Rose From The Past ✔

Kabanata IV

Kabanata IV

I shooed the guilt away and convinced myself that it was his fault. In the first place, it was his fault.

I went to my bathroom to relax on my bathtub. Sumakit ang likod at paa ko dahil na rin sa pagod kanina na nag-shopping.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagbababad nang tumunog and doobell. Tumayo ako at inabot ang robe ko saka isinuot. I tied it and fixed my hair. Nakaroba lang ako na lumabas ng banyo at binuksan ang pinto ng condo. I sighed and rolled my eyes. Isasara ko na sana ang pinto nang iniharang niya ang kamay niya.

''What do you need, Vale?'' He handed me a boquet of red roses. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at inilagay sa isang lamesa.

''Zari, let's talk.''

''Nag-uusap na tayo. What is it?'' I lazily said. Humikab ako, senyales na gusto ko nang matulog. I saw him pursed his lips.

''Zari, please don't avoid me. Hindi habang buhay ay kailangan mo akong iwasan. You're killing me.'' I can see the pain and longing in his eyes. Bumaba at nababasag na rin ang kanyang boses.

''Then what do you want me to do?''

"It's okay if you won't accept this thing about our marriage, Zari. Just please don't avoid me. Alam mo bang nagpipigil lang akong lumapit kanina sa table niya, I'm holding myself back to punch that tennis player who asked you to be his date." I gulped of what he said. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa pintuan.

"Then don't hold back. Punch him if that's what you want to. I don't care anyway. Ikaw din lang ang gumagawa ng sarili mong problema."

"W-what? Don't you understand me, Zari? I just want to pro---"

''I don't. I don't understand at all. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganyan ka na lang."

"I just want to protect you, Zari. I'm still your friend. I don't care if you won't acknowledge me as your fiance. We're still friends, right?"

"Friends, it is." Vale didn't answer. He just stared at me.

"Wala ka na bang sasabihin? Kung hindi ay makakaalis ka na."

"You really don't like me as a man, huh?'' Napatanga ako sa sinabi niya.

''Yeah. You may leave now."

"But Zari, I'm still not done talk---" I slammed the door and took a deep breath. He pushed the doorbell a lot of times but I didn't open the door. Nakatingin lang ako sa pinto, hinihintay kung kailan siya aalis.

I was about to go to my room when he rang the doorbell again. Hindi ako nakapagtimpi at binuksan iyon.

''Ano ba---?!" I stopped when I didn't saw Vale. Sa halip ay si Alex ang nakita ko, nakangiti ito kanina pero naglaho nang bumulyaw ako.

''M-may nagawa na naman ba akong hindi mo n-nagustuhan, Reina?" I can feel the sincerity of his voice when he said that. It was supposed to be for Vale, not him. Not Alex. Hindi ako nakasagot at wala sa oras na napatingin sa asul niyang mga mata. It's pulling me again.

''Reina?''

''Reina, ayos ka lang ba?'' I blinked two times when I felt the back of his hand in my forehead. Umiwas agad ako ng tingin at tinabig ang kamay niya.

''Hindi ka naman dinadalaw ng lagnat, mabuti naman ang iyong pakiramdam.''

Why does it feels like he care for me? His actions are confusing me.

''A-ayos lang ako." I heard him sigh.

''Paumanhin sa paglapastangan, Reina.'' My eyes widened he gently grabbed my wrist and feel my pulse. I felt a struck of lightning and my heart beats fast again. I can't explain why there is a tickling sensation in my stomach.