Paper Hearts on Paper Planes

Chapter 12

Chris's POV

As soon as I saw her, I was nailed to where I was standing. Is this for real, is she for real, is she back for real?

Our eyes met and for some reason I ran towards her and hugged her. This felt like a dream but it's real, she's real, and I'm hugging her for real.

"God, I missed you. I missed you so much." I said while hugging her.

"I missed you too." and she patted my back. We broke the hug. "So, how are you?"

"I'm doing fine, great even. Ikaw? How are you? Pumayat ka ata ahh..."

"I'm on a diet, that's why."

"Mas bagay naman sa'yo yung may pagkachubby ka, but you look great pa rin naman, nag-eexist pa rin yung gummy cheeks mo. So when did you came back? Kakadating mo lang ba?"

"Why don't we all just get inside, dun nalang kayo magkwentuhan." suggest ni Claire.

We all went inside the house and good thing dinner's ready.

We all gather sa dinning when setting up the table was done.

"So Sha, how was States?" Jerrick asked.

"Okay naman, but iba pa rin dito sa Pinas."

"You still have school right? So, babalik ka rin sa States?"

"Tumigil na ako sa pag-aaral." she smiled at us pero kitang-kita ko yung lungkot sa mga mata niya. "But, it was all my decision ha. Gusto ko lang muna mag-enjoy sa buhay for now, but soon babalik rin ako sa pag-aaral."

"That's good to hear. Sayang naman ang dream mong maging journalist if you don't continue to pursue it."

"Jerrick, let me stop you there ha, you really sounded old and mature sa mga tanong mo at mga responses mo ano. You sounded like Dad ka nitong ni Sharon.

"Shut up Jay. Ikaw nga, hindi pa nagmamature, premature ka pa rin."

Sa sinabi ni Jerrick nagtawanan kami except for Gab na kanina pa tahimik dito sa tabi ko.

Her gummy smile, how I missed seeing that. She stopped laughing and at the exact moment we caught each other's eyes pero after a moment ay binawi niya rin ito kaagad and shifted her attention sa iba.

I couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up. "So kailan ka ba nakabalik?" I asked again.

"Uhmm.. nung prefinals niyo lang."

"Tagal na rin, how come ngayon mo lang kami kinita?"

"Isn't it obvious, ayaw niya tayong kitain because guilty siya sa ginawa niya." nagsalita na ang kanina pang nanahimik na si Gab. "Aalis ka ng ganun tapos babalik ka nalang na parang walang nangyari. Wow naman Sha."

"Gab come on, kakabalik nga lang ng tao tapos aawayin mo pa."

"Shut up Jay, isa ka rin ehh... You knew all along na nakabalik na siya pero you choose to na pagtakpan siya and your girlfriend." so Jay and Claire knew all along kaya pala ang weird of how Jay acted the other night and questioned me a lot about Sharon.

"Gab, I am at fault. Nirequest ko sa kanila na huwag munang sabihin sa inyo."

"Since nandito naman rin tayong lahat, might as well tell us kung bakit ka umalis, and why the hell after 8 months ay babalik ka lang na parang wala kang buhay na sinira. Want me to tell you, to elaborate kung ano yung mga nangyari kasi for sure wala kang alam. Yang dalawang yan, panay LQ na muntikan na ngang maghiwalay then si Chris panay ang paglalasing..."

"Gab, stop it."

"Hindi Jerrick, she needs to know na dahil sa paglalasing ni Chris hindi ka tuloy nakapagtransfer sa gusto mong university sa States kasi hindi ka nakapasa. All of those happened kasi umalis ka."

"Is that true?" mahinang tanong ni Sharon, and I could see from her eyes na it's getting teary.

"You've crossed the line Gab. That was in the past already, pwede ba let's just move on from it."

"I think coming back here and facing all of you again is a mistake. I'm sorry kung nangyari ang lahat ng mga yun sa inyo." she stood up at tumakbo palabas ng bahay.

I quickly followed her. Nang maabutan ko siya ay agad kong hinawakan ang wrist niya. Nang humarap siya ay tumutulo na ang mga luha niya.

"Why did you followed me? Di ba dapat galit ka sa'kin, because I left you and for everything na nangyari afterwards." mangiyak-ngiyak niyang sabi.

"To be honest with you, gustuhin ko mang magalit pero hindi ko magawa."

"Then gawin mo, ang kapal ng mukha ko to face all of you after ng lahat ng damage that I have caused you, to all of you."

I wiped all her tears away. "Shh... tahan na. It's not your fault, kung ano man yung nangyari sa amin dati, that was all our decisions and resultan ng impulsive actions namin at labas ka na dun." I pulled her towards me and give her a hug, to comfort her.

"Why do you have to do this Chris, bakit ganito ka pa rin sa'kin. Sinaktan kita, mas lalo lang akong naguguilty sa ginawa ko sa'yo." mahina niyang sabi sabay hikbi.

"I don't care kung sinaktan mo ako, I just want to do this."

Jerrick's POV

Sharon went out at sinundan siya ni Chris.

"Gab, ano yun?! Kung galit at least naman kumalma ka naman."

"How can I be calm Jay, tell me."

"Pwede ba, learn to control your anger, dahil diyan nagiging insensitive ka na ehh... nagagalit ka ng nagagalit na hindi mo man lang naiisip na nakakasakit ka ng tao."

"Ang sabihin natin guilty siya. Wait a minute lang ha. Bakit parang ako pa tung may kasalanan dito ha, when in fact kayo naman yun."

"Ang liit lang ng issue Gab, pinalaki mo lang. Kung galit ka sa'min because we kept it a secret then sorry, pero sana naman hindi mo sinalubong ng ganun si Sharon, she's still our friend, kahit pa may kasalanan siya sa atin."

"Break it up the two of you. Jay is right Gab, napaka-insensitive nang ginawa mo. You could just talk it out with Sharon hindi yung nagiging aggressive ka, kagaya kanina. Lahat tayo ay nagkakamali, and all of us deserve a second chance, you could at least give her that chance Gab, surely may rason naman talaga si Sharon."

"Oo na, ako na ang mali, ako na ang may kasalanan, ako na lahat. As usual, wala na naman akong kakampi dito." she stood up at nag-walk out.

She's really letting her anger and rage take over her. Masama talagang magalit ang isang Gabrielle Medina.

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