I'm In Love with my Childhood Friend

Chapter 23: Q & A

I was slightly surprise when marcus tap my shoulder and I came back from my deep thoughts. His starring at me and like asking what's the matter, but I just looked away and prepare myself for the Q and A portion later.

"Ahm...are you okay? Do you feel tired?" Marcus ask with a serious face.

I look at him and a small smile form on my lips and just nod at him and then I looked away again. I want everyone to know that I'm happy even though I hide my real feelings using my different masks. I don't want them to pitty me, I want them to see me as a strong person not a fragile one. But sometimes it is really hard to pretend that everything is fine.

I sarcastically laugh but not that loud and then whisper something that I'm sure he can hear though.

"I'm fine but I'm not. I'm happy but I'm not. I'm strong but I'm not. Everyday you only see what you see but you never knew what the real is. I hid everything behind my thousands masks, I'm not hurt physically but emotionally I'm in deep hurt. I hope someday, someone can see what my real feelings without asking me why. Yung tipong isang tingin lang nila eh alam na nila kung ano ang problema ko. But I think It's impossible." I fake a smile and leave him with a million question in his face.

Naglakad ako ng deretcho papunta sa stage para maiwasan si marcus pero naalala kong hindi ko pala sya maiiwasan hanggang nandito kami sa iisang lugar.

Bumalik kami sa stage at rumampa ulit. Medyo kinakabahan ako sa part nato kahit alam ko namang makakasagot ako pero iba parin talaga pag nasa ganitong sitwasyon.

The crowd is silently watching us and still waiting for their representative to answer the questions.

Habang tumatagal ang mga pangyayare ay parang nawawala nanaman ako sa sarili dahil sa kakaisip sa mga memories na bigla nalang nagfla-flash back sa utak ko. Yung tipong okay pa ang lahat na hindi pa lumalayo si marcus sa amin. Yung tipong kasama namin sya kahit na minsan lang ako kausapin. Pero ano nga bang magagawa ko pero sigurong eto na ang nakatadhana sa amin na wala talaga akong pag-asa sa kanya at pati ang pagkakaibigan namin ay wala na dahil sya na mismo ang lumayo sa amin at pinili si gale kaysa sa amin na marami ng pinagsamahan.

Nakakalungkot lang isipin na bakit nangyayare ito sa akin kahit na wala naman akong ginawang masama kung tutuusin naman eh buong buhay ko ako lagi ang nagawan ng ibang tao ng mga kasalan. Naging mabait naman ako sa lahat pwera nalang siguro kay gale na talaga maharot.

Napabalik nalang ako sa huwisyo ko ng maramdamang may pumusil sa kamay ko at makita kong si marcus iyon na nakatingin mismo sa mga mata ko. Napansin kong nagtataka ito pero bakit ganun na parang may nakikita akong lungkot sa mga mata nya? Baka guni guni ko lang tss masaya naman talaga sya eh sa piling ni gale kaya nagiwas nalang ako ng tingin at binawi ang kamay kong hawak nya.

Napatingin ako nang si gale na ang sasagot. 'Tignan natin kung hanggang saan yang talino mo gale'. Sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Makikita mo sa kanya na puno sya ng self confidence sa katawan na akala mong walang nararamdamang kaba pero tignan natin kung hanggang mamaya ay may tapang pa syang humarap sa maraming tao.

"Most of the teenagers today are facing this kind of situation. So my question is... If you will choose between love, fame and money what would you choose and why?" The judge said to her.

Ngayon palang halata ko ng hindi nya kakayaning sagutin yan itsura palang nya palpak na sya. Napansin kong nanginginig ang mga kamay nya kaya napangiti ako ng bahagya. This would be great and after that I will pitty her.

"Thank y-you for that question. For me I...I ahmm...I will choose Money because...because if you have money you can have anything and everything. Many people will be on your side. Let's be practical because now a days you can't live without it. And...and if you have money you can buy love and everyone will love you and patronize you. Thats all thank you." Gale said with a big smile on her face.

"Oh...Ow hahaha what a...What a nice answer Ms. Fajardo." The host said habang nagdadalawang isip na sabihin yun at napailing nalang.

What the F*ck! Is she serious about what she've said? That freaking tiny brain is such a joker what a loser answer. Ako ang nahihiya sa sagot nya my gosh! I told yah she's perfectly dumb. Everyone in the crowd are laughing and gossiping because of her answer.

I turn my head again to her and I saw pain in her eyes but she's still smiling. Oh what a great pretender.

Hinayaan ko nalang sya at sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko nang ako na ang tawagin ng host.

I walk towards him with a poise and smile on my lips.

"So pick your question here on the bowl." He said to me and after that he read the question I picked.

"If you were given a chance to turn back time, what situation do you want to go back and why?" Great hahaha ano'ng klaseng tanong ba iyon? Parang sinasadya to ah.

I smile at the crowd and breath heavily before answer the question.

"If I would given a chance to turn back time, I'd choose the time when the most special person to me is still here beside us, beside me.The one who's always care and understand my situation. The time where we made a lot of memories. Because for me... our lives will be lifeless if we would not give importance to other people. We canno't live by our own selves without their memories and most important is the person itself.  Every detail of the past has it's own importance that clings to me at the present. Money can't buy happiness and no one can't replace that person here in our hearts most especially In mine. That's all thank you." I confidently said while still smiling and reminiscing the past.

Pagkatapos ng pagsagot ko ay nagulat nalang ako ng naghihiyawan ang lahat ng taong nanonood sa amin. A tear escape on my eyes because of happiness. I didn't expect that it would be like this. I took a glance on my friends and I saw a big smile on their lips. Tumingin naman ako sa gawi ng parents ko and I saw mommy crying while my dad are weeping her tears in her cheecks and smile plastered on his lips while staring at me.