Loving Heart

KABANATA 18

Kabanata 18

Gift

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"Hello?" Sagot ko sa tawag ni Anton.

"Hi..." tahimik ang background nya.

"Mmm. What's up?"

Mahangin rito sa labas. Hindi na ako pumunta sa likod ng bahay. Medyo madilim kasi roon at walang maupuan. Dito may duyan na pwedeng upuan at may liwanag pa. Umupo ako sa duyan at bahagyang ginalaw yon.

"Happy new year! You receive gifts again?" Sa kabilang linya.

"Happy new year din. Oo, meron ulit. Ganon pa rin... uh... books... clothes... shoes... pabango... ikaw?"

"Mmm. Just the usual again. Clothes and watches..."

Tumango ako. "Bakit ang tahimik dyan? Mag isa ka?"

"I'm in our house and my cousins ​​are downstairs but I'm just here in my room."

"Oh? Why? You should hang out with them."

"Kanina pa kami roon. I want to rest now..."

"Oh. Then... I will hang up now so you could sleep?"

"I want to talk to you for a moment..."

Hindi ako agad nakapag salita roon. Napakurap kurap ako.

"Uh... okay..." sabi ko.

"You're not with your cousins?" Tanong ni Anton.

"Uh, hindi, eh. They are abroad. May kanya kanya nang pamilya at minsan nalang umuwi. Kami kami lang ni Elise at ng mga tita ko."

"Mmm. Did you watch fireworks?"

"Yup. Ang daming nagpaputok rito kanina. Ikaw? Nanood rin kayo dyan?"

"Mmm, yeah. Marami rin dito. Did you enjoyed?"

"Syempre naman. Masaya. Nag video call din kami ni Jaz kanina. Nandoon sila sa Paris. Nanonood rin sya ng fireworks."

Napa kwento pa ako.

"You saw Kyle, then?" He asked a bit cold.

"What?" Bahagya akong natawa. "Nope. Sabi ni Jaz kasama daw yung nakuhang girlfriend roon. Malayo sa kanila at ayaw mahiwalay sa girlfriend kaya hindi ko na nakausap."

He didn't speak. We were silent for a moment. Bahagya ko ulit dinuyan ang duyan at pinakinggan ang paghinga nya sa kabilang linya. I don't know why I feel so peaceful even though we are so quiet.

"You should sleep now. You must be tired," sabi ko.

Anton didn't speak. I looked at my cellphone and saw that he was still there. I put the phone back to my ear.

"Anton?" I called.

Narinig ko ang paghinga nya. I waited for him to speak but he didn't speak. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko.

"You should sleep now, Anton, if you're already tired. You don't have to talk to me anymore."

"If someone tells you that he likes you, whether he's your friend or acquaintance, will you avoid him?"

Natigilan ako roon. My lips parted to speak but no words came out of my mouth. My heart suddenly throbbed for some reason.

"Will you?" Ulit ni Anton, sobrang rahan ng boses pero maririnig ang pagkaseryoso.

"U-Uh..." kumurap kurap ako at lumunok. "Bakit mo naman tinatanong yan? Para saan?"

"I just want to know. Will you avoid him?"