He Broke Me First

Chapter 13

Halos hindi ako nakatulog kagabi dahil sa sinabi ni Joaquin sa' kin. Nakatulala lang ako sa kanya no'n. I mean, he just confessed his feelings for me! Hindi man lang siya nagdalawang isip at ako pa talaga ang hindi mapakali noong umamin siya. Sobrang himbing nga ng tulog niya!

I sighed for the nth time. Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap simula kagabi dahil maaga siyang gumising. Sinama siya nila Nanay at Mama sa palengke.

Nilalaro ko lang ang pagkain na nasa harap ko ngayon. Kanina pa ako nag-iisip kung paano ko ba siya haharapin.

Muli akong nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong hininga. What am I going to do? I kept on imagining 'romantic' things when I heard his confession. Gosh, I'm such a weirdo.

But honestly, I was thinking of avoiding him kapag nagkita kami mamaya. Kasi what if he notices that I barely slept last night? Ayoko. Nakakahiya naman 'yon!

Conscious akong nag-salamin sa screen ng phone ko para makita kung ano ng lagay ng mukha ko. My eye bags were so obvious. This is annoying. Dumukmo ako sa lamesa, nag-iisip.

I blew an air against my cheeks.

I know to myself that I also have this 'kind' of feeling for Joaquin that I couldn't name. No. I don't want to name it. Hindi ako sigurado. Hindi ko alam. I am so confused.

"Oh my gosh, Syrbia!" I heard Maureen's jolly voice so I immediately looked at my back. She went to me and gave me a hug. "I didn't know that you're already here. I missed you a lot." She smiled widely.

"You're acting like we didn't see each other for years." I flicked her forehead a bit. "But I missed you, too." I laughed.

Hinatak niya ang upuan sa tapat ko. Magsasalita na sana ulit sa Mau pero dumating ang dalawa niyang kuya.

"Parang mga tanga. Taon-taon naman nagkikita," Si Yhren, nangaasar.

Napailing si Kuya Clee habang bahagyang natatawa. "Balita ko may kasama ka, ah." Mapanukso niya akong tinignan.

What? Is he pertaining to Joaquin? Sino naman nagsabi? I frowned. I'm sure they would mock me. I scratched my nose a little, acting innocent about what he said.

Pinindot ni Yhren ang pisngi ko. "Uy, si Syrbia dalaga na."

I merely clicked my tongue. They really love making fun of me! I blew an air inside my cheeks, trying to get away the few strands of hair that were slighty covering my eyes.

"You guys are so annoying and chismoso. Stop pestering Syrbia," masungit na singhal sa kanila ni Maureen. Inirapan ko lang sila bago sinundan si Mau sa labas.

Nagpunta kami sa hardin ni Nanay para ituloy ang pagkakamustahan namin. Sa lahat ng pinsan ko ay siya ang pinakamalapit sa'kin kaya talagang mahaba-habang kwentuhan ang mangyayari ngayong araw.

"How's Manila? Gusto ko sanang bumisita roon kaso hindi naman ako mapayagan nina Mama. They're treating me like a baby! Lalo na sina Kuya." She complained so I laughed. Maureen's the only girl in their family, bukod sa Mama niya siyempre. I couldn't blame them though. They're just being protective of her.

"But anyway, who's the lucky guy?" she asked.

I mentally sighed. Bakit ang bilis namang dumating ng balita sa kanila?

I barely shook my head. "A friend?" I answered with uncertainty.

"You're not sure?"

Parang gano'n na nga. I mean, we've kissed and he did confess last night. Pero hindi naman 'yon pwedeng maging basehan kung ano kami ngayon. Kinagat ko ang labi ko. At least I know we're friends.