Chased by the One I Stopped Chasing

Heaven on Earth

Fray's POV

I entered Astrid's room with a smile on my face. But as soon as I remembered how I failed to appreciate this years ago my smile faded.

Astrid is a beautiful girl, inside and out, but I was never into the looks. That's why when she confessed to me, nothing changed. I still didn't see her in a different light.

I also tried to stop her from befriending me, but she was persistent. She wanted to know me well and even said that she might stop liking me if she sees my real personality. Kaya pumayag ako.

Kahit kailan, hindi pumasok sa isipan kong tanggapin siya bilang kaibigan. Pinabayaan ko lang siyang umaligid. Malinaw ko namang sinasabi sa mga nililigawan ko noon na kakilala ko lang si Astrid, kaya hindi kami nagkakaproblema.

I never noticed that she was getting into my heart, I've become dependent on her on so many things. I liked dragging her with me when I'm bored or sad or feeling weird and she never complained. Not even once. I didn't know that I find comfort in her eyes, in her touch, in her smile or in her presence until she gave me up.

Maybe I have fallen for her before I even realized it. Maybe the feeling was there already, but I was too blind to see. So I have nobody else to blame for the pain, but me.

I guess, it's true. We don't value the people who love us until they get tired and give us up.

Almost everything in Astrid's room was coloured white. She's obsessed with cleanliness. Kung sa bagay, kahit siya ay parating malinis tignan. Parang magandang anghel na naligaw sa lupa.

I wonder if having this tattoo turned her off. Baka isipin niya, dumi lang sa balat.

Nang mahiga ako sa kama ay agad akong inatake ng pamilyar na amoy ni Astrid. She always smells like pink daisies and Sicilian lemon. Yakap-yakap ang malambot na unan niya ay agad akong nakatulog nang mahimbing.

Astrid woke me up to prepare for my afternoon classes. While I took a bath, she cooked our lunch.

I can't help but smirk when I realized we look like husband and wife.

Damn, Fray! Nababaliw ka na talaga? Kailan mo pa naisip ang pag-aasawa. I thought it's always taste, play and drop? What happened to your motto?

Sa sasakyan papuntang school ay sising-sisi ako kung bakit ang tagal kong nagising kanina. Kung nagising lang ako nang mas maaga ay mas mahaba ang oras ko kasama si Astrid. Sa hapag kasi ay hindi niya gustong mag-usap kami. She's killing all the topic I tried to ignite. She told me that the blessing on the table must be valued.

I am not sure if she really thinks highly of the food that she wanted us to maintain peace or she just really didn't want to talk to me.

Pagkatapos ng klase ay dumeretso ako sa apartment niya at naabutan ko siya sa hagdan, paakyat na sana. Nang makita niya ako ay pagod siyang ngumiti.

Natigilan ako ilang sandali dahil hindi ako makapaniwalang ibinibigay niya muli sa akin ang matamis niyang ngiti.

"I'm tired of my homework. I'll sleep."

Iyon nga ang ginawa niya, kaya kahit na hindi kami magkausap ay masaya pa rin ako. Malaya ko siyang napapanood matulog. If you're thinking I'm watching her like a creep, I'm not. Alam niyang nandito ako sa kama niya kanina. Mukhang dahil sa pagod ay hindi na niya nakayanan pang umalma at pinabayaan na lang ako sa gusto kong gawin.

Nagulat ako nang lumipas ang ilang minuto ay hinila niya ang damit ko, marahil ay napagkamalan niyang unan. Mabilis kong inilapit ang aking sarili, pero bigla naman siyang tumalikod.