LOVELY NEIGHBOR (Completed)

Lovely Neighbor 25

VAN's POV

More days pa ang lumipas and I'm in my worst. Ero kept his promise after ng huling paguusap namin sa kwarto ko kinabukasan pagkagising ko, they were gone. He's gone. Wala ng katao-tao sa frat. house nila. Wala na lahat. Wala na si Ero. At ako? Ang boring kong summer noon mas naging boring pa ngayon. All I do is stay in my room and do nothing. And Nathalie's doing her frequent visit. She always make sure na okay lang ako. Na kumakain ba ako at natutulog pa. But most of the time umaalis din siya kaagad. I understand kung bakit, wala ako sa mood lagi at hindi sanay si Nathalie na ganun ako.

I was going down the stairs from my room I bought my varsity bag and I was dressed with my usuall outfit. Pagkababa ko Nathalie's at the living room with her phone talking to someone. Akala ko umalis na siya. Tumingin siya sakin and she frowned.

"Hold on. I'll call you back." She said sa kausap niya sa phone. She put her phone down at lumapit siya sakin. "Where are you going?" she asked

"I'll just take a swim." I said with the same expression on my face

She sigh "Alright. Take care. Magpapadeliver nalang ako later ng food pagdating mo."

I nod then umalis na ako. I arrive at school ng sobrang bilis lang. Pagdating ko dumiretcho na ako sa dapat kong puntahan. I changed into my swimsuit agad-agad. I need to relax kahit onti lang. I'm not over sa mga nangyare at aaminin ko, Namimiss ko na siya. Sobra! I need to relax my mind and my body. Hindi ko na nagagawa ang daily routine ko simula nung naghiwalay kami. Ganito pala kahirap yun. Habang nagpapahinga ako sa gilid ng pool, nagfa-flashback sakin yung araw na niligtas ako ni Ero sa mga creepy clowns niyang kaibigan. At naalala ko din yung first hug namin. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Naiiyak nanaman ako. Tumayo na ako at nagshower. Pagkatapos ko magshower dumiretcho muna ako sa locker ko to check my things there. While walking papunta ng locker my facial expression changed makakasalubong ko lang naman si Letty. Once I got into my locker I checked it and I don't make an eye to her again. Andun pa din naman yung mga gamit na iniwan ko since last day ng school.

"Van."

I heard her say. Alam kong katabi ko lang siya. Hindi ko siya pinansin o tinignan man lang.

"Van, please listen to me. Walang kasalanan si Ero. It's all my fault."

Hindi ko pa din siya pinapansin o hinaharap. Naiinis ako kapag naririnig ko boses niya kaya nadadabog ko yung mga libro ko sa locker ko. But then I saw a very familiar thing. Yung panyo ni Ero.

"Please Van. Talk to him. Let him explain. Kasalanan ko talaga lahat. I seduced him. I pushed him."

I slammed my locker door shut sa inis sa kanya. I faced her. And her look is so full of sorry. "Are you done? Kasi may gagawin pa ako e."

"Van. Please. Pakinggan mo siya. Wala siyang kasalanan. And I'm really sorry sa nagawa ko."

"Sorry? Pakinggan? What's done is done Letty. And I think this is what you really want right?" I smiled "And oh by the way, they moved out already. They're out of my neighborhood. And we're over. In case you want to know."

I turned my back on her and walked out. I'm done with her and all of her bullshit explanations. Wala na din naman e. Tapos na. Wala ng dapat pang magpaliwanag at pakinggan kasi wala na siya. Lumayo at umalis na siya tulad ng sabi ko. At meron akong pagsisisi sa ginawa kong yun. But I have to be strong at panindigan ang mga sinabi ko. 

*****

"What!!??" Nathalie asked

"Yes. She just talked to me and say a lot of bullshit." I said after taking a bite with my apple. And yes, after ng breakup namin napapadalas na ang pagcu-cuss ko.