Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

023

EUNICE

"I'm sorry if I had to leave you." Jaiden told for the nth time. I've already lost count of how many times he has said sorry.

Nasa park kami ngayon. 'Yong park kung saan ako dinala ni Jaiden noong una kaming naging nagkaibigan, and look what we've become now.

We were both sitting on his car's hood. Nakatuong muli ang aking mga kamay sa bandang likod ko dahil nakatingala ako sa nagdidilim nang kalangitan. Jaiden was then seated on my left.

"Oo na nga. Paulit-ulit ka na." I joked, laughing a bit.

"It's because I feel guilty," he whispered.

Napalingon ako sa kanya dahil sa bahagyang pag-iiba ng tono ng kanyang boses. There it was again, the pain and sadness in his voice. It almost broke me just listening to him.

"Bakit?" I asked.

He looked away. "I feel guilty for hiding from you, for leaving you," then he met my eyes. "For hurting you."

Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kanya. His eyes showed how pained he was. Maski ako ay nasasaktan na tingnan ang kanyang mga mata.

"It's not your fault," I wasn't sure of that, dahil wala naman akong alam, pero kahit ganoon ay alam kong walang kasalanan si Jaiden.

"No," aniya. "It is my fault."

I bit my lip when he said that. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero kinabahan ako sa sinabi nya.

"Ano bang nangyari?" I finally blurted out what has been on my mind ever since he told me he didn't want to be with Eleanor in the first place. Hanggang ngayon ay naguguluhan pa rin ako dahil wala syang sinasabi.

Muli nyang iniiwas ang kanyang paningin. Sa itsura nya ay para bang gulong-gulo na sya. I felt guilty as well. Pakiramdam ko, I'm the cause of everything he was going through.

"Jaiden," I called and held his arm at the same time. Sa paghawak kong 'yon sa kanya ay napatingin sya sa'kin. "Sabihin mo na sa'kin, please. Hindi kita maiintindihan kung hindi ka magsasabi."

He gave a small smile, though I knew that it was fake. I hated seeing that stupid, forced smile on his lips.

"I know." he said. "It's just... hard."

"Then make it easy for you. For the both of us," usal ko. "Tell me. Please."

Nagtagpo ang paningin namin. He stared at me for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking away.

"The night Ace and you talked back at the resort, Eleanor talked to me as well. Kinausap nya ako para..." he trailed off, na para bang may nakabara sa lalamunan nya at hindi nya iyon masabi.

"Para?" I urged.

He inhaled and exhaled, then he looked into my eyes. "Para makipag-hiwalay sa'yo."

Natahimik ako sa sinabi nya. I didn't know how to react.

"And of course, I didn't agree. So she showed me the video and blackmailed me. Said she'd show it to everyone if I don't break up with you." he continued.

I felt a lump in my throat. Napalunok lamang ako, nanginginig ang mga labi. "Then why didn't you break up with me by then?"

"She gave me until the end of your reunion," muling sagot nya at lumingon sa'kin. "I didn't want to break up with you. For once, I wanted to be selfish. I wanted you to stay with me," his voice cracked. "Kasi mahal kita."