12|CLIMATE CHANGE

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Bender's pov.

Ang sakit ng likod ko...

Ang bigat ng katawan ko...

Pati na rin ang talukap ng aking mata ay hindi ko masyado mamulat.

Anong nangyayari?

Ginalaw ko ang aking daliri sa kanan upang malaman kung nasaan ako at kung anong nangyayari. May narinig akong boses ng lalaki na tumatawag sa aking pangalan. Sa kadahilanang nais kong malaman kung sino ito ay pinilit kong imulat ang aking mga mata.

"Bender? Salamat at gising ka na." Boses iyon ni Larry. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala. Nginitian ko siya ng matipid at dahan-dahang ibinuka ang bibig.

"Nasaan ako?" Namamaos kong tanong sa kanya.

Nilibot niya ang tingin. "You are in the hospital, Bender." He replied with a joy on his voice.

"Ganoon ba," nagtataka kong nilibot ang loob ng silid na kinaroroonan ko.

"Ahm, by the way aunt vet and your father was going outside but she told me that she will be back." Paliwanag niya. Tumango ako sa kanya at ngumiti ulit.

Five minutes away, he started to talk. Trying to open up a topic that I don't want to talk right now. I'll showed him that I don't want to heard it but he insist.

"Please Bender, give me a chance to talk." I close my eyes and take a deep breath and give a sign of consent.

"Look, we're both a victim right there but I still want to apologise for what I did. I already talked to Nathalie and she explained everything..." He suddenly stop and trying to control his emotion.

"You know what, I want to be angry myself for being a fool. But that's what you did.. always we did when we are going to fall in love. You don't care what is going on, you just know is you are doing what you think the right way to express our feelings to them, to the point we already forgot taking care of ourselves, asking if we still okay. I know what you feel because I also did." He said emotionally and start to crying. I felt his sincerity. I don't want to face him because if I did, i am going to cry also. I remain silent and waiting to continue his litany.

"Nathalie was my first love, my inspiration and everything. But one day everything change when his father decided to bring her to the Canada. Well, I don't know what was exactly reason. A year pass by but there is no Nathalie back from Canada. Instead of being hopeless I tried to wait until I date with different ladies but I never had a serious relationship with. And now she's back... For a purpose." Patuloy niya.

"Purpose? To break our friendship?" I said curiously.

Suminghap siya bago tumugon. "No.."

I frown and stare. "What do you mean?"

"... To break her promise to grow old with me. Bender, Nathalie loved you so much. I knew it, I saw it on her eyes while confessing. " He reach my hand tightly.

"Larry..."

"For now, I leave her to you but please... Promise me that you will protect and taking care of my love--" at napahagulgol na nga ito. Halos mawasak ang puso ko habang pinakikinggan at tinitigan ang nakakaawang mukha nito and at the same time, bumilib din ako sa taglay niyang tapang. Tapang na magpaubaya.

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