Found You

111

"I didn't remember that I chatted that!" sigaw ni Aki.

I scoffed. "Oh! Ito tingnan mo! Ano? Naalala mo na?!" binato ko sa kanya ang phone ko. I screenshot his message.

His forehead creased and lips parted. "What the fuck?! This is not me! Yes I know, I'm rude, but I'd never say those words to you! Ngayon pa na..." he didn't finish what he's saying and close his eyes tightly.

"Ano mo nga ba ako? 'Di ba wala? Wala!" nagtaas baba ang aking dibdib dahil sa galit. 

"I was waiting for hours, Aquiver! I dressed up, nag makeup ako tapos ganoon?"

Alam mo yung feeling na sobrang ni-lo-look forward mo ang mga mangyayari tapos hindi matutuloy. And the response I got from him? It triggers my anger. After he fidgeted his phone,Aki showed it to me. The screen is showing our last conversation ngunit ang huling mensahe ay iyong nakapagbihis na ako at naghihintay na lang sa kanya.

"Tss! Malay ko ba kung binura mo, 'di ba?!"

"Baby, calm down," Aquiver tried to hushed me but I shook my head.  

"I was waiting for you last night. Baby,  you've blocked me again on your social media accounts. I don't have any idea why you did it, I was really fucking worried baka may nangyari ng masama sa'yo that's why I decided to go to your condo. But then, you shut me up the moment you open the door. Listen, baby, okay? Hindi ko sasabihin 'yon... kailanman."

"Don't you have a trust in me, Arayashana?" his voice softened.

"We won't resolve this fucking issue if you keep doing that. Paano tayo magtatagal?" Aki held my hand and squeezed it.

"Anong magtatagal pinagsasabi mo? Wala ngang tayo! You said "ano ba kita"?! We're nothing, right!?"

Napabuga siya ng hangin at ipinatong ang dalawang palad sa kanyang ulo. Bago unti-unting natawa.

"Ganito ka pala magalit? You're scary at the same you're beautiful... damn!" he's going to touch my cheek, but I dodge. I glared at him.

"That won't soften me!" ngumuso ako at humalakhak siya.

Bwisit talaga 'to!

"What? Are you going to laugh?! Hindi ka talaga natatakot sa'kin, 'no? Kasi nga ano mo nga naman ako? Wala..." nanggigil kong sabi bago umirap at tinalikuran siya.

"Hey!" he called.

Nagmamadali akong lumayo sa kanya.

"Tabi nga!" I said rudely to a passerby. Napahawak ito sa dibdib tila nagulat sa asal ko.

I know that I am being irrational right now.  Aquiver explained yet I don't want to listen and understand it. Because I know, magiging marupok na naman ako and it's just that my pride won't let me. Tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa nakarating ako sa Central Station ng LRT. I didn't even feel tired because of how I was feeling. 

"Where are you going? Tara na, ihahatid na kita sa condo mo kung ayaw mo akong makausap ngayon. I'll comeback tomorrow," si Aquiver na hingal na hingal.

Nilingon ko siya at tagaktak ang pawis nito. I wonder if he gets to walk that long? For sure not. He immediately smiled when he noticed that I'm staring, that's why I walked away from him again. I didn't have to buy a ticket because I have now a Beep card. I can sense Aki's confusion while following me. Hindi muna ako nag tap ng card, inaantay siya sa susunod na gagawin.

Pumila ito at bumili ng card. Hindi ko na 'to inantay matapos at pumasok na dahil paparating na ang tren. Katamtaman ang dami ng tao, maybe because it isn't rush hour yet. I choose to stand para makaupo ang mas nangangailangan. Aquiver stood so fast beside me and hold the handle. 

I remembered the first time we met. Dito rin 'yon tapos ako pa ang nangungulit no'n pero ngayon siya na.

"Why did you follow me? Umuwi kana lang sana," mariin kong sabi habang matalim ang titig sa tanawin sa bintana.

"Tingin mo makakauwi ako kung hindi ko alam kung saan ka pupunta? We will go home if you want to."

"I was going to surprise you yesterday. We could have a romantic dinner sana, but then this happened. Can you forgive me, baby? I swear that wasn't me, Abi..." pagpapatuloy niya at umusog palapit sa'kin.

"Syempre masakit sa akin 'yon, Aki! Napaasa ako, e... tapos alam mo naman, 'di ba?" I bit my lower lip.

"What?" he trailed off.

"Basta! I don't need say it because you know it already." 

"Na?"

Ang kulit!

"Na gusto nga kita..." humina ang aking boses.

"Matagal na simula noong una tayong magkita sa LRT," dugtong ko at humigpit ang kapit.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. I avoided his gaze and licked my lower lip.

"Ah," he only said.

"Anong ah? Ahloveyou?" tanong ko.

Aki chuckled and shook his head. He brings out his airpods and placed the other one on my ear.  ILYSB stripped version is playing. We were listening to the song while watching the view outside. He slowly holds my hand. Natapos ang kanta bago siya nagsalita.

"Gusto rin kita, Arayashana."

Natigilan ako sa kanyang sinabi. My heart beats erratically again. Hindi sa galit. Is that true?! Yung matagal ko nang hinahangad na sabihin niya, narinig ko na...

"Simula noong nauna tayong magkita?" I asked jokingly despite of confusion.

"Simula noong una kitang makita," he said meaningfully and seriously.