The Next Stage (COMPLETED)

FORTY FIVE: Called and Cold

Julia

"Anak, wake up. May bisita ka sa baba." Mama said, I checked my phone, na naka off parin until now.

Last night was awesome. Chill lang. Kahit lagi kaming hindi magkaintindihan ni CJ, whenever I'm with him, I'm learning something and he makes me happy even in the little things.

"Sino daw, 'Ma?" I asked her while I'm stretching my arms. Ang haba na naman ng itinulog ko.

"Zachary daw pangalan?" She said. I rolled my eyes. Why are they always making fun of me?

"Ma naman eh!" Reklamo ko at tsaka nilampasan siya, to check kung sino man 'yun.

"He's waiting for you since morning, you better be nice to him." He? So, sinong lalaking bisita ang pupuntahan ako early in the morning?

My eyes widened when I saw him. Better be nice, ha? Does he deserve that kind of treatment?

"I don't know what am I doing here. Just...my instincts told me that I should. Inunahan na kita, kasi I know that you're going to ask me." I pursed my lips. At teka, did I just made an appearance with a face like this?

Sometimes, I'm not thinking straight. Ewan ko ba sa sarili ko.

Dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, pinaupo ko muna siya at dali-daling umakyat sa taas para mag-ayos.

"Nakakahiya ka talaga, Julia Faye!" I said while looking myself in the mirror. Then I slapped myself upon my realization.

"At bakit ka naman mahihiya sa kaniya. He's so full of sht." I said to myself. Then I took a deep breath at kaagad na bumaba. It would be rude for me kung paghintayin ko siya ng matagal.

As much as I want to get even to him because of what he did to me in the past, ayokong gawin. My parents didn't raised me to be like that.

"You don't need to fix yourself, you're beautiful just the way you are." I rolled my eyes then I sat on the chair in front of him.

"You know what, I hate this game that you are playing. After you left, paglalaruan mo 'ko? Wala ka na ba talagang magawa sa buhay mo?" I asked. Ang straight forward ko doon. Pero paki niya ba?

He nodded, composing himself. Irritated agad? 'Yun palang sinabi ko sa kaniya ah.

"I'm just trying to be kind here. Look, I just realized that I can't earn your love again anymore. No matter how hard I try, if your heart's already taken by someone, then I can't do nothing about it. That's how you are feeling, and I can't change that."

"So, are you saying that you're finally giving up on me?" I asked, grinning at hin. If that so, then I should celebrate.

He slowly nodded. Then a tear fell from his eyes. I can suddenly see the pain he is feeling, his emotions.

"It's really hard for me to do, but do you think that I should do it?" He asked me, full of tears in his eyes. I bit my lips.

I should be angry, right? Kasi finally, he experiences pain na, the pain that he caused me before. All this time, ayun lang yung gusto kong mangyari. Not for revenge, but for him to reflect and learn from what he did.

Pero bakit ako naawa sa kaniya? Bakit pakiramdam ko, hindi naman talaga niya ginusto yung nangyari?

Ah, why is this so hard for me? Ang dami ko na ngang pinagdadaanan, dumagdag pa 'to.

"I think...you should. I already gave my forgiveness, but I don't think I can trust you again. I'm sorry, but friendship is the only thing that I can offer." I said, then I stood up. But he talked again.