Always Always a Friend

Part 23

She closed the distance between them and their lips met. His was soft, wet and a little bit sweet. It almost tasted like a cotton candy to her.

He was taken aback at first but then she felt his hand on her face and she was intoxicated by his moves. Everything went blurred and she didn't even see the face of the man she's avoiding. All that she knew was that this kiss was something she never felt she wanted before.

"Thomas," tinulak niya ng bahagya ang lalaki matapos niyang matauhan sa ginawa.

"I'm sorry," sabi niya.

His eyes were sparkling with gold dust and sprinkles of light but it was also full of unanswered queries.

"I—I ...I needed to do something," paliwanag niya. "Max was here and I saw him approcahing. I---I didn't know what to do. I did it on purpose to get away from him."

"You did what?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito.

"I used you."

Itinikom nito ang bibig at sa loob ng mahabang panahon ay nakita niya na naman ang nagtatangis nitong panga. He only do that when he's really mad and upset.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't bring myself to face him. It was the only way I thought I could do."

Hindi ito umimik at tinulungan siyang makatayo. Isinampay nito ang kaniyang braso sa balikat nito at marahan silang naglakad palabas ng building na iyon. Hindi niya na nakita pa si Max ngunit hindi na ang lalaking iyon ang inaalala niya ngayon.

"I'll bring you home," sabi nito pagkapasok nila sa sasakyan.

"Are you mad? I'm sorry. I promise I'll talk to him about how I feel."

Sumakay ito sa loob at binuhay ang makina ng sasakyan.

"I know I shouldn't have done that. I was wrong. Pasensya ka na talaga Thomas. Sige na please, magsalita ka na."

Minaniobra nito ang steering wheel at nagpokus sa pagmamaneho.

"Hindi mo pa rin ba ako papansinin? It was just a kiss. Marami ka na namang ibang babaeng hinalikan ah."

"Stop."

Halos manginig siya sa kinauupuan nang marinig ang buo at galit nitong tinig.

"If you ever really consider me someone special in your life, even just a tiny bit, then you would stop talking right now."

Hindi siya nakaimik sa sinabi nito.

Parang may malaking kamay ang sumakal sa kaniyang puso sa oras na iyon. Hindi pa sila nagkaganito noon ng lalaki. Alam niyang nagkamali siya ngunit ang ipinagtataka niya ay marami naman siyang naging pagkakamali noon ngunit mabilis lang iyong pinalalagpas ng kaibigan. Subalit ngayon ay dama niyang totoong galit ito.

"I'll call you," sabi niya nang makababa ng kotse ngunit hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin ng lalaki. Pinaandar nito paalis ang kotse at naiwan siya roong nakatitig sa likod ng sasakyan nito hanggang maglaho na iyon sa kaniyang paningin.

"Kristin, anak ayos ka lang ba?" alalang tanong ng kaniyang ina nang makabalik ito galing sa palengke. Kinuha niya ang remote ng TV at pinatay iyon.

"Ayos lang po. Bakit?"

Pumunta ito sa kusina at ibinaba ang mga pinamili. Pagbalik nito ay may hawak itong cold compress.

"Tumawag sa akin si Thomas. Nadisgrasya ka raw."

"Po?"

Umupo ito sa tabi niya at saka iniangat ang kaniyang paa.

"Ito ba?"