In Another Life

3: How do you reject someone?

Eisley

"Eisley, I've liked you since we were 12."

I couldn't face her. "Why?"

"Look at me, Eisley," she pleaded. "That woman earlier, I saw how you stared at her, do you like her? What's her name again? Tyla?"

"Tyrese."

She sighed. Umupo siya sa kama ko. "It's just kind of unfair. I've loved you for a long time, pero siya, ngayon ko nga lang siya nakita dito, but you like her already? Anong meron ako na wala siya? Anong gagawin ko para tingnan mo rin ako nang ganun? I know you too well, Ice. Never have I seen you stare at someone like that. You really like her."

I couldn't say no. "I'm sorry, Sile."

She started crying, then she wiped her tears with her hands and wiped her hands on her dress. "You're not even defending yourself. You actually like her." She kept emphasizing that I liked her. I still could not say no, though.

"Why do I have to defend myself? Against what?"

"Oh Eisley, you poor innocent soul." This time, humiga siya sa kama ko. "Nevermind. Nakakapagod ka mahalin, alam mo 'yon?"

I nodded.

She laughed. "No, ano ba! I mean, if people actually get to know you, you're not hard to love at all, but the thing is, you don't even let people get to know you. Kung hindi lang tayo childhood friends, we wouldn't even have become friends. Until now nga, ang distant mo pa rin, pero alam mo? Mahal kita kahit ganyan ka."

"I... I don't want to break your heart."

"I know. It's not your fault naman. I'm just expressing my feelings." Umupo ulit siya. I was just standing across the bed. I told her I wanted to be alone, but when I was about to shut my door, she stopped me and entered my room without my permission.

She confessed her feelings without my permission, too.

I didn't want to reject her, but also didn't want to accept her feelings because I felt like I didn't deserve to be in a relationship. I was sure I would just hurt her.

"She doesn't like you, right?" she asked.

"No."

She stood up. I started feeling nervous as she walked towards me. What was she going to do? I froze when she wrapped her arms around me.

"Wait and see, Eisley. I won't give up on you." 

Tyrese

Lahat kami, may kanya-kanyang mundo. In the morning, Bev and I chatted with ate Gloria, tita Berna, and tita Juliet. We just talked about random things about each other's lives.

Actually, mostly si Eisley pinag-uusapan namin. Napapansin kong bini-buildup nila ako sa kanya. I also found out na 2 years old pa lang siya, namatay na yung daddy niya, so si tita Juliet yung nagpalaki kay Eisley mag-isa. Well, she raised him well.

"Kaso yung anak ko na 'yun, masyadong selfless."

"Parang yung ina," sagot ni tita Berna. "Mag-asawa ka na kasi ulit, Juliet. Mukha ka pa namang bata."

"Oo nga. Malaki na si Eisley, maiintindihan niya naman," dagdag naman ni ate Glo. "Napakamasunurin pa saka mahal na mahal ka."

From time to time, nakikisama sa usapan namin sila Evan at Nyle. I heard them talking about sports and food.

Ilang oras din bago nakabalik sila Eisley at Sile sa backyard. Malamig na tuloy yung barbecue.

I waved my hand at them, but only Sile noticed me. Eisley didn't even look at me.