The Weird Existence of Henry

ch. 28

a l i v e

Dali-dali akong lumabas. The last thing I wanted was for Henry to see me like this. I could feel the tears, leaking out of my eyes. Bakit ba pinaiiyak talaga ako ngayong gabi??

I was about to call for taxi nang biglang may humigit sakin. I immediately knew who it was.

"Hey," he was still catching his breath. "Leaving so soon?"

Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniya. I just continued on looking at my phone.

"Aalis ka na talaga?" tanong niya. He was bending down to meet my eyes, hands on his pocket. I must admit, it's so hard not to look at him right now because he looks so damn fine in his Jack Dawson Costume. "Huy pansinin mo naman ako."

Knowing Henry, he wouldn't stop. Alam kong mas lalo lang niya akong kukulitin kung di ko siya papansinin. I hate to give him attention but I just can't win to him. Kaya naman agad ko siyang hinarap. Hindi ko nalang namalayang tumulo ang luha sa kaliwang pisnge ko.

"Why are you crying? What's wrong?" agad naman siyang lumapit. His hands went to my hair and the other wipping my teared-up cheek.

"Wala lang to," agad akong bumitaw sa kaniya. I looked away. I cannot look at him right now. Dahil kung makikita muli ng mga mata ko ang imahe niya, maaalala ko lang kung paano niya hinagkan gamit ang kaniyang bisig ang bewang ng babaeng iyon.

"Hindi pwedeng wala lang. You're even crying! Tell me what's wrong?!!" tanong niya ulit, this time, patience was not his best friend.

"Wala nga eh," pagtanggi ko ulit.

"Come on Gwen! Just tell me what's wrong so I could fix it!" pamimilit niya sa akin. Frustration was evident in his voice.

"Ikaw! Ikaw kasi! I met you!" bulyaw ko.

"And everything changed! You know what Henry, before I met you, I was fine. I was okay with my life. Then you came, and pretended to be my boyfriend. And all of a sudden I'm living this fairytale. Araw-araw iniisip ko kung kailan kaya to babalik sa dati ang lahat? But now I realized nothing would be the same again. Especially when you told me that you liked me. And now I realized that I like you and that I've been liking you for so long. And I'm in this ridiculous dress! Then I show up in this party and saw you with another girl!!!"

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi sumabog. Gulat ang rumehistro sa kaniyang mukha. Gusto ko mang bawiin lahat ng mga sinabi ko pero nasabi ko na.

He blinked twice. I can't believe I just rendered him speechless which is kind of giving me anxiety that he's quiet.

"Come on! Say something!" ang sabi ko agad sa kaniya.

"We-Well, I'm just...overwhelmed right now. But I can't think straight because of that dress," he chuckled at the end.

Napatingin naman agad ako sa suot ko. I'm wearing his red dress and a pair of white gloves na lampas siko ang haba nito. Agad akong namula sa sinabi niya.

"You like me too?" tanong niya.

Nanlaki naman agad ang mga mata ko. I can't believe I just said it like that. I even rehearsed everything that I've got to say on the way here pero nagkaganoon lang. Hindi ko na halos marinig ang ingay sa loob dahil mas malakas pa ang tunog ng pagtibok ng puso ko ngayon.

"You do?" tanong niya ulit, this time, bending down again to meet my eyes.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapairap. Alam ko naming rinig na rinig niya kung anong sinabi ko kanina. Pinapaulit pa!!!

"Oo nga!!! I liked you and I still like you okay?" ang sabi ko ulit sa kaniya.

He immediately grinned and scratched the back of his neck. Is he getting shy now? Someone like Henry, getting shy?? Siya na ata ang pinaka-composed at confident na taong nakilala ko pero ngayon...I'm seeing another side of him.