The One

Four

“Parang mali kasi lahat ‘to Toff eh.” I was saying, and I saw the look on his face.

“Don’t worry Toffer, I’m not friend zoning you!” I immediately added.

"Then what is it?" He immediately asked me.

"It's just, well, I ---" I purposely trailed off.

He grip me by the arm, urgency evident in his voice. "Tell me Ree!" He gripped my arms tightly.

"God Toffer! Cut this out nasasaktan ako!" He just looked at me, apparently he lost it.

"Stop this already! Para kang sira!" I said, as I immediately remove his grip from me, and was about to storm away.

I was at the foot of the hill when he came running down to me, shouting my name. "Ree! Ree! Wait up" I did not dare to look back: I was angry at him, furious.

I was about to leave the village when he grabbed me by the arm.

"I said wait kasi!" He said as he gripped my hand, trying to catch his breath before he spoke again. I just looked at him and raised my eyebrow when he finally caught his breath.

"Geez, Ree! Why did you left me? Nagiging unreasonable ka na naman eh!" He started.

"Now I'm the unreasonable now! Great, says someone who gripped me with the intention to kill my arms." I said sarcastically as I glared at him.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I was wrong." He said.

"Whatever." And I just continued to walk away from him. The nerve!

"Wait Ree!" He said while following me.

"Ano bang problema ha Christoffer?" I shouted at him.

"I said sorry!" He shouted back. So may gana pa siyang magalit sa 'kin? The nerve! I thought to myself.

"And I said whatever! Can you please do me a favor? Leave me alone!" I said the last words slowly but an emphasis to it with menace. He just stood there, apparently stunned to what I had said. And that's when I know I finally got through him. So I immediately walked away.

------

It's already past 1 in the morning and yet Ree is not back. Where could she be? God, this is all my fault. I should've controlled my temper. I constantly check  their room to see if she's back. But she is not.

I heaved a sigh when I saw my other friends fell asleep waiting for her.

Around 2:15 I heared the floor creak  downstairs. I immediately went down to check who is it.

There was Ree taking off her shoes leaving her socks on and taking her slippers.

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"None of your business." She said as she put her slippers on. I immediately went to her.

I took her hands in me, and noticed that it was cold as ice, and her nails are all white already. "Ree, I'm sorry. I should've controlled my temper. It's just, I snapped when I thought you're rejecting me."

"You and your blasted temper." She said weakly as she held my face in her palm. It sent a shiver down my spine when I felt her touch, her hands are cold!

"Bwisit ka kasi." She then smiled at me weakly. Then after that she fainted, luckily I immediately caught her before she hit the floor.