Beyond the Midnight Sun (Midnight Series #1)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15
Rejection

My shoulders fell when I felt his expression changed. From all smiles he has lingered suddenly turned into slight frown and grimace.

Hawak niya ang kanang kamay ko habang nakaluhod siya sa aking harap. Ang mga tao sa paligid namin ay batid kong kinukunan kami ng mga litrato o 'di kaya'y nagre-record sila ng video.

"W-What are you saying, Rhianne..." his raspy voice trailed off. Ramdam ko ang kanyang takot at bahagyang panginginig sa bawat salitang binigkas.

Napayuko ako't bumagsak ang buong ekspresyon ko. I swallowed hard when I felt the slight shook on his grip. Kasabay din ng mariing pangangatog ng aking kamay.

This is suffocating. Lihim akong nagpakawala ng hininga bago naisip na isatinig ang nabuong paliwanag ngunit inunahan niya ako sa pagsasalita.

"Rhianne... I waited for this for a quite long time. Two years ago when you rejected me but I'm still here... buying my time. I'm always staying by your side... and you know it from the very start, I am patiently waiting for you. Pero sa tingin ko, ngayon na ang tamang oras..." dinig ko ang pagkakapaos niya sa mga salitang binitawan.

"It's my birthday, Rhianne. Please... grant my wish. Will you be... my girlfriend?" he said almost breathily. Punong-puno ng pagsusumamo at pag-asa nang sabihin niya iyon.

Halos napapikit ako sa sinabi niya. I couldn't stand seeing him this way. I couldn't take seeing the pain of longing laced on his eyes. Ang makita siya ngayon na nakaluhod sa aking harapan, tinatanong ako nang ganito kasabay ang pagsusumamo ng kanyang boses ay siyang nagpapasakit sa akin.

My heart is beating so fast that it actually aching so bad. Unti-unting umahon ang pangangatog ko nang nakitang ngayon pa lang ay sobra na siyang nahihirapan.

Sa huli ay lihim akong humugot ng hininga. I need to do this still. I am really sorry, Trevor.

Muling bumagsak ang balikat ko kasabay ng bahagya kong pag-iling.

"I'm sorry, Trevor, but... I-I can't really grant what you want. There are better girls than me. There are better girls out there who are way deserving of your love. I'm really sorry, Trevor... p-pero hanggang pagkakaibigan lang talaga ang kaya kong ibigay."

My heart clenched painfully with my own words. Unti-unting lumubog ang puso ko habang marahan at dahan-dahang kinakalas ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin.

I know he's gonna be awfully hurt but I would want to still make him understand that there are girls out there who are way deserving of his love. Sa pagkakataong ito ay alam kong nahihirapan siya ngunit hanggang doon lang talaga ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.

A single tear slowly streamed down on his cheeks. Mabilis niyang pinalis iyon. Dahan-dahan siyang umahon mula sa pagkakaluhod at dismayado akong tiningnan.

I heard some of their friends gasped. After a while, I noticed how everyone stayed silent as they were continously taking pictures and filming videos at us.

"I only want you in my life, Rhianne. Why can't you just give me a little chance?" mahinahon at kalmado niyang sinabi.

My lips trembled. "Trevor... I like you as a friend. It couldn't reach more than that. K-Kahit na ano'ng gawin ko sa nararamdaman ko ay wala talaga. Maybe, I'm just infatuated by the thought of... you're liking me and all the things you have made me feel. S-Siguro... pag-aaral mu-"

Naputol ako nang suminghal siya.

"It's too lame if that will be your reason! Puro na lang pag-aaral! You can still have me while you're fucking studying at the same time!" umalingawngaw ang tinig niya sa loob ng Celanhds.