Masakit ang ulong nagising si Edward sa isang tawag. Pagdilat nya ng mga mata, nasilaw sya sa sinag ng araw na nakatakas sa kurtina ng bintana ng kwarto nya.
Pagkakita nya sa phone nya, it's Heaven calling. Sinagot nya ito. "Hello?" He coldly answered.
"Nasa school ka na ba?" Hindi nya alam kung ano ang isasagot nya. He was no planning of going to school today. He was drunk all night and he has less than an hour of sleep.
"Hello, Edward? Ano, papasok ka ba?" He could hear Heaven irritation even just through the phone.
"I don't think I can. I'm not feeling good today." He is thankful his voice sounds groggy, he wouldn't sound like he is just making excuses.
"Really? Alam mo ba kung anong araw ngayon, Edward?" He took the phone away from his ear to check the date, his forehead forming a curl to see clearly that the date today is February 14 and it's Valentine's day.
"Ugh, damn it." He whispered but loud enough for Heaven to hear on the other line.
"Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo."
The line went off. That last line from Heaven, he can insinuate she is already irritated without even caring for his welfare knowing the fact that he just told her he is feeling under the weather. And, he really forgot that today is february 14. Because his mind is such a big mess.
Tumayo na sya sa kama kahit nahihilo sya at parang binibiyak ang ulo nya. Siguro kapag iniligo nya ito, mawawala na. Pero pagkatapos nyang maligo, pakiramdam nya pa rin na parang pinupukpok yung ulo nya sa sobrang sakit.
Hindi na lang nya pinansin. Papasok ng school, dumaan muna sya sa flower shop at bumili ng isang bouquet ng roses para ibigay kay Heaven. He really has no plan for both of them this Valentines day. He really lost track of days. Maybe they'll just go out and eat.
Pagdating ng school, he was already too late to attend his first two classes. So he just texted Heaven he is waiting for her at their school's gymnasium.
Upon receiving the text, pinabasa nya ito kina Christian at Vivoree. Wala sya sa mood, hindi nya alam kung matutuwa ba sya na nandito si Edward. Hindi nya alam kung sa fact na muntik makalimutan ni Edward na Valentines Day ngayon sya naiinis, or dahil Edward was not himself the past weeks, and his coldness is killing her. Yes, he chose her but she couldn't feel it.
"Malay mo naman girl, na isusurprise ka nya talaga. Nagpretend lang na hindi papasok for you to be surprised." Vivoree assured Heaven, which Christian seconded.
"Parang imposible naman na basta ganon na lang yun, kasi first Valentines nyo to as couple. Hindi pwede basta basta na lang. Tsaka girl, baka may bonggaderang surprise sya sayo sa gym."
Pumunta na lang si Heaven with high hopes na tama sina Vivoree; that Edward is waiting for her with a surprise of a lifetime for their first Valentine celebration. Pagdating nya ng gymnasium, walang tao sa labas kaya pumasok sya. Maraming nakakakalat na petals of red roses sa sahig, and there's a chair in the middle of the gym.
She knew it, her friends were right. She smiled. Papalapit na sana sya ng makita nya si Edward na nakatayo sa gilid ng basketball court, may hawak hawak na bouquet ng red roses at nakatingin sa kabilang pintuan.
When she looked at what Edward is looking at, she saw the school's varsity team walking towards the chair in the middle, guiding Maymay as she walks blindfolded. Then there, they made her sit on the chair Heaven thought was meant for her. Maymay's loud voice was echoing.
She glanced at Edward. Is he the one who made this for Maymay? Hindi ba't sa kanya dapat ito ginagawa ni Edward?
But she saw Edward looked the other side and when she followed his eyesight, she saw Ricci emerging from the other side holding a bouquet of red roses and a teddy bear with a red, heart shaped balloon tied on it's hand and an I love you written on it.
He looked at Edward again who is currently stoic and stupor at his statute. His hand with the roses holding down, and she can see his other hand turning into a fist.
Hindi nya nagugustuhan ang nakikita nya ngayon. Lalong lalo na si Edward. He was supposed to be here to meet Heaven, but he did not expect na he would witness this--Ricci's valentines surprise and confession as well. His free hand is turning into a fist unconsciously. Napipisil na din nya ng mahigpit ang bulaklak na hawak nya.
Bakit sya nagagalit? Bakit ganito ang nararamdaman nya? Bakit gusto nyang pigilan si Ricci at itakbo papalayo si Maymay? Why does it feel like someone is taking Maymay away from him?
But he knows he can't. Dahil wala na syang karapatan, dahil sya ang naunang manakit.
He quietly went out of the gymnasium. There, he saw Heaven. She saw him, and she walked towards him.
Inabot nya yung flowers kay Heaven. She took and smelled it. "Thank you, happy valentines babe!" He hugged him, but surprisingly,the butterflies and jitters that were present before were gone. The hug he just received is like a hug from a casual friend. But he did not make that obvious. He hugged her back, hoping it was tight enough for Heaven not to notice.
But she did. Pakiramdam ni Heaven, she was standing in front of an emotionless person whom she just saw a while ago full of mixed emotions habang pinapanood sina Maymay at Ricci. "I love you." She uttered, hoping to regain him. Hoping to revive that dying emotions she can perceive from him.
Edward was dumbfounded. Before all of this craziness, these three words from the girl in front of him mean all the world for him. But why does it sound so normal for him now? And why does he find it difficult to answer now? Again, he doesn't want Heaven to notice. "I-I love you too." He stuttered. Not because of being too mushy but because of uncertainty.
They left the gymnasium and decided to eat somewhere.
The whole day passed by. But it did not cleared Edward's confused thoughts. Again, pagkatapos ihatid ni Edward si Heaven he bought bottles of beer and drown his thoughts with it all night.
After the last bottle, he still can't sleep. It's as if his mind is torturing him, punishing him for the wrong decision he had made.
He just let it. Because he knows, he deserves it.
*next*
YOU ARE READING
So It's You
Romance"Yes, I must admit. How stupid of me to look for something that has always been beside me. It's a long journey of ups and downs but now I've come to realize that I should stop the wrong turns and face the truth that has been in front of me since da...
