Fall For You

Chapter 38 - Tired

#FFYwp
Chapter 38 - Tired

"Wala pa ba kayong napag-usapan ni Tobi regarding your engagement?" Tanong ni Kuya Andrei sa akin.

I unconsciously played with my ring before I shook my head. "Baka after nalang ng anniversary ni Tito Ashton sa isang araw ko i-open up. Hindi pa namin napagusapan ever since, eh." I told him truthfully. "Kayo ba? Nakapagset na ba kayo ng date ni Rea?" Pahabol kong tanong.

Last month noong magpropose si Kuya Andrei kay Rea, and I've never been happier for my brother. Sobrang saya nila pareho. The kind of happiness I once felt.

Nagpalabas ito ng buntong hininga. "Itutuloy mo parin?" He paused. "Yung engagement?" He added, totally ignoring my question regarding their engagement.

My family and friends have been very vocal about what they feel about my relationship with Tobi.

At first, they were all supportive. Lagi nilang sinasabi na intindihin ko muna si Tobi dahil fresh pa ang pagkawala ng daddy niya, na magiging okay din ang lahat. And I agreed with them.

Pero makalipas ang ilang buwan ay nag-umpisa na silang paalalahanan ako na baka hindi na healthy, na baka dapat bigyan ko muna ng distansya si Tobi, na baka ako naman ang madurog sa ginagawa ko.

Until they reached a certain point na lahat na sila ay hindi na masaya sa setup namin ni Tobi, and to be honest, hindi lang naman sila ang hindi na masaya.

Dahil ako rin, hindi na masaya.

But we're hitting Tito Ashton's one year mark in two days, and maybe, just maybe, that's what we need to surpass, and then things will eventually get better.

I nodded. "Things will eventually get better." I hope so.

"At ilang beses mo na yan sinabi?" Panunuya nito sa akin.

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. "Madami na." Sabi ko dito.

Sumandal ito sa kinauupuan niya. "May nabago ba?" Seryosong tanong ni Kuya Andrei sa akin.

Wala.

May lumandas na luha sa mata ko pero agad ko din yung pinunasan.

"Maybe it's time you reconsider putting yourself first, baby. We can see how stressed you are even from a mile away. And this is so not like you. The Addy we knew, is a strong fucking independent woman. That Addy won't let someone, anyone, take advantage of her. That Addy knows her worth. And seriously this isn't it. Tingin mo ba ito lang ang worth mo?" Mahabang sabi ni Kuya.

I shook my head.

Sunod sunod ang pagpatak ng luha ko sa bawat salitang binibitawan ni Kuya Andrei.

"Eh hanggang kailan mo plano titiisin yung ganitong pagtrato ni Tobi sayo?" Anito.

They've been vocal that they want us to take a break, but they've never been this vocal. Ngayon ay parang sinasampal ako ng katotohanan ng bawat salita ni Kuya.

Pero ang totoo ay alam ko naman ang mga bagay na sinasabi niya. I know it all too well, I just chose to look away every single damn time.

Pinipili ko lang ipikit ang mga mata ko para hindi ko makita ang katotohanan na baka dapat nga ay sumuko na ako.

I turned a blind eye on every single disappointment because I refuse to believe that my Tobi is completely gone. I refuse to believe that my Tobi, my sweet, caring, gentleman, loving Tobi—who would always put me first, is gone.

Alam ko lagi kong sinasabi na kailangan ko ng tanggapin na wala na yung dating Tobi, but a part of me wants to hold on a little. Na baka one of these days, bumalik siya.