, o kung tama ba ang mga naging desisyon ko sa gabing ito. But I want to give it a chance. I realize that it's all about taking chances and risks.

Tumingin ako kay Keith ng huminto siya sa paglakad ng marating namin yung pinakamalaking puno dito. We were standing under my favorite tree in this campus. He gently let go of my hand and faced me. Bahagya siyang ngumiti at nilagay yung kamay niya sa batok niya at hinaplos ito.

"So..." he trailed off but a small sheepish smile is forming on his lips. My eyes narrowed as I looked at him. "Tayo na?" lumawak and ngisi niya habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin.

Inirapan ko siya. "Why did you do that? At sa harap pa talaga ng maraming tao ha?" halos pagtaasan ko na siya ng mga sandaling iyon. What if hindi ko siya sinagot? What if I answered no? Edi napahiya siya sa harapan ng maraming tao? "What if I answered 'No'?"

Malawak siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Well that's the answer I'm expecting though..."

"Okay, madali lang naman akong kausap," sabi ko sa kanya at akmang tatalikuran na siya ng hawakan niya ulit ang kamay ko at marahang hinatak palapit sa kanya.

"You already said 'yes', love," he said as he held my hand tightly. "It's worth the risk naman so I don't regret doing it in front of many people. And even if you said 'no', that will not stop me from pursuing you."

I sighed. "I'm sorry..." napayuko ako. "I said 'yes' but that doesn't mean that..." natigilan ako.

"That doesn't mean that you have any feelings for me?" he continued. "Naiintindihan ko, Iya. Sana hayaan mo lang akong tulungan ka para makalimutan siya. Like what I said before, I'm always willing to wait for you. Kahit gaano pa yan katagal."

"Thank you, Keith." marahan kong sambit sa kanya kasabay ng pagsara ko sa maliit na distansya sa aming dalawa.

I hugged him tightly.