The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 28: Friend

Nakatingin lang siya sa paanan niya habang naghahanap ng sasabihin.

Nasa labas na kami ng gym at currently nasa ilalim ng puno nakatayo.

Ako naman, I want to say something natural na kabahan siya kasi akala niya na nakatatak na yun sa isip ko... Well, oo pero I forgave him.

Edi sabihin mo ng matapos na'to.

"Pri" "Eli-" sabay naming pag-banggit.

Ang mga ganitong eksena talaga. Ang awkward bakla!

I took a deep breath "I have forgiven you" sabay sinusubukan kong tignan siya sa mata.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin. Tinaas ko ang kamay ko at akma ko siyang hawakan sa balikat pero baka naiilang pa siya. Dahan-dahan kong nilapit ang mga palad ko sa balikat niya he looked at it as if trying hard not to run away from it.

He's still not over it.

But I want him to know its okay.

Kaya hinawakan ko siya ng dahan-dahan at sinubukan kong agawin ang tingin niya sa kamay ko. He slowly took notice of me at nakita ko ang look na parang nahihiya, na nasasaktan. Hindi ko na alam pero I felt the need to smile. And I did.

"Its time to let go. I have a feeling that you already knew this but I just had a need to tell y-" hindi ko na natapos ang sinasabi ko ng nagkarerahan na sa pagdaloy ang luha niya. Napayuko siya at itinago sa palad niya ang mga mata niya.

"I-I'm sorry Eliah, I'm s-so s-sorry." sabi niya at niyakap ko siya out of my instinct. I felt that he needed it. Yumakap siya sa'kin the moment na naramdaman niya ang palad ko sa likod niya. He's like yearning. Its like he's been longing for this.

I felt it.

He wanted our friendship back.

And I didn't realized how I wanted it too, until now.

"You don't know how relieved I was hearing you say those words." sabi niya na sa balikat ko. Ramdam ko ang agos ng luha niya. "I di- I didn't even say sorry yet but you've forgiven me. I knew that but" natigilan siya suminghot dahil na ata sa luha at sipon niya. "what I did to you. I-it was unforgiveable. I'm sorry" sabi niya wala paring tigil ang pagshake ng katawan niya kakaiyak.

"I know you didn't mean to" sabi ko sa kaniya. "Besides, I woudn't be here if you didn't gave my bag to Lester. Also," sabi ko habang hinihimas ang likod niya. "I'm sorry for not acknowleding your feelings. I know I hurt you." sabi ko. Dahil kung naging observant ako, mahahalata ko naman eh. My head and heart still refused to let go papa back then, and yeah, 'til now. Kaya ata di ko pansin ang nadama ni Pri.

I noticed some but I thought that was just...him. Nothing more, nothing less.

Sa simula't sapul yun naman talaga ang dahilan.

Tumayo siya ng tuwid at tumingin sa'kin. "You know how I wanted to beat myself for falling to a person who would never love me back? But now I'm actually thankful. That I fell for you back then. Cause if it weren't for you, I wouldn't learn, Eliah."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Hindi naman siya gagawa ng kalokohan kung hindi sa'kin eh. Hindi sa nagyayabang pero sinabi kasi niya.

Tumawa naman siya ng mabasa ang tingin ko "What I'm trying to say is, I wouldn't have stepped out out off my comfort zone." sabi niya habang nakatingin na ng deretso sa mata ko. "That I wouldn't be me now. I would't have my social life now, me playing my favorite sport, not to mention this body"

"Tss.."

"I would have still drown myself in my room with bunch of video games and anime to company me. Skipping meals. Eating junkfood instead o-"