Just A Little More

The Message

5. Just A Little More

...

Present

I don't know how long I've been standing here, napansin ko na lang na madilim at umuulan na. Binalewala ko lang ito at nanatili saking kinatatayuan. Umihip ang hangin na nagdala ng kakaibang lamig but I chose to ignore it too.

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang mapansin kong huminto ang patak ulan. Isang payong ang bumungad sakin kaya napatingin sa taong may hawak nito.

"What are doing here? Nahihibang ka na ba?" aniya.

Hindi ako sumagot at muling binalik ang tingin sa harap.

"Re! Come on let's get out of here, baka magkasakit ka pa? Look at yourself you're injured, ingatan mo naman ang sarili mo"

Naramdaman ko na lang ang paghila nya at maya-maya ay nasa loob na kami ng kanyang sasakyan. Inabutan nya ako ng towel saka pinaandar ang kotse.

"What are you doing here in the city? Did you went here alone?"

"Hindi ko alam" wala sa sariling sagot ko.

"I don't know what happened between you and Shan. But Re don't do things like this, anyway what happened to your arm?" she asked after she took a glance in my cast arm.

"Accident"

Maya-maya ay huminto kami sa tapat ng isang building. Dinala nya ako sa kanyang unit. After taking a shower she gave me a cup of tea.

"Re" napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. She's sitting in front of me, we are in her living room.

"Like I said I don't know what happened between the two of you. Hindi ko alam kung alam mo na 'to pero Shan is already in Australia and if you're hoping na babalik pa sya I think it's best na kalimutan mo na lang"

Hindi ako sumagot. Nabaling ang tingin ko sa tasa ng tsaa na nasa mesa.

"I'm Shan's friend and I'd witness how she was hurt because of you na walang kaming idea kung bakit. I understand her if she chose to forget nang malayo sayo" patuloy ni Kyna.

I sighed and stood up. I think its time for me to leave.

"Salamat dito. Hope that I did not bother you"

Humakbang na ako palapit sa pinto nang marinig ko ito muling magsalita.

"Re--

Hindi nya naituloy ang kanyang sasabihin nang humarap ako sa kanya. I gave her a half smile.

"Don't t-tell-- you know ev-everything?" nauutal nitong tanong.

"I'm sorry, aalis na ako"

"Wait! You know everything? How long?" she asked emphasizing the 'everything'.

"All this time? Why are you pretending that y--

"Hindi ako nagpapanggap. The thing is, alam ko man o hindi nothing will changed right? You and her family still won't like me" pagpuputol ko sa kanya.

"So you really-- then why are you not saying anything?" she looks frustrated and furious.

"I'm sorry" I repeated again.

"It must be hard on you. Trying to be nice to me when you don't like me at all" ngumiti ako ng mapait.

"Why are you keep saying sorry? Did you realized what I have been doing all this time?"

"Wala ka lang choice diba? Ayaw mong magkaroon kayo ng hindi pagkakaintidihan. You know her, she's stubborn at alam mo kung saan pupunta kung sakaling aminin mo na hindi mo ako gusto para sa kanya. I would lie if I say I understand you but I can't blame you"