This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The thing about our emotions is, we have no control over it. More often than not, it controls us. People who learned how to control their emotions are perceived as heartless. On the other hand, people who wears their hearts at their sleeves easily get heart because others take advantage of their transparent display of feelings.

I don't know where I belong between the two.

"Parvana..."

Parang haplos lang ng hangin ang boses ni Zoey na pumutol sa pag-iisip ko. Nahihiya akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya at pinunasan ang mga luha. We are both squatting at the back of the waiting shed, receiving odd looks from some of the students and teachers who passed by.

Pareho kaming walang pakealam.

Zoey gently placed her hands over mine and pulled away tenderly. My eyes are hot from burning with tears. I bit my lower lips as more tears of shame spilled from my eyes. The worried look on her face got my heart clenching painfully again.

"Stop crying..." she said as panic registered on her pretty, doll-like face. "Shit. I don't know what to do when someone cries..."

The soft chuckle that escaped from my throat sounded like a strangle with my sobs. I cleared my throat and offered her a small smile.

"I'm sorry for making you worry..."

"I'm more worried about the fact that you're crying over that jerk!" eksaherada niyang wika at bumuntong-hininga. "Bakit ka kasi umiyak?"

I rocked back and forth. The hot fingers of the sun are scraping on my back and the sweat from my forehead feels so sticky. Gayunpaman, hindi ako umalis mula sa kinauupuan ko.

"Hindi ko alam..." pag-amin ko sa kaibigan.

She grunted. "Parvana..." seryoso akong tinitigan ni Zoey. Tinagpo ko ang mga nag-aalala niyang mga mata. She stared at me for a good few seconds before she cursed again. "Damn it. He got you..."

My heart pounded in pain. He got me?

I stared at her with a puzzled look. Zoey shook her head miserably.

"I shouldn't have introduced Zeus to you. He's nothing but trouble."

"No. It's my fault."

"Kahit na! Now you're going to feel miserable seeing him flirting with other girls and the fact that the two of you can't..." she trailed off and flushed.

I blinked at her words. Doon pa lang umusbong ang kaisipan sa loob ng utak ko. Zeus and I...

Nagbaba ulit ako ng tingin.

"I'm sorry, Parvana."

"Ayos lang..." halos hindi ko na marinig ang boses ko sa sobrang hina.

"Bakit naman kasi kay Zeus pa? Sa dinami-dami ng lalaki eh..."

Tumawa ako nang bahagya. "Ayos lang talaga, Zoey. H-hindi naman ganun kaseryoso."

"Talaga?"

I nodded at her. "It's just infatuation. I admire him for his good looks, talent, and his attitude. Hindi na 'to lalalim pa..."

Huminga siya nang malalim. Mukhang mas napoproblema pa ata siya kesa sa akin. Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng matinding pagka-guilty dahil don.

"Tara... uwi na tayo..." ani ko.

Tumango naman si Zoey at pinagpagan ang kaniyang palda. She helped me to my feet. Inayos ko ang sling bag at nanigas sa kinatatayuan nang makitang nasa waiting shed na pala si Zeus. His arms are crossed over his chest as he stared at the two of us.