Between Joy And Pain

Kabanata 4

04.Nineteen

Sa buong buhay ko, hindi pa ako nakaka-encounter ng lalaking napakataas ng self confidence. Or maybe because Jared isn't the type of man na mahilig magpabida at magyabang saakin. I was with Jared my whole life, wala akong nakasalamuhang ibang lalaki bukod sa kanya kaya bago saakin ang mga lalaking sobrang tindi ang tiwala sa sarili.

"Nagsha-shabu ka ba?" Tanong ko sakanya.

Nasanay nga talaga siguro ako na nay Jared palagi sa tabi ko.

"Are you saying na adik ako?"

"No. I am actually asking if you're high," Inirapan ko siya.

He smile again at hindi na ako natutuwa sa pag ngiti ngiti niya ngayong nalaman kong stalker pala siya. It's creepy, and I just want to smack his head para lang matauhan siya. I don't want to assume anything pero wala na akong ibang naisip kundi ganun na nga. It doesn't sounds like it's a coincidence, after he confirmed that he's watching me everyday.

"I'm not a stalker if that's what you're thinking." Natatawa niyang sabi. "Grabe, kung hindi adik, ay mapagkakalaman naman akong stalker." He utter softly.

"Anong binubulong bulong mo diyan?"

"Wala naman akong binubulong," Aniya.

"Okay. Let's clear things here. Unang una, stop stalking me. It's creepy. Pangalawa, stop saying that I'll eventually become your girlfriend. H'wag kang nagpapacute saakin at hindi yan tatalab. Pangatlo—"

"You find me cute?" He asked cheerfully.

"May problema ka ba sa pandinig? I didn't say you're cute! Ang sabi ko h'wag kang magpa-cute saakin." Inirapan ko ulit siya.

"Paano mo naman nasabing nagpapacute nga ako, kung hindi ka naku-cute-an sakin?" Nakangiti niyang tanong.

"Wala kang sense kausap. Sa totoo lang!" Iritado kong sambit. "Look, I'm not in the mood para makipag kwentuhan. Just go back to your friends and leave me here. Mas gusto ko nang mag-isa kaysa kausapin kita. Hindi kita kilala—"

"I actually told you my name—"

"At dahil ba sinabi mo ang pangalan mo, ibig bang sabihin kilala na kita?"

"Hindi. But I know you," He replied.

"You don't know me enough. So stop acting like we're friends, because we're not. Just because you also knew my name doesn't mean kilala mo na ako—"

"You hate Jared," He stated.

And my heart automatically stopped the moment he mentioned Jared's name. I don't know what to feel. How to response rudely. It seems like my mind is not working right now. Sumisikip ang dibdib ko habang nakatingin lamang ako sa kanya. Wala akong masabi sa gulat ko. I was totally taken aback, and I must admit that if there's someone who could spoil my mood, walang makakatalo sa lalaking 'to.