Courting Hal (Belle Fille Series #1)

Kabanata 42

Kabanata 42

Sana nga panaginip nalang ito.

Para magising ako sa bangungot na nararanasan ko. I wanna pinch myself to wake up from this nightmare.

It was noon nang magtext sakin si Hal. It was a bit rainy that day kahit na patapos na ang January. He asked me to meet in the subdivision's park na medyo malapit lang sa amin.

Kung alam ko lang, sana hindi na ako pumunta.

"Why Hal? I thought we're doing fine?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sakanya habang pilit na hinahabol ang mga mata niyang kanina pa nag-iiwas.

"We're done, I cannot continue with this relationship anymore." Aniya sa isang malamig na tinig.

I don't get him, we've been going on smoothly with our relationship.

"Bakit Hal? Bakit ka nakikipag-break sa akin? M-may nagawa ba akong mali? Tell me, please Hal! " I can't afford to lose you. I want to say that out loud, but the way he's looking at me felt like I was just a stranger to him.

"Wala kang nagawang mali, It was all my fault. Ako, I fell out of love."

My world collapsed at his last words. He fell out of love? H-how?

"Don't worry, I won't let anyone know that I broke up with you. I'll tell them that you dumped me." Isang malutong na sampal ang pinakawalan ko.

"ABA'T G*GO KA PALA! ANG KAPAL NG MUKHA MO!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, I watched him not moving his face even an inch pagkatapos ko siyang sampalin.

"Pero, p*tang-ina, mahal kita Hal. I don't wanna lose you, please stay with me, I'll do everything." Please. Please.

"I'm sorry Clio, pero wala na talaga akong nararamdaman sayo."

Anger and frustation is taking over my system. Pero di makayanan ng puso ko na mawala ang taong ito. Akmang aalis na siya ng hilahin ko ang braso siya.

"Hal, please give me a chance, kahit hanggang February 14 lang, j-just give me time to take it all in. Wag mo naman akong biglain." I know it was a desperate move, but damn! Forget my pride, I'll set this aside just to have my man back. Baka nalilito lang siya, maybe something is bothering him.

Not something. Someone.

Binaliwala ko ang boses na iyon sa bahagi ng utak ko. Ayaw kong isipin yon. Hal, cheated on me? He can't do that.

"Please. Hal. Please, I'm begging you." Kahit na naka-shorts ako at medyo maputik ngayon dahil sa pag-ulan, pinilit kong lumuhod, I want to show him kung anong kaya kong gawin just to have him back.

I was never controlled by a man, I was the one controlling them. Matapos ang nangyari samin noon ni Clyde, never na akong nagpa-under sa isang lalaki. Pero ngayon? I'll do everything, kahit pa pagpapaka-martyr gagawin ko.

"Tumayo ka diyan Clio." His voice was coated with worry, but it soon vanished when I looked up to him. Ilang iling ang ginawa ko pra makita niya ang pagtanggi ko.

Basang-basa na ako ng ulan at ang tuhod ay kumikirot na dahil sa biglaang pagkirot.

"Hindi ako aalis dito hangga't dimo ako pinagbibigyan." I said with pure conviction. 25 days lang naman ang hinihingi ko. I am still shocked with this break up.

"I'm sorry Clio, pero hindi kita mapagbibigyan."

Then he left.

Lalong lumakas ang buhos ng ulan pati na rin ang ihip ng hangin. I felt a shiver climb up my spine, ngunit diko na iyon pinansin, I'm too numb to even feel the cold.

I stayed there for God knows how many minutes or hours. Wala akong pakielam kung magkasakit man ako kinabukasan, it doesn't matter anyway. Patuloy lang ang hagulgol ko habang paulit-ulit na tumatakbo sa isipan ko ang mga katagang binitiwan ni Hal kanina.

I was awakened from my reverie nang maramdaman ang pagtila ng ulan. I looked up to see an umbrella, and Hal was the one holding it.

Napatayo ako ng agaran at hinila siya para yakapin.

"I know you still love me!" Masaya kong sambit habang hinihigpitan ang pagkakayakap ko sakanya.

"Pumapayag na ako sa gusto mo."

"T-talaga?" Napatingala ako sakanya, but disappointment slapped my face as I saw how emotionless he is. Kumirot ang puso ko nang marealize na napipilitan lang siya.

"Oo, but only until February 14, no more no less." Iyon ang huli niyang pahayag bago tuluyang umalis.

A tear escaped from my eyes and made its way to my cheeks. I know that I probably look like a mess, and it's pathetic. Pero para sakanya, I'm willing to compromise. Kahit ilang araw lang, magtatyaga ako, susulitin ko.

Padarag kong pinalis ang luha sa aking mga mata at nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong hininga.

Wala nang lakas para maglakad pa, pero pinilit kong umuwi ng bahay. Naghugas muna ako ng binti kong nabalot ng putik sa may backyard. Napapitlag ako dahil sa kirot na dulot ng mga sugat sa aking tuhod.

Pagpasok sa bahay, pilit akong ngumiti ng madatnan si Mom sa may kitchen.

"Hey sweetie, I'm cooking your favorite." Maligayang sambit ni Mom at pinakita ang mga ingredients ng paborito kong lasagna.

"Thanks Mom, I'll just clean myself then baba na rin ako." I said, preventing myself from looking straight into her eyes. Baka maiyak pa ako ng wala sa oras.

"Is something wrong anak? Bakit ka nagpa-ulan? You should go upstairs and take a shower. Baka lagnatin ka pa." Mom's voice was filled with concern as she approached me.

Agad ko siyang niyakap at hindi na napigilan pang humagulgol.

"W-what's the matter anak? May nangyari ba?" She asks as she soothingly rub my back.

"W-wala naman Mom, masakit lang po yung tuhod ko. Nadapa po kasi ako kanina." Palusot ko at bumitiw na sa pagkakayap.

"Sorry Mom, nabasa pa tuloy kita." Pilit akong tumawa at nagpaalam na aakyat na para maligo.

"I understand, maligo kana then I'll make some hot chocolate for you." She smiled warmly at me, somehow it eased the pain I was feeling.

Nanghihina akong nagtungo sa aking kwarto at dire-diretsong pumunta ng CR para maligo.