23
JOEY
“10 pm na pala ‘no? Ang bilis ng oras pambihira.” Zach told me, while playing with my right hand.
Kaming dalawa na lang nandito sa may dulo ng retreat house.
Sumali kasi sa laro sila Wilson – alam niyo na isip bata.
“Oo nga eh, last day na pala tomorrow.”I said habang pinapanuod lang siya na paglaruan yung kamay ko.
“Yeah, at kung kailan pa-last day na saka pa tayo naging okay.” He sighed.
“Sira. Okay lang ‘no. Better late than never di ba?” I assured him.
“Ang liit pala ng kamay mo.” Bulong niya sabay tapat ng kamay ko sa kamay niya – and yeah, nagmukhang bubwit yung kamay ko sa kamay niyang mukhang godzilla.
“Ikaw na. Ikaw na talaga matangkad.” Sabi ko sabay hatak ng kamay ko – na agad din naman niyang kinuha.
“Akin na lang ‘to ah.” Habang tinititigan yung kamay ko. “Okay lang?” Tumingin siya sakin, sabay ngiti. Ayan na naman, yung ngiti niyang parang nang uutong anghel.
Sige, idaan mo pa ko sa charm mo Zacharias. Tch.
I nodded. Tch. Pa-hard to get ka pa Joey eh.
“Joey...” He called. Ngayon, seryoso na siya.
“Ano yun?”
“I love---”
“Hold on a sec.” I snapped and pulled my hand.
“Ba---bakit? What’s wrong?” He asked.
What’s wrong?
Ayoko munang marinig yan. Ayoko munang mapanatag...
I’m not yet certain about things. At ayokong maunahan ng pagka overwhelm.
Ewan, sorry ang labo ko.
“I... I don’t know...”
He sighed.
At saka tumingin sa langit.
“Fourth’s giving me hints---”
“Hints?!” I asked – quite off guard.
Sinabi kaya ni Fourth?
But he promised he won’t.
No. No.
Hindi niya dapat sabihin yun kay Zach---
“He told me... That you don’t want to hold onto things you’re not sure of.”He sighed and retrieve my right hand. “But Joey... I’m hundred percent sure of this.” And place it on his chest – his heart.
That made my heart skipped a beat. He loves me...
And his perfectly sure about that...
I love you too... I thought.
“Let’s just take things slowly Zach... Wag tayong padalos dalos.” I said. “I know how you feel... but, we’ll do this together right?” I said with a smile.
BINABASA MO ANG
Meet Me Halfway
Teen FictionPrologue He loves shrimp And I’m allergic. He’s smart So I let him do my homework. He’s pretty creative While I’m not productive. He doesn’t want fights So I kick him most of the time. He’s too sensitive And I don’t care. We’re differ...
