My Sweet Pianist

Chapter 40: Stop, Look and Listen

Nilapag ko ang phone ko sa sala table showing the timer. Nandito na ako sa bahay ko and as I will forever expect... Nasa labas ng gate ng bahay ko si Chris.

"You have one minute to explain, Chris." I said seriously.

Magkaharap kami at ang table ang nasa pagitan namin.

He looks so sorry. But I still need to know the reason why he's done that.

I pressed the start button.

"What you heard back at the detention room was wrong. Yes, ako ang head ng mga initiation for chosen new students. But one thing you missed was..."  He took a deep breath before he answered. "I told them to leave you out of it. Sinabi ko sa kanila days before the classes started that they are free to choose whomever they like with the exemptions of you. I just don't get what part of my sentence they did not understand. I'm telling you the truth."

And before I could react, nag-ring na ang ang timer hudyat na tapos na ang 1 minute.

Nauna pang natapos si Chris, seconds before the timer ring.

Pinatay ko na ang timer.

"The real truth?" 

"Twinkie, for the nth time... I WILL NEVER LIE TO YOU. Kung nalaman ko lang ng maaga na ikaw ang biktima nila, all of this will never happen. Hindi naman ako makakapayag na may mam-bully sayo but it still happened that's why I'm apologizing... I'm really sorry... Maniwala ka sa akin, Twinkie... I'm sorry."

Hindi na nga siya lumuhod tulad noong ginawa niya sa Cebu pero itinungo naman niya ang ulo niya. He's deeply sorry dahil nag-iiba talaga ang aura niya. From dark, it turned to blue. Nagiging maamo siya pati ang kanyang ugali sa tuwing nakakagawa siya ng kasalanan...

"I believe you..."

"It doesn't look obvious... Please, I'm really sorry." He pleaded like a 7 year-old boy..

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at ang isang kamay ko naman ay itinaas ang chin niya. I look at him with nothing but sincerity.

"Naniniwala na ako sayo, Twinkie. Hindi na ako galit sayo."

And as I forgive him, I also leaned closer to kiss him on his lips. It's just a smack though.

Para siyang na-torete sa ginawa ko.

"It's an I forgive you Kiss. Kaya huwag ka na magduda sa akin na hindi pa kita pinapatawad." Then I smiled and all of a sudden, bigla nalang niya din ako hinalikan sa labi ko. Smack lang din dahil niyayakap niya na ako ng mahigpit.

Ginantihan ko din ang mga yakap niya at hinagud-hagod ko ang likod niya.

"Kahit anong mangyari. Paniniwalaan kita Chris. I just over reacted inside the Detention room. Kahit sino naman na nasa kalagayan ko, iyon din ang magiging first reaction." I said as I hug him.

"Ako na ang bahala sa mga  nambully sayo, Twinkie. They're gonna regret they bullied you.." 

Kumalas ako sa yakapan namin.

"No Twinkie. Hindi naman ikaw ang direktang binully nila kung di ako, kaya ako ang gaganti." I said in a determining voice.

"I'm starting to like your idea. Need help?"

"Nope, Twinkie. Hindi lang kayo ang marunong mam-bully. I have my own style." I grinned.

"Oh-kay." He said. "I'll be the first one to witness."