Crowned Princess (Kingdom University, #3)

Chapter 30

Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw na akong wala sa sarili kapag mag-isa. Nagagawa ko pa namang makipag-usap nang normal at makipaglokohan sa mga kaibigan ko pero kapag ako na lang, tinatamaan talaga ako ng lungkot at naaalala ko si Kevin.

Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng brokenhearted.

"Hindi ako makahinga rito," Darryl said while stealing glances at us. "Bakit ba kasi ako ang nasa gitna?"

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. Sumandal ako sa upuan para hindi ko makita ang pagmumukha nilang dalawa. Bakit kasi puno kami sa class na 'to? Wala man lang extra na upuan nang makalipat ako.

Just like Darryl, I felt suffocated because of Kevin's presence. After I saw him that day, I turned a blind eye every time he approached me and days after, he started ignoring me, too.

Alam kong malabo ang nangyari. Hindi ko rin naman kasi sinabi kung ano ang problema ko. Ewan. Nahihirapan na akong intindihin ang mga kinikilos niya. He said he'd fix his problems but he was fixing girls' collars.

Naalala ko tuloy 'yong gabing naabutan ko ang Mom ni Kevin sa bahay. I was feeling bad that day because of what happened but she was there to sympathize with me. Hindi ko alam kung dala lang ba ng halu-halong emosyon ko noong araw na 'yon pero napatanong ako sa kanya tungkol kay Kevin.

"Kevin and Karla need you, too," I said.

I didn't mean to be rude. Hindi ko rin naman gustong manghimasok sa buhay nila pero pakiramdam ko kasi hindi tama. She should be with her children. She should be comforting them instead of me.

Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at saka sinabing, "But I can't be with them anymore, hija. I will just open every wound if I see them now."

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay bumaba na siya at nanatili naman ako sa kwarto. The silence was overwhelming and I never knew I could cry that hard.

***

Buti na lang talaga at tapos na ang class na 'yon. Pigil na pigil akong tumingin sa direksyon niya dahil nacu-curious ako sa kung ano ang expression sa mukha niya. I wanted to look at his face but I didn't have the courage to do it. Pakiramdam ko, ako ang may mali.

"Hey."

"Oh my gosh—!"

Halos mapatalon ako nang may humawak sa balikat ko at paglingon ko ay nakita ko si Patrick. Pinasunod niya ako papunta sa dulo ng corridor at bigla niyang hinarap ang phone niya sa akin. I stared at the screen and saw Kevin's name along with his message.

Can you tell her that I'm sorry? Thanks, Pat.

Hindi ko alam ang dapat maramdaman. Why was he sorry? Did he do something that he shouldn't have? Was he indirectly saying that I was right about my suspicions? Was I really just . . . just one of his girls?

"Seems like this is a complicated matter," mahinang sabi ni Patrick.

"Yeah," I said, choking back the lump forming in my throat. "Siguro hindi talaga 'to magwo-work out."

"Really? You think so?" tanong niya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya at napakunot ang noo ko. "I know Kevin," he said. "Of all the girls he got involved with, he was most careful when he's with you."

"Bakit? Dahil iba ako sa mga kadalasang babae niya?"

"Yes," sagot niya at parang lumubog ang puso ko dahil doon. "Hey, but in a good way."

I scoffed. "Good way?"

"Besides, he already made a promise, right?" Naalala ko naman bigla ang araw na 'yon. Sana huminto na lang ang oras no'n. "That guy . . . he always keeps his word so I hope you trust him even though he acts like that."