Waiting To Hear You Say "I Love You"

Chapter 57 --- Open Wounds

Chapter 57

Open Wounds

Hindi malaman ni Samantha kung bakit bigla na lang nagtanong ng ganoon si Felix sa kanya.

Is she happy with him? Kanino?

She looks bewildered, that's for sure. Ang pinag-uusapan nila kanina ay tungkol sa nangyari sa paa niya, hindi ba? Paanong biglang napunta sa tanong na iyon na hindi naman niya maintindihan.

"Kanino?" She asked.

Felix wanted to look away. To not look at her eyes. But he's already wounded. Might as well let the wounds bleed even more. Kaysa pagalingin niya muna ito pagkatapos ay masasaktan lang din naman siyang muli kapag nalaman na niya ang sagot.

"With Samuelson," he managed to answer.

Samantha let everything sink in first in her head.

Is she happy... with Samuelson?

She nodded. "Oo."

She is. She's happy with him. Nakakatuwa naman kasi itong kasama, lalo na ang dalawa nitong kaibigan na sina Vien at Ronan. Tila ba hindi nauubusan ang mga ito ng kalokohan. Even just remembering the mischiefs of the two earlier made her chuckle.

"Then... I guess I'm too late."

Napakunot-noo si Samantha sa narinig.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Felix gave her a lazy smile.

"I don't stand a chance against him if you're already happy," he said, his eyes already teary. "Hey, you want to hear a story while we walk?"

Gulung-gulong man ay tumango na lamang bilang sagot si Samantha. It's not everyday that she'll hear Felix talk so why not?

Nagsimula siyang maglakad. Sumunod naman si Felix sa kanya. He walked slower kaya nauuna si Samantha.

"I had this crush for the first time when I was in high school," he started. The realization that he's opening up about his first love made her curious and the urge to listen intently even more. "She was simple and looked very fragile. I wanted to protect her so much that that feeling turned into something I wasn't prepared for."

She heard him smile, but she somewhat felt his sadness from it.

"The only problem is that my only friend also had feelings for her," he continued. "Natakot akong mawalan ng kaibigan pero ayaw kong mapunta sa kanya ang babaeng gusto ko. Guess what happened."

Napalunok si Samantha bago sumagot. "Pinaglaban mo yung feelings mo?"

He faked a chuckle. "And lost a friend."

She was expecting that already but she stll felt hurt hearing it straight from him. He sounds so sad, she wants to end the conversation already.

"She chose him. In the end, I lost both of them. You really can't have both," naiiling nitong sabi. "But after a few years, I was still in love with her. That when she called me crying, I came running to her. Even if it meant I have to leave someone behind."

Napatigil sa paglalakad si Samantha at nilingon si Felix. Her heart started aching upon seeing his face. Like seeing it for the first time.

"I'm sorry I chose Queenie that time, Samantha. I'm really sorry."

It was a long time ago.

It was a long time ago and yet, those simple words opened wounds that have already scarred. To bleed again. To hurt again.