Never Fade Away

12

"I-I thought y-you're n-not c-coming?" I asked in a shocked way. He was wearing an oversized shirt na medyo brown with pocket on his left, black pants and black converse sneakers.

He laughed at me and shook a little. Why nanaman ba?! He was always laughing! I get irritated kaya I snobbed him and walked away. But he suddenly grabbed my arm to stopped me.

"What?!" I asked, irritated.

"Bakit galit ka?" He asked, still grabbing my arm. "You always laughing at me!" I said, irritated.

"And why you said 'surprise'" I repeated his reaction lately. "It's not my birthday! Si Sophie sana ginanon mo!" I said in a sarcastically way.

"Na-surprise ka naman" he scratched his head and smile a little. I rolled my eyes and walked away. Ayokong makipag-competition sa kanya! He's so annoying talaga! He was always laughing at me! But at the same time, I'm so kinikilig pa din! Ahh Zoey! Why are you acting like that!

Dumiretso ako sa table namin para mahimasmasan. But I stopped when I felt a guy following me, I saw his shadow sa side. It looks familiar, but I can't remember kaya hinarap ko siya. I was shocked when I saw him!

It's..It's.. L-Liam!

He was wearing a white sweater with maong pants and white sneakers. No doubt, Sophie and Liam are close to each other. Sophie is friendly talaga!

"Hey" bati sa'kin ni Liam.

"Hi" I waved my right hand.

"Long time no see!" He said, smiling. Huh? Kakakita lang namin noong isang araw huh. Wala nga lang sa oras because I'm with Ethan.

I gave him a small smile. Speechless na 'ko! Can I walked away na ba? Can I takas na ba here? I can't!

"Uhm.. have you seen Sophie? did you greet her na?" I asked. 'Yon nalang yung kaya kong ibigay na topic 'cause, wala na 'kong maisip!

"Oh yeah, I also gave my gift" he answered, still smiling. I nodded. Nahihiya na 'ko dito! I don't have topic in my mind! What should I do?! I'm gonna leaving na nga!

I smiled at him and walked away but he suddenly grabbed my wrist to stopped me. I looked at him and gave him a questioning look.

"Can I ask a favor?" He said, it looks like his getting nervous. I got some questions to my mind like, favor? What favor? Manliligaw ulit siya? Babalikan ko siya? For what pa ba? He already hurt me, right?

"Yeah, w-what's that?" I asked, getting nervous and confused.

"Can I talk to you later after.. Sophie's.. celebration?" He asked, getting nervous. I was confused about of what he asked. Why does he want to talk to me? Oh gosh! Zoey! Stop overthinking!

"W-why?" I asked, getting confused.

"I just want to talk to you, and.. just the two of us" he sighed and looked at me, straight on my eyes.

"W-where?" I asked.

"Do you..still..remember the park..we used to go to?" Tanong niya sa'kin. I immediately remembered that. We always go there when we want to meet and when we want to be alone.

I nodded. He suddenly smiled and looked down. "Hihintayin kita doon, huh" sambit niya bigla at naglakad paalis. Natulala naman ako doon sandali pero natuhan din ng bigla akong tapikin ni Madison.

"Okay ka lang?" Tanong niya sa'kin, kitang kita sa kanya na nagtataka siya. Tumango lang ako sa kanya at sumunod sa kanya para pumunta sa table namin.

Umupo lang ako doon at tumulala lang kasi hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa'kin na pupunta ako mamaya sa park, kung saan sobrang daming memories doon..with..Liam.

We sang a happy birthday song. Si Sophie ay nasa gitna habang hawak-hawak nila tito at tita yung cake. Blinow niya 'yon at lahat kami pumalakpak. We ate a lot of foods kaya nabusog din ako sa sobrang sarap ng mga foods, pati din sila Madison nabusog.

Around 6pm ng matapos yung party. I mean umuwi na yung mga iba pero yung mga tita's at tito's, hindi pa. Nagpaalam ako kay nila Madi na pupunta ako kay tita, but the truth is magkikita kami ni Liam. Ayokong sabihin sa kanila kasi baka isipin nila na kami na ulit! Duh! It's a no no! Never!

Nagpaalam din ako kay nila mommy. I said the truth naman, they know about us. They got worried for me when I said na makikipagkita ako kay Liam.

I look on my watch to check the time, it's 6:45pm. I walked towards on the table kung saan doon kami dati ni Liam umuupo. Kaupo ko, tumingin ako sa paligid para hanapin siya, pero wala siya!

Where is he?! What the?! Wala naman akong number niya kasi binura ko na, since we broke up. Huwag niya 'kong paghintayin dito!

Nilibot ko ang mata ko pero wala talaga! Ako lang ata tao dito! Until my phone rang, my nagko-call! I don't know who! 'Unknown Number'

"Hello?" I talked to the phone.

"Hi" the guy talked.

"Who are you?"

"Hindi mo 'ko kilala?" Tanong niya.

"Uhm.. no.. who are you ba?! Where did you get my number?! I assume you're my stalker!" I sarcastically said.

"Are you sure that I'm your stalker?" Bigla may nagsalitang boses lalaki sa likod ko. Napatingin ako sa likod ko.

"You?!" I yelled at him.

Hindi ko siya masyado makita kasi sobrang dilim na ng paligid. Sino 'to? Hindi ko siya makilala pero I can see pa rin yung shape ng katawan niya, yung suot niya, 'yon lang.

He was wearing a plain yellow hoodie jacket, black pants, and white sneakers. Matangkad siya and parang naggi-gym, kasi medyo malaki katawan niya e. May pagka-perfect shape ganoon.

"Who are you?" I asked him. I ended the call. May pa-call pa siya e, stalker ko pala siya! He ended the call din. Tumayo ako para fair lang kaming nakatayo.

"Hi, I'm Liam James Catañeza. I'm your stalker" he said and offered his hand to me.

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