Diary of an Introvert

30

I was about to sleep when I received a call from Calvin. I went out to get a better reception.

"Hi, chibi! Kamusta ka diyan? Hindi ka naman siguro nagloloko diyan noh?"

"Excuse me po. Mabait ako noh. Hmm..mabuti naman ako rito. Napakaganda rin ng view."

"Eh bakit parang hindi masaya ang tono ng boses mo? May problema?"

"Haa~ hindi talaga ako makakalusot sayo noh?"

"Siyempre! So? Magkukwento ka ba? Makikinig ako."

"Do you remember Jeremy?"

"Hm? Sino nga yan?"

"Hay. Signs of aging na ba yan? Siya yung dati kong best friend."

"Ah. Pasensiya. Hindi naman kasi siya kasing importante mo for me to remember well. Bakit? May ginawa ba siya sayo?"

"We got into an argument and maybe I hurt his pride kaya hayun at binuhusan niya ako ng alak. Hay...worse thing was hindi ko kayang magalit sa kanya ng todo. Nakakainis kasi dahil parang nag-aalala pa ako sa kanya." Calvin was quiet. "Cal? Galit ka ba?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Bigla ka na lang kasi tumahimik."

"Ah. Napaisip lang ako na ang swerte ng Jeremy na yun dahil kahit nasaktan ka niya noon, here you are still cares for him. Gusto ko mang magselos pero parang naiintindihan ko siya. Baka may pinagdadaanan kaya siya ganyan?"

"Yun nga rin ang iniisip ko eh. Hay...bee~ what should I do?"

"Ano bang sinasabi ng puso mo?"

"Hindi ko alam."

"Pray for that, okay? For sure the Lord will guide you."

"Thanks, Cal."

"You're welcome. Chibs, may tiwala ako sayo, okay?"

"Hm? What was that mean?"

"Hahahah...wala naman. Anyway, gumagabi na. Magpahinga ka na. Tawagan mo ako kapag nakabalik na kayo dito ah."

"Okay po. Btw, nakakain ka na?"

"Yes po. Kasama ko yung mga katrabaho ko. Don't worry hindi po ako uminom ng kahit anong alak at wala rin akong gusto sa ibang babae."

"Ha? E nagtanong lang naman ako kung nakakain ka na. Ang dami mo nang sinabi. Sige na. Bye~"

"Hahahaha....! Okay-okay. Bye. I love you!"

"Text ko nalang yung reply ko diyan okay? hehe..."

"What? Cee—"

I ended the call and texted him, "I love you."

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Kinaumagahan, I woke up early and changed to my running clothes. I brought my camera as I explore the area.

Along the way, I saw Jeremy taking a break from running.

"Didn't know you're running now." sabi niya.

"Same to you." I replied.

Silence came. None of us dared to speak or even moved away for a minute.

A mysterious force then pushed me to say sorry. Ito na nga siguro ang gustong mangyari ni Lord. For me to fully forgive Jeremy. I suddenly felt at peace.

"Ako dapat yata ang mag-sorry sayo. I was very annoyed last night. Lahat kasi ng sinabi mo... tama. Ang gulo ng buhay ko ngayon Cee. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ba kailangan pagdaanan ang lahat ng ito. Nang nakita kita ulit, nainis ako. Bakit ang saya mo na wala ako? Umasa ako na nandiyan ka palagi para sakin kaya nung naibuntong ko sayo at sa pagkakaibigan natin ang galit ko sa ibang tao, naisip kong...okay lang dahil maiintindihan mo rin ako. But you went away at hindi na kita napigilan dahil sa pride ko. I realized that I hurt you --- the one who's always there during my ups and downs. Now, Im facing these battles alone. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa."

I sat beside him and gave him a tap on his back.

"I believe na kaya mo yan. Trials are part of our lives. Ibinibigay iyon sa atin not to break us but to strengthen us especially our faith and trust kay Lord. Have faith with his plans for you. Kung grabe ang pinagdadaanan mo ngayon, tandaan mong mas malaki ang hinahanda sayo ni Lord."

"Speaking from experience?"

I nodded.

"Thanks, Cee."

"Wala yun."

"So...ahm...may boyfriend ka na ba talaga?"

"Oo. Bakit? Di ba halata?"

"Hmm...so pinapayagan na ngayong magkaboyfriend ang isang elementary student?"

"Hoy! Walang hiya ka!"

Babatukan ko na sana siya ng bigla siyang tumakbo. In the end, it turned out to be a running race between us.

After that serious talk, we're back at being friends but still like to argue.

Lord, thank you for helping Jeremy. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness.

*** to be continued ***