REMEMBER ME AGAIN (Completed)

CHAPTER 30

MUNTIK ng mailuwa ni Sofia ang pagkaing nasa bibig niya. Hindi maipinta ang itsurang tiningnan niya ang seryosong mukha ni James. Ilang minuto din silang nabato bago unang nagbaba ng tingin ang binata, napatikhim at uminom ulit ng wine.

"What's wrong with you?! Why are you telling me that?! Are you serious?!" she freaked out.

"It'sー It's because... It have been haunting me these past months. And I just feel like... I want to tell you about this."

"And why?"

"Because... you're my friend?"

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Sofia at napahimas naman sa batok si Ren. Bumuka ang bibig nito na para bang may sasabihin pa pero agad ding napatikom ulit. Namumulang lumingon ito sa makukulay na ilaw ng mga building na view mula sa kinaruruonan nila.

"That. Was. Very. Unexpected. I really tought you're going to beg me to give you another chance," she timidly laughed because of her conceitedness.

"No. Not at all. But... I won't deny that I'm still into you until now."

She suddenly gasped. "Ang weird mo. Unexpectedly, sinabi mo sa akin na nagka-one night stand ka and right after you're confessing na may feelings ka pa sa akin? You're making me crazy, James. In a bad way."

"I know I'm being unbelievable. But I'm just telling the truth. Hindi naman taon ang lumipas, apat na buwan palang. You're not easy to forget, Sofia. Lalo na kung ganito ka pa rin ka friendly sa akin."

"Okay, okay. Let's stop right here. Mabalik tayo sa kwento mo. Naiintindihan ko na kung bakit sinabi mo 'yon sa akin. May bumabagabag sa'yo at gusto mo akong tanungin para mapanatag ka. Come on, spill it."

"Are you really sure... it's okay with you?"

"Of course! Sabi mo nga kanina diba? I'm your friend. So, I'm willing to listen. Nasimulan mo na rin, I am now curious about it."

"Thanks... But..."

"Bilis na."

He exhales deeply before talking while tapping his finger on the table. "Remember the day na hinatid kita sa bahay mo mula sa ospital? Nagpaalam ako na aalis papuntang ibang bansa diba?"

"Yup?"

"Later that night, I drank a lot of beer in my condominium. I've been acting like I'm totally fine with everything, with letting you go, but... I'm actually in pain. In deep pain. So, I just tried other people's way of coping up." He paused for a while to see her reaction. Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay kaya nagpatuloy si James. "Ang naaalala ko lang ay lumabas ako ng condo ko na lasing na lasing. Pero natumba ako noong pasakay na ako ng elevator pababa sana para puntahan ulit si Elton. Thankfully, may tumulong sa akin na babae. Inakay niya ako pabalik sa condo ko. Then I shared all my doubts, rantings and regrets to that girl when suddenly..."

"It happened andー?"

"I... had… blurred memories about it. I woke up alone in my bed, naked, in a groggy state, with a blood stain in my bed sheet…"

Nakangangang napatingin si Sofia kay James. "Oh man, that was fast." Napainom din siya ng tubig pagkatapos ay hinarap ulit ang binata. "So, what's your problem?"

"I don't know her. I don't even remember her face. But I felt responsible of what happened. She's a virgin for moly's sake! Hindi ako matahimik. I even had nightmares because of my guilt towards her."

"Tsk. Being a good man is really hard."

"And there's another problem."

"There's more?!" Napahawak si Sofia sa dibdib. Magkakasakit yata siya sa puso dahil sa mga bombang pasabog ni James. Kailanman ay hindi sumagi sa isip niya na mararanasan ni James lahat ng ito.

"Yes. I remembered that… she mentioned her age."

"Then?"

"S-She told me that she's still twenty."