Since Then, Till Now

13

Chapter 13

After I calmed down, Latch offered to walk inside our subdivition. I still can't process everything he said. Para akong na-prank.

"Are you okay now?" he asked while we were walking.

Tiningnan ko lang siya saglit bago tumingin sa aming dinadaanan.

Hindi pa ako nagsasalita simula kanina, puro lang tango ang isinasagot ko sa kaniya, minsan ay wala pa. Hindi naman siya nagde-demand. He's always been patient with me.

"Are you still mad?" he asked carefully, like he's trying his best not to fuel the fire. I heard him sigh. "Lana...I'm worried."

Bumuntong hininga ako bago hinanda ang sarili mag salita. "I-I don't know." I stuttered!

"Totoo 'yung mga sinabi ko. I'm still sorry I made you angry." He really sounded sorry.

Hindi ko na alam kung anong dapat kong ikilos. His reasons are... valid. I felt guilty the moment he said it. Para bang nagalit ako sa wala. I called him names, I even accused him as a liar!

Tumikhim ako para ihanda ang sarili mag salita. "I'm sorry... for, uh, yelling and... calling you names." Kinakabahan ako!

I saw him smile. "It's okay. Your feelings are valid. And I understand, hindi mo alam 'yung side ko eh."

I really feel guilty for being mad at him. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang galit ko sa kaniya kahit pa alam ko na may karapatan ako. But now, I know that I don't. I don't have the right to be mad at him kasi ginawa niya lang naman ang dapat niyang gawin sa sitwasyon na iyon, at nanood naman pala siya. I feel like an idiot.

"Uhm..." Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "I l waited for you earlier, sabay na sana tayo uuwi since walang maghahatid sa'yo."

Ano raw? Naghintay siya kanina?

"But you already went home." Naghintay nga siya! Now I feel really bad.

"I'm sorry. Hinatid ako ni Gab, eh," I looked at him and he smiled at me.

"I know, I saw."

What?!

"Y-you what? H-how?" gulat at hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kaniya.

"I was looking around for you after I recieved Tita Alana's text, but then, I saw you leaving with Gab so I assumed hinatid ka niya."

He was there?!

"I, uh, I'm sorry..." I really am.

"Lana, stop saying sorry. Hindi mo kasalanan." He faced me so we stopped walking.

"I feel bad, Latch." I looked at him. "I feel really bad."

Matagal niya akong tinitigan. His eyes roamed around my face. I looked away. "Hindi ko dapat ginawa 'yon."

"Lana..." mahinahong tawag niya sa akin. "It's okay. Don't worry about it." He smiled.

It amazes me how patient he is with me. Lagi niya akong pinapatawad, laging pinagtiyatiyagaan, kahit alam kong lagi kong pinapasakit ang ulo niya. He's like my babysitter.

He never left my side, he always got my back. Kanina nga lang akala ko wala siya, but he was there. Nandoon pa rin siya.

"Thank you, Latch." I gave him a smile. "You can always leave when you're tired of being my best friend."

Biglang kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. Mukha na siyang galit!

"W-why?"

"How can you thank me and push me away at the same time?" he sounded mad.