I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Twenty: Forget

Chapter Twenty
Forget

"Ha?"

Umiwas ng tingin si Jayden at tumayo bigla. Hindi man lang kinlaro ang sinabi. Tumayo rin ako para sundan siya sa ginawa. Hinablot ko ang coat at heels ko nang matantong may balak siyang umalis.

He just said he likes Al. Only if that was me?

"Almira." Napahinto ako at napakurap sa tawag niya. His back is facing me but despite that, I noticed he tugged a deep breath. "We should head back."

Al? Almira?

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa realisasyon.

Does he mean to say he's referring to me?

"Jayden, hindi ako-"

Hindi niya ako pinatapos magsalita. Nagsimula siyang maglakad palayo na nagpaalarma sa'kin. Mabilis kong isunuot ang heels ko saka hinabol siya

"Wait, yung coat mo..."

"Keep it. It's getting cold."

I scoffed in the air when I realized he left me just like that. Hindi niya man lang ako hinintay na sumabay sa kaniya. Tinawag ko siya ng ilang beses pero hindi siya naglahad ulit ng tingin. Nawala pa siya sa paningin at naiwan ako sa ilalim ng coral tree ng mag-isa.

The realization of what he just spilled out struck me like a dagger.

It's me who he likes? I was the Al on his tattoo?

Napailing ako. "No...no.."

I can't be that Al. I can't be that Al he was pertaining to! Nabanggit ko na kay Al na siya ang gusto ni Jayden. What would she think if I told her it wasn't her? What would she think if she figured out Jayden was talking about me?

Na ang gusto niya ay hindi si Al... kundi ako.

My mind churned at the thought.

No, Jayden can't like me. He can't be feeling that way! Not with me! Not when Al's my friend and she likes him!

Padabog kong isinuot ang coat nang maramdaman ko ang paglamig ng paligid. I want to talk to Jayden, make him take back what he said. I immediately went back to our table.

Won and Chloe weren't on their seats; they were dancing in the middle. Nandoon na si Jayden pero hindi niya ako napansin kasi nakatingin siya sa malayo.

I was just about to call him but my grandmother did first thing. Nasa mesa sila ilang metro ang layo, kasama si Kingsley at lolo't lola niya.

"Hailey, hija, we've been looking for you."

Kumunot pa ang noo niya sa hawak kong coat pero hindi niya pinuna. She waved her hand in free air to urge me to come. Nang marinig ang pangalan ko, nilingon din ako ni Jayden sa banda ko.

He shifted his gaze uncomfortably. Gusto ko mang kausapin siya, wala rin akong nagawa. I had to abide when Lola called me twice. Pinaupo ako sa tabi ni Kingsley.

I gave him a quiet nod when he smiled at me. Lolo and Mr. Limlengco were talking while having wine when I shared the table with them.

"We should have a part two celebration, Edward," rinig kong sabi ni Mr. Limlengco kay Lolo.

I listened to them and tried to smile whenever they caught a glance of me. But then, my mind's all focused on the things Jayden just said earlier.

"I guess we should. Dating gawi, Stan?" Tumawa si Lolo. "Like the good old days, I wanted to hike."

"If your joints can still do it, why not?"

"I'm capable, Stan. You should ask yourself," natatawang sabi ni Lolo.