Second Chance

THEODORE 22

Binaba ko naman muna yung telepono ko. She wanted to talk? About what?? Is this because of what I did the other day???

I settled her first katabi ng bench na inupuan ko. The sun was already setting but it was still bright outside.

I waited for her to talk. She seemed serious. Tsk. Minhyuk should be here to comfort her. Napakawalang kwenta talaga ng lalaking yun.

“Do you want me to call him?”, tanong ko dito.
“Ha?”
“Look. If it upsets you that your boyfriend’s not here, why don’t you tell him to stay? Tsk.”

She just stared at me. Bakit? Tama naman ako ah?

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

......

“Ha???”
“We’re just pretending the whole time. He wanted you to be jealous.”

Jealous?? Ako??? Bakit naman niya gagawin yun????

Nabigla naman ako ng inabot ni Soyi yung necktie ko.

“Tss. Have you looked at yourself? Ang gulo ng itsura mo oh.”, pagaayos niya sa damit ko.
“Uhh…di ko na napansin…it’s fine.”

After niya ayusin yung damit ko, she looked shy again.

Do I look that bad?? Ugh. Nakakahiya.

“Thank you.”, sabi naman niya.
“Thank you? I didn’t do anything.”

She smiled at me tapos, yumuko na naman siya.

“Thank you for worrying about me….even though, I don’t deserve it.”
“What…do you mean?”, naguguluhan kong tanong dito.

Napabuntong hininga siya at humarap sa akin.

“I’m grateful, Theo. But this needs to stop.”
“Stop??”

She kept a serious face kaya lalo akong naguluhan.

Ano bang nangyayari dito??

“I would be letting my sister take over. Uuwi na siya from London. And I have to go back to Korea.”

Aalis na ulit siya??

Pero….bakit? Akala ko tatapusin niya yung renovations??

“It’s not healthy for us to see each other everyday. You and I…should have not crossed paths again. It was foolish of me to think that it’s okay.”

I can’t think of something to say. It was too out of the blue. Actually, it feels like nakikipagbreak na naman siya.

Wait. She didn’t. She just left before.

“Aren’t you mad at me? I was this heartless girl na iniwan ka noon, I shouldn’t have thought that it would be okay for you to see me everyday. It’s easier for us if I go back now.”

.....

“You’re right.”, sabi ko dito as I looked at her very seriously.

“I was mad at you. No, I’m still mad at you. But if you think your presence still shakes me up, that’s where you are wrong. The bitter feelings I have for you, di na sila mahalaga. It doesn’t matter to me now.”

She looked surprised but I went on.

“The reason you are here is because you have a job to finish. I won’t let you run away with the renovations still on going. You can let whoever take charge for you, but I don’t think it’s okay for you to just pass the responsibility. You were the one who had this idea, remember?”

I could see that she had been thinking. If she thinks just because she’s a superstar abroad, eh hahayaan kong umalis na siya ng ganun ganun lang???

Tumayo ako at pumwesto ako sa harap niya.

“Athena, the matter between us was over. It’s already seven years over. Don’t you think it’s a bit suspicious that you’re still concerned over it??”

What I said was half meant. Although I didn’t tell her that it still bothers me, I didn’t want her to think she still affects me. I’d like to think she’s nothing to me now….wait. Gusto ko palang paniwalain ang sarili ko na she’s nothing.

But strangely, a little voice tells me that I don’t want her to go just yet.

“I’m just…”, she looked confused.
“Natatakot ka ba? Are you trying to escape again? Can’t you at least be responsible this time, ha Athena?”

Di ko mapigilan na ichallenge siya. If this is the only way to let guilt run through her body so that she could choose to stay, I’d do it more.