once upon a september ✅

Chapter 28 - Secret

Napatunganga ako sa bintana. My hand would sometimes touch my lips at bumabalik sa ala ala ko ang nangyari kahapon.

He must hate me so much.

"They're not together." Sabi ni Dortia. I turned my head to look at her.

"How did you know?" My heart goes thump thump at the possibility.

"Dr. Martinez said so. Updated siya sa love life ni Koa. And Koa doesn't have anyone it seems." I can't hide the smile on my face. Pinanlakihan ako ng mata ni Dortia.

"Wag kang ngingiti ngiti jan. So anong plano mo?" Tanong niya.

Oo nga Claire.

Anong plano mo?

Napaaray ako nang batukan ni Dortia.

"Kung wala kang plano, pwes ako meron. Number 1, kung wala kang balak sabihin ang totoo, then dun tayo sa 'nagsisisi akong iniwan kita' drama."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"So..."

"So you have to tell him you're sorry for what you did kahit hindi naman totoo tas lalandiin mo siya to the max."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Bakit naman?" Nagaalinlangan kong kinuwento kay Dortia ang nangyari kahapon.

"Oh my Gosh, Kleng He's mad! That's good!"

"What's good about that?" Di makapaniwala kong tanong.

"Kung galit siya ibig sabihin hindi pa siya nakakamove on!" Pareho kaming napa sit up straight nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng aking clinic. Napaayos ako ng upo nang makita si Koa sa pintuan.

"Errr hi Koa." Bati ni Dortia. "Kleng, alis na ako haaaa." Kumaripas ba naman ang animal at iniwan ako doon.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako titingin sa totoo lang kaya nagpanggap na lang akong may kinakalikot sa aking computer.

Hindi rin maalis sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Dortia. If Koa haven't moved on from me, then i hate myself too. To inflict such pain for ten long years, hindi ko masisi si Koa kung galit pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.

He sat down at the chair in front of me kaya iniangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. He seems to be conflicted.

"I'm sorry about yesterday." Napatunganga ako, hindi makapaniwala sa kanyang sinabi.

"Ha?" Tanong ko.

"I... don't know why i did that either." He looked away for a moment and then looked back at me. "Minsan... hindi ko na rin kilala ang sarili ko." I swallowed a couple of times, not sure how to answer him.

Tinitigan ko siya, at bakas sa kanyang mukhang nahihirapan din sa kanyang ginagawa.

He must be suffering so much. He's pained but he can't even show it. Galit siya pero ayaw niya ring magalit. Because he's never been like that -- driven by this illogical emotions.

After ten years, he's still the Koa i know. And it pains me to see him like this.

"I was wrong ten years ago." I said trying to somewhat ease his pain. He turned and looked at me intently.

"Hindi naman kita masisisi kung galit ka pa rin." Dugtong ko.

I saw his jaw clench.

"Just don't ever talk to me again, unless it's work." He finally said and left me at my clinic.

I bit my lip at napatingin muli sa bintana.

It just means he doesn't want to have anything to do with me.