Hook, Line & Sinker

Chapter 32

Chapter 32: "And suddenly I realized why I wasn't moving on; why I didn't want to move on. Because moving on means accepting a future without you, and maybe that's something I'm not ready for yet."

I looked heavenward and watched the rain. I extended my hand, and smiled as my hand got wet from the rain. Katatapos lang ng huling subject namin. Paalis na sana ako kaso biglang bumuhos ang ulan. 

"Hey, Tam!"

"Captain."

Tumabi siya ng tayo sa akin at tumingala sa langit. "Hindi ka na nagpapakita sa amin." I scratched my forehead, and tried to come up with a reasonable excuse. 

"M-medyo naging busy kase. Pero babawi na lang ako, Captain."

The truth is; I don't attend our practice in order to avoid Shin completely. I've been doing so for almost two weeks. And so far, I've been doing well. The first week was the hardest though, There were times when I wanted to see him so bad; and when it was so hard to hold myself back, I would listen to some heartbreaking songs. 

My friends thought it was weird. And that I'm a masochist for torturing myself but it works for me. 

"Yes, sure. No problem." Napataas ang mga kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Anyare sa kanya? "Uhm, Tam, the long-haired morena girl during our match.. is she your friend?"

Napaisip ako. "Hmm.. Ah! Yung sumigaw?" He nodded. "Si Aya!"

"Is she single?"

Napangisi ako. "Type mo, captain? Single pa yon! Gusto mo ilakad kita?"

He scratched the back of his head, blushing. "Pwede?"

"Pwedeng-pwede!"

I decided to play cupid, so I set a group date. Nagmadali na akong bumaba ng mag-message sa akin si David para sabihin na nasa labas na sila ni Ally. Sa kanila ako sasabay. 

"Where are you going, Tamara?"

"Pops! Nakauwi ka na pala. May lakad lang po kami ng mga kaibigan ko."

"Oh. Paano yan? Your Tito Fred and Mama She invited us for dinner kaya nagmadali akong umuwi. Ine-expect ka pa man din ni Shelley."

"Sorry, Pops. Hindi ako makakasama. Nasa labas na po sina Ally at kuya David."

I felt guilty. However, I don't trust myself to be around Shin just yet. Kaya ilang beses na rin akong nagdadahilan para hindi makasama sa regular dinner with the Illustre family. 

Pops looked at me intently, then he sighed and nodded. "I understand, nak. Sige. Ingat kayo and have fun."

It felt like he meant something else when he said he understood, but I just shrugged it off and went out.

After eating in a restuarant, we went to a bar which was well-known among college students like us. I grinned as I looked at Aya and Duke. I was able to make her ride with the latter going to this bar; and it seems to have resulted positively seeing that they're sitting next to each other and talking. 

"You seem so pleased with what you did."

Ngumisi ako kay Ally. "Ang galing kong mag-match make no? Pwede ko ng palitan si Cupid."

She just smiled and reached for her beer. "So, how about you and Kenshin? Wala na ba talaga?"

I took a gulp from my beer. Napangiwi ako sa lasa. "Ang pangit ng lasa no?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Tipid akong napangiti. "Honestly? I can feel that I'm slowly moving on."