Obsessive Love Disorder 1

Chapter 4

Wala na si Clai dito dahil sinundo na siya ng ate niya. Umupo ako sa kama ko dahil wala naman akong ibang magawa. Sabado ngayon—pinakatahimik na araw.

Bigla namang tumunog ang cellphone ko, halos mang-agaw ng kaluluwa. Kinuha ko ito at binasa ang text ni Nathan.

Nathan: Free ka ba ngayon?
Ako: Oo, bakit?
Nathan: Punta tayo sa mall. Libre ko.
Ako: Bakit hindi na lang girlfriend mo ang imbitahin mo?
Nathan: Busy kasi siya.
Ako: Okay fine, saan tayo magkikita?
Nathan: Nandito na ako sa labas ng bahay mo.

Napakurap ako sa huling message. Binagsak ko ang phone, literal, tapos bumaba ako ng kwarto parang may sunog. Pagbukas ko ng pinto, bumungad sa'kin si Nathan.

"Hi," bati niya.

"Pasok ka muna, mag-aayos lang ako." Tumango siya agad, parang sanay na sa pagiging biglaan ko. Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos, diretso kami sa mall.

_____

Nasa mall na kami ngayon. I swear, this place feels like home. Ang daming tao, ang daming ingay—pero nakakagaan ng loob.

"Mas masaya sana kung nandito si Clai at Illy," sabi ko habang nililibot ang mga mata ko.

"Oo nga," malungkot niyang sagot.

I turned to look at him. May kakaiba.

"Ayos ka lang?" tanong ko.

Umupo siya sa bench, dalawang kamay nasa noo niya habang nakayuko. I bought some ice cream before approaching him—but even at first glance, it was obvious that something was bothering him.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya at marahang hinaplos ang likod niya.

"Illy hardly has any time for me these days," bulong niya. "Minsan nagseselos na ako sa kapatid niya. Lahat ng oras napupunta na ro'n. Eh paano naman ako? Kailangan ko rin siya, Cess."

Oh. Kaya pala ako ang niyaya. Relationship problems na naman. Minsan talaga, hindi ko sure kung tulay ba ako or tao. Shunga moments.

"Tan, intindihin mo si Linlin. May reasons naman siya. At least mahal ka niya, diba?"

Tumingin siya sa'kin. May sakit sa mata niya—hindi physical, kundi 'yung tipong pagod na emotionally.

"But what about me? Even just for one day... I wish she'd give me some time. I want to spend time with her too. To hold her hand, to hug her."

Naiwas ako bigla ng tingin. Awkward much?

"Nathan—"

Ngunit tumayo siya at naglakad palayo. Napatingin ako sa ice cream na hawak ko.

"Sinong magbabayad nito?" bulong ko sa sarili ko. Wala akong pera, besh. Hinabol ko siya agad. "Tim!" tawag ko. Hindi siya lumingon. "Hoy! Bayaran mo muna 'tong ice cream!" sigaw ko. Ayun—napahinto siya.

I walked over. He looked at me, then suddenly smiled and let out a quiet laugh.

"You're funny, Bunny."

Bunny? Who's that supposed to be?

"Bunny?" I asked, furrowing my brows.

"Whenever I see you, you look like a rabbit," he replied with a smile.

"Tsk." He handed me the money.

I immediately paid the man so I wouldn't get arrested.

"Are we going home?" I asked.

He nodded. I stopped walking, so he stopped too.

"Boring," I said, giving him a dead-eyed look.

"What?"

"Timmy, Ria isn't your happy pill for everything. You should find something else that can make you happy too."

He looked around, as if he'd only just thought about it.

"I don't know what else could make me happy."

So dramatic. But fine.

"I'll take care of it!" I pulled him along.

"Aviana! Where are we going?" he asked in surprise.

"Just trust me."

•••

"An arcade?" he asked.

"Yep."

I raised my chin, my eyebrow lifted as I stared at the entrance of the arcade. I suddenly missed Japan and my weekly gaming sessions here with my friends.

"You know how to play video games, right?" I asked.

He shook his head.

I frowned. "Seriously?! Were you born on Mars? I didn't know there were still people who didn't know how to play video games."

He laughed, and I found myself staring at him. It was the first time I'd seen him look that relaxed.

"Hayst, you're going to drive me crazy," I muttered.

I pulled him inside and taught him how to play. After a few minutes—surprisingly, he adapted really quickly.

•••

Game Over!

Napatingin ako sa screen. Hindi ako makapaniwala.

"Yes! Panalo ako!" proud niyang sigaw.

"Hindi ko lang 'to sineryoso kasi beginner ka pa. Next game seryoso na ako," sagot ko, naka-kunot-noo.

Tawa lang siya nang tawa.

•••

Game Over... AGAIN.

"WAH! Ayoko na!" sigaw ko.

Tumawa siya nang malakas, as in nakakairita level.

"Sigurado ka ba na hindi ka gamer? Parang niloloko mo lang ako," inis kong sabi.

"Calm down, Avia. Tanggapin mo na natalo ka," sabi niya sabay tawa ulit.

Grabe. Feeling ko magkakaroon ako ng wrinkles sa stress. Pero nang mapansin kong genuinely masaya na siya.

"At least masaya ka na ulit," sabi ko.

Napatigil siya. Tumingin sa'kin. Ngumiti.

"Thanks, Aviana."

"Wala 'yun," sagot ko.

"Next time, laro ulit tayo."

Nanlaki mata ko. What next time?! Ginulo niya pa buhok ko bago lumakad palabas ng arcade.

Ayoko na. Walang next time!