One Shot Stories

10) No Pain, No Gain

"No Pain, No Gain"
@itsmeklaxon🍁

"Ares pwede ba? Tama na! Stop courting me, just divert your attention to someone who can love you back. I have a boyfriend and I love him so, please...stop."

She turned her back at me without minding that she had broke me again.

Her words are like knives making my heart bleed and I don't know when it'll stop.

I know that she is lying, her boyfriend broke up with her months ago and she just can't accept it. Alam kong hindi pa s'ya nakakamove-on at nasasaktan pa rin hanggang ngayon.

Despite of what she said, pinagpatuloy ko panliligaw sa kaniya. Araw-araw akong nag-iiwan ng bulaklak sa harap ng condo n'ya kasama ng iba't ibang klase ng tula na s'ya ang paksa.

I am always watching her from afar. I saw her cry many times, I wanted to tell her that it's okay, everything will be okay. Ang bakla ko kasi hindi ko man lang siya malapitan.

One time, naabutan ko s'yang inaaway ng cashier pero patuloy lang s'ya sa paghahanap ng kung ano sa bag n'ya. I think her wallet was lost at hindi nga ako nagkamali nang marinig ko ang sinabi ng babae sa counter.

"Ano ma'am, wala ka palang pambayad bakit ang dami mong kinuha hindi mo naman pala kayang bayaran."

Nag-init ang ulo ko sa sinabi ng cashier kaya't tiim-bagang akong lumapit sa kanila.

"Miss what's the problem here?"

"Ah sir, si ma'am ho kasi mukhang walang pamabayad."

"Tinanong mo ba kung bakit mukhang aligaga s'ya? Customers' right should always come first at mukhang hindi ito ang nakikita ko ngayon." Nakatitig lang sa akin si Leil pati na rin ang cashier.

"Sir Ares hindi na po ito mauulit."

"I'll settle her bills and don't you ever try to talk like that on my girlfriend. You better do your best before I fire you." Napayuko na lang ang babae at mabilis ko namang hinila si Leil papunta sa parking lot ng mall.

"Let go of my hand! What the hell did you just say? Girlfriend huh? At paano naman 'yong mga binili ko?"

"I'm sorry Leil, I just can't stand there watching you na pinagsasalitaan ng hindi maganda. Ipahahatid ko na lang din 'yong mga pinamili mo sa condo mo."

"Please let me drive you home." Walang imik s'yang sumakay sa kotse ko.

After a few minutes we reach her home.

Pagbubuksan ko sana s'ya ng pinto nang dali-dali s'yang lumabas.

"Thank you, Ares" Labis ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko dahil sa simpleng salamat na narinig ko sa kan'ya. Ang bakla mo talaga Ares, thank you lang 'yon. Hindi mo pa naririnig 'yong gusto mong marinig.

Kinabukasan naglakas loob akong ibigay sa kan'ya ng personal ang bulaklak at ang pang-ikatatlong daan at animnapu't apat na tula ko para sa kaniya. Yes, it's been a year since the day she rejected me.

Labis ang kabog ang dibdib ko ng pindutin ko ang doorbell ng condo n'ya. Lalo na't nakita ko ang unti-unting pagbukas nito. Mabilis kong itinago sa likod ko ang bulaklak na hawak ko.

I saw her smiling when she approaced me. "Tuloy ka Ares"

Tatalikod na sana s'ya nang hinawakan ko ang kan'yang kamay at ipinatong ang hawak kong bulaklak.

"Would you mind reading the letter?"

She let out a little laugh and it was like music into my ear.

"I will. So, please pumasok ka na muna."

She put the flower I gave in a vase and started reading the letter, aloud.

"No Pain, No Gain? Really? Haha."

"My goodness Leil, just read it please?" Nhihiyang sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Ito na nga hahaha."

I saw you sitting on the grass,
Feeling the cold breeze from avast,
Reminiscing the painful past,
Remembering how it gave you scars.

It was my first time seeing you laugh,
Yet you shed tears after that,
I tried reaching your hand,
But you keep on moving afar.

Despite of all the pains and errand,
Will you also try holding my hand?
Let me walk with you in this dark path,
Leil Santos, may I gain the "Yes" I've been waiting for?
Will---

Before she could read the last line, lumuhod ako sa harap n'ya "Are you willing to share all your burdens with me? Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Leil? Ba't ka umiiyak? May nasabi ba akong ma--"

She kissed me.

"I love you Ares!"