One-Shot Stories Compilation (Part Three)

SEVEN

"Mahal mo o mahal ka?" Our teacher said.

It's our debate day today. Every friday, may debate na nangyayari sa klase namin. Ice breaker for the week, said by our teacher.

"Hesia and Lucas. Kayo ang napili kong representatives ng groups niyo ngayon. Come here in front. I'll give you a minute for each round. Alam niyo naman na hanggang three rounds tayo. At ang grupo ng mananalo ay may premyo. Okay?"

Tumayo na ako sa harapan at si Lucas ay sa kabilang side. I never looked at him since that day.

Pinabunot na kami ng teacher namin at 'mahal mo' ang nabunot ko. I just stared at the little piece of paper.

"Si Lucas ang mauuna since talo sila last friday. Okay, Lucas you may start now. 'Mahal Ka' for Lucas."

Naramdaman kong nakatitig sa akin si Lucas but I stayed looking down.

"Mahal ka. Because in that situation, pwedeng ikaw ang mag-adjust. Pwede mo siyang mahalin pabalik. Pwede mo siyang pasayahin. Pwede kayong maging masaya pareho. E kung mahal mo siya, hindi mo naman siya mapipilit na mahalin ka pabalik. So I would choose the person that loves me." He said.

Nagulat ako sa mga sinabi niya. He never applied it to me, to us. How dare him have the guts to say that.

"Masyado kang selfish if that's your reason. Hindi ka naman sure na kaya mo siyang mahalin pabalik. Hindi ka sure kung sasaya ka sa kaniya. And if that situation will happen, masasaktan mo lang siya. But if you would choose the person you love, ikaw lang ang masasaktan. Hindi lang dapat kasiyahan mo ang iniisip mo---" I stopped when my timer already reached one minute.

"Parang may deep meaning ang representatives natin ngayon ah? By the way, nakalimutan kong may meeting pa pala ako. So let's just have two rounds for today." Our teacher said which made our classmates disappointed.

Nagsimula ulit si Lucas magsalita. Hindi na ako magugulat sa mga sasabihin niya, after all, debate lang naman 'to.

"If I were you, I would choose the person who loves you. Kasi sino ba namang makakatanggi sa pagmamahal na ibibigay ng isang tao?" He stopped until his timer rang. He just wasted his one minute.

"Paano mo nagagawang sabihin ang mga salita mo kung hindi mo naman 'yan nagawa sa 'kin? Alam mong mahal kita but still, hindi mo ako pinili. You never chose to love me back. Naaalala mo pa ba? You never looked at me the way you looked at her."

My timer rang. Pero tinuloy ko pa rin ang mga sasabihin ko. This time, I looked at him in the eyes.

"Remember? You said that I should stop myself loving you because you will never love me back. Pero hindi mo 'yon in-apply sa sarili mo. You never stopped loving her even if you are already hurt. Minahal mo pa rin siya kahit may mahal siyang iba. And it's funny that we are in the same situation. I still loved you even if you love her."

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Lutang ako habang tina-type 'to. Ewan ko if maayos 'yong story or magulo. Pinost ko lang kasi trip ko. Lol.