Disturbing The Calm Water

Chapter 35

Date

A sad song played when Vini started his car. Iyon siguro ang huli niyang pinakingan kanina kaya nagpatuloy iyon ngayon pagbukas niya ulit ng sasakyan.

"Heartbroken ka?" Hindi ko napigilang pagbiro, natatawa pa.

"Yes, just in case you forgot, you broke it."

Napakamot ako sa ulo at tumingin nalang sa labas. Nagbibiro lang eh.

"You can change the song if you don't like it." He simply said.

I heard him sighing a lot more times kaya hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Silence enveloped us once again, iyong kanta lang ang maingay sa loob ng sasakyan niya.

Dapat siguro nilakad ko nalang papunta sa mall. The traffic was so bad kahit na weekend naman. Looking outside at the car lights lighting up the night sky, samahan pa ng sad song parang gusto ko nalang din mag-emote.

Vini cleared his throat and lowered the volume of the music. "So, are you loving yourself well?"

Wala na rin siguro siyang magawa kaya kinausap na ako.

I shrugged. "I think so."

Of course, I still feel sad when I think about it, about what happened to Bree but it's a good thing that I don't feel the guilt and the burden anymore.

I have tried to repay each of them in my own way kaya I finally let that chapter go. Aside from that, I already started a new chapter - my café and it's keeping my everyday occupied kaya wala na akong oras para maisip pa ang negative things from the past.

Slowly, I'm forgiving myself too and I listen to what my body tells me. I rest at my office when I get too tired at the kitchen. I go home early to do a mini self-care routine when I have a stressful day at the café. I reward myself by shopping when I feel like I did a really good job.

Just simply by that... I feel so much better about myself.

"That's good to hear then." Vini said.

I told him to just drop me off pero hinanap niya pa talaga ang sasakyan ko at nagpark sa tabi nun.

"Let's have dinner." Pag-aya niya.

I looked at him confused at nag-iisip pa sa isasagot. How will I reject him nicely?

He didn't wait for me to answer, though. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila ako palayo.

"Hoy!" I protested.

"Ngayon lang, sige na pagbigyan mo na ako. Ngayon lang."

Sige na, ngayon lang. Napapikit ako ng mariin, giving in to his request. He wouldn't even let go of my hand, hindi naman ako tatakbo paalis!

Tahimik akong naglalakad sa tabi niya. We look like a couple having a dinner date after work!

I'm so annoyed at myself for still feeling attracted to him. Nakakainis, pinamigay mo pero hinahanap mo, Yani!

Maybe I should look for a new crush too para hindi ganito ang nararamdaman ko para sa kanya?

My heart stung again dahil nag-iisip nanaman ako kung paano ko siya makakalimutan while he's right in front of me. I wonder how he feels toward me? Did it change?

"Stop thinking about other things. Let's just eat!" He said at nilagyan pa ng pagkain ang plato ko.

"Wala ka bang ibang makasabay sa pagkain?" I carefully asked, not suggesting any name... like Liya.

"Wala." He simply answered. "Ano ang binili mong regalo? At anong oras ka pupunta bukas sa party?" Pag-iiba niya ng topic.

"Ewan ko, kung anong oras ko matatapos iyong cake."