As The Sun Sets (Mi Amore #1)

13

"Kiarah!" rinig kong sigaw ni Papa sa pangalan ko. I went out of that restaurant teary-eyed, ni hindi ko na sila nilingon lahat. Not even him.

In the end, I always choose to run, huh? Like running will somehow magically solve all my problems for me.

Pilit kong hindi umiyak habang tumatakbo at nagpapara ng masasakyan. Hindi ko alam kung saan pupunta. I can't stay there any longer.

"Kiarah, are you out of your fucking mind?!"

Agad akong nilapitan ni Tal nang maabutan niya ako sa labas ng condo niya. Mas lalong lumakas ang pag-iyak ko nang makita ko siya. I buried my face back to my knees. Mixed emotions were evident in her face. Deep down, I know she's mad at me. They all are.

I don't even want to know about what he's thinking right now. Kanina pa bumabalik sa isip ko ang nasasaktan niyang ekspresyon, the confused look of his face.

Despite knowing all that, I still left him there.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito? Tumayo ka diyan!" Saway niya sa 'kin at inalalayan niya ako para makatayo. I ran to her condo at naupo sa labas nang tumakbo ako paalis ro'n, silently crying, hoping people wouldn't see me.

I can't go home right now. Not when my father saw all of that. I'm not ready to face them yet.

I can't stand people's disappointed faces. Like they've known you all their life and judges like they know everything. Hindi ko iyon kakayanin.

"T-Tal..." Mahinang hibki ko at hindi umaalis sa pwesto ko. Ayaw ko siyang tingnan. I can't show her my face, not when it's all messed up.

Wow. I successfully disappointed people today.

"What in the world were you thinking?!" bulyaw niya. I flinched at her tone. It's the first time she ever talked to me like that. Natatakot ako. Baka iwan niya rin ako. Baka mapagod rin sila sa akin. Baka takbuhan rin nila ako.

"I'm sorry..." Paumanhin ko habang nakahawak lang sa kamay niyang pilit akong tinatayo. "Tal, I'm so sorry..."

I don't even know whom that sorry was for. Hindi ko na rin alam at kanina pa gulong-gulo ang isip ko. I can't even think straight right now!

"Kiarah, tumayo ka diyan. Let's go inside, okay?" Naging malambing ang boses niya habang pilit pa rin akong tinatayo. I didn't look at her. Hindi rin ako nagpapadala sa kaniya at nanatiling nakaupo sa harap niya.

Umiling ako at mas diniin ang hawak sa kaniya. I don't know why I'm doing this. It's like a sudden need of holding on to someone...anyone, in hopes that they won't let go of me.

"Malamig ang sahig dito. You can stay in place today, just please stand up..." halos magmakaawa siya sa akin. "Pumasok na tayo..."

I eventually gave in to her and slowly stood up, facing her. Naging malambot ang titig niya sa akin nang mapansin ang mukha ko. She immediately hugged me and because of that one hug...I ended up crying on her shoulders.

"It's okay...umiyak ka lang." She stated as she caressed my hair softly. "Nandito lang ako. I'll call the others and ask them to come over? Okay lang?"

I shook my head vigorously. "I can't let them see me like this...nakakahiya na 'yung ikaw na nakakita sa 'kin. I just didn't have any place to go." I informed, my face still buried on her shoulder as she quietly swayed and caressed my hair. It felt relaxing.

She ended the hug and pouted. "Bakit? Are we not supposed to show our weaknesses? Tao ka lang rin, Kiarah. You're not perfect!"

But I'm supposed to be.