Last Summer

32

CHAPTER 32

"Excuse me." Tumayo si Sage at lumabas. Napaawang ang labi ko. Nilingon ako ni Savvy ngunit umiwas ako. I'm guilty. 

Susundan ko na sana si Sage nang tumayo si Krystal. "Let me."

"Don't tell me may something na ang dalawang 'yon." Natatawang sabi ni Jigz. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

Teka nga. Why am I feeling this way? Hindi naman kami. I'm not even ready to be in a relationship. Hindi ko pa nga alam ang totoong nararamdaman ko kay Sage.

"Magc-c.r lang ako." Mahinang sabi ko at lumabas na. I want to cry so bad.

"Gabbi." Nilingon ko si EJ na nakasunod. Hinila niya ako sa labas ng arcade papunta sa skypark. "Are you okay?" Aniya.

"Uh, oo naman." I lied. I'm not okay. Kahit kailan hindi.

"I know when you're lying, Gabbi."

"Then why ask?" Iritadong tanong ko. Gusto kong mapag-isa. I can't deal with this right now. I just want to think. "Sorry." I shouldn't be taking this out on him.

"It's okay..."

"You can go back. I just need some fresh air." Bahagya akong ngumisi ngunit tinitingnan niya lang ako. "I'm really okay. Bumalik kana doon." Dagdag ko pa.

"Can't you give us another try? I'll be better." I bore my eyes to him as he asked that question. His smile faltered and faded. He's in pain.

Should I really give us another chance?

"Paano kapag masaktan ulit tayo? Paano kung mauulit lang ang pinagdaanan natin noon? I'm not ready to go through that alone, EJ. I don't want to ever go back to that phase." I stifled a cry. I don't want to cry in front of him.

"I'm never leaving you again, Gabbi. Believe me when I say I'll stay this time. I'll stay for you." Aniya.

"I rode that wave alone, EJ. Natatakot ako." Seryosong sabi ko.

"I told you, Gabbi, it will always be you. It has always been you. Always you. Babalik at babalik ako. The more you push me away, the more I'm eager to come back running to you." Humakbang siya papalapit sa'kin.

"I don't know..." Umiwas ako ng tingin. A part of me wants to give it another try. A part of me wants to move on and forget.

"What if.. what if habang nandito tayo sa Cebu, we'll try if it will still work. Pero kapag hindi, by the time na nakauwi na tayo sa Manila, I'll leave you alone." Aniya.