"Sabi na nga ba... the crybaby's hiding here," aniya sabay lingon pabalik sa akin. Nakaupo na kaagad siya sa tabi ko nang hindi ko man lang namamalayan. Tamad na nakapatong ang isang braso sa nakatuping tuhod, ang isang binti nama'y nakaunat sa sahig.
"What... what are you... doing here? How did you—"
Ang namumuo kong panic ay naudlot nang matahimik ako matapos maramdaman ang dahan-dahang pagdantay ng ulo niya sa balikat ko. He was too close then that I could hear and feel his breathing... with his warmth.
Nanigas ako sa kinauupuan dahil sa biglang pagtalon ng puso. And I was so damn scared... na baka naririnig niya ang nakabibinging tambol ng puso ko. Para iyong sasabog... hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit.
"Akala ko ba sabay tayong magla-lunch? Nakalimutan mo? You promised me, remember?" namamaos ang boses niyang sabi, halos maging bulong sa hina.
Nag-umpisang bumigat ang bawat pagbuga ko ng hangin dahil sa magkahalong kaba at guilt. "I... I was just..."
"Why are you hiding here like you're afraid of something? Is it because of me?"
"No," agap ko.
"What is it that you're afraid of, then?" sa parehong halos pabulong na tinig niyang tanong.
Napalunok ako. Para akong lumulutang dahil sa timbang ng ulo niya sa balikat ko.
"S-Si... si Terrence..." Nanginig ang mga labi ko dahil sa muling pamumuo ng mga luha. I was trying to calm myself but to no avail.
Sumeryoso ang boses niya. "What about him? What did he do?"
Umiling ako kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. "I think hanging out isn't the best idea."
Nakagat ko na lamang ang labi dahil sa kirot na naramdaman sa dibdib... though I didn't know exactly what it was for. Nag-iwas ako kaagad ng tingin nang bigla siyang umayos ng upo para lang seryoso akong pagtuunan ng atensyon.
"Anong sabi mo?"
"I don't want to hang out with you so please get lost," I lied in a straight face despite the tears pooling at the corner of my eyes. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kawalan dahil hindi ko magawang suklian ang mabibigat niyang tingin.
He laughed sarcastically but I sensed a faint hint of pain laced in it. "You think I'll buy that?"
"Haven't you heard about the rumors or you just don't give a damn?" Hindi ko nagawang kontrolin ang panginginig ng boses pagkasabi niyon.
Hindi siya sumagot kaya't napalingon ako sa kaniya nang wala sa oras. Seryoso ang mga mata niya nang pumako ang tingin namin sa isa't isa.
"You don't decide for me, Eunice."
Pilit kong ikinunot ang noo ko sa kabila ng panibagong luha. "You dunce! Gusto mo bang madamay?"
"What are you talking about? Tingin mo may pakialam ako ro'n?"
Mabilis kong pinalis ang luhang naglandas sa pisngi para lang titigan siya nang matapang.
"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo, Cedric? Why are you here having a strange interest towards us all of a sudden? What, are you testing how far I could go for him? Or are you just playing stupid games with me seeing how messed-up this is? Is this fun for you? Huh?"
"Eunice, I already told you why I'm doing this."
"Why can't you just stay away?" I covered my face with my hands when tears consecutively fell from my eyes.
When did I become such a crybaby? And when did I start to care this much about someone I barely know? Ano ba sa 'kin kung pag-initan siya ni Rence? Ano naman kung layuan niya ako dahil doon? Why was my heart breaking with just a mere thought of him avoiding me like the others? It felt so strange.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Other 'I'
General FictionFed-up with Terrence's cheating on their more than a year relationship, Eunice decided to cool things off between them -- for she can't find the courage to end it in the midst of her indecision and overwhelming emotions. But as she struggled to try...
