Love, A (Short Story)

Twenty

Let Me

Though Donny and I argued awhile ago.. he still stayed. I was still shocked cause of his sudden confession, actually. And it confused me even more. He said he likes me.

"You suck at things like this, Alex." Sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Gusto kita. His eyes looked so sincere and honest while saying those words. And I felt guilty. Lalo na nung sinabi niya na wala akong ibang ginawa kundi itulak siya palayo.

But could he blame me? Never did I ever think of Donny as someone who'd fall for me. Because I know he's completely out of my league. He's someone unreachable. Sinong mag-aakalang.. magugustuhan niya ako?

And of all the girls, of all the other pretty girls, bakit ako? Diba?

So he can't blame me for feeling this way.. lalo na pagkatapos ko siyang makitang masaya sa iba. Lalo na pagkatapos niyang iparamdam saakin na kaya niyang magpanggap na hindi niya ako kilala.

"This is so messed up." I mumbled while staring at Donski. "Should I apologize to him? Sa tingin mo ba kailangan niya yun?" I asked this innocent stuffed toy. "Hoy. Ano? Sagot." I said like a fool.

Nagulat naman ako nang may kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Alex,"

"Shocks, yung amo mo." I whispered and immediately got up and went to the door. Binuksan ko yun at nandoon nga si Donny.

We stared at each other for a couple of seconds.

"P-pasok," I managed to say. Naupo naman ako sa kama ko habang parang may hinahanap siya sa desk ko.

"Uminom ka na ba ng gamot? How are you feeling right now?" He asked.

Habang nakatalikod siya ay dinampot ko si Donski sa kama ko at saka ako lumapit kay Donny.

"Sorry." I said in a weird voice. Parang ginawa kong puppet si Donski.

Donny faced me and he looked confused. Medyo nahiya ako, pero nasimulan ko na e!

"Sorry daw, sabi ni Mommy Alex. Hindi niya sinasadyang itulak ka palayo, at hindi niya sinasadyang maging mean sayo. She just didn't know how to act around you."

Donski said.. more like, I said. Hawak ko si Donski at hinarang ko siya sa mukha ko para magmukhang siya talaga ang kausap ni Donny.

"Can you forgive her? Will you forgive her? She's really sorry right now. Nakakatawa, pero nami-miss ka na rin daw niya." Naglakas loob kong sabi.

Kinakabahan na ako dahil wala pa ring sinasabi si Donny. If I know, mukha na talaga akong tanga...

Nagulat ako nang biglang hinablot ni Donny si Donski kaya't face to face na kami. He was slightly smiling at imbes na magsalita, hinila niya ako palapit at niyakap ng mahigpit.

My heart.

He held my head and gently caressed it. "Sorry din. The way I acted earlier.. I shouldn't have approached you that way." He said close to my ears. And it sent shivers down my spine.. jusko po.

"Ahm.. ano, okay lang. After all, it's my fault." I admitted.

"Being distant to you for weeks.. is by far the hardest thing I've done. I didn't even know how I did it. But thank God, I'm now here, close to you. " He whispered.

Pakiramdam ko susuko na yung tuhod ko!

"I was so wrong. I shouldn't have wasted any time. I shouldn't have stayed away from you. I shouldn't have done that." Sabi nito. His husky voice was full of regrets.

"But I'm done running away, Alexandria. Dito lang ako." He seriously said.

"Ah.. eh--" This guy won't even let me talk, really.

"You want me to forgive you?" He broke the hug and asked me.

I nodded, "Yeah."

"I'll forgive you if you let me." He said.

My forehead creased, "Let you what?"

He held my hand and stared at me. "Let me court you, Alexandria."