Ablaze |Season 1|

Chapter 26

FERISH

"DO YOU like her?"

Agad akong napalingon sa nagtanong at napataas ang mga kilay nang makitang seryoso si Summer sa tinanong niya. She shrugged off her shoulders like it was nothing, but, I can see the desire in her dark brown eyes to know my answer.

"Sino?" Balik tanong ko sa kan'ya kaya napahinga siya nang malalim habang nakatayo sa harapan ko.

"Alam mo kung sino ang tinutukoy ko." Humalukipkip pa siya at pabagsak na naupo sa tabi ko. Malaki naman ang sofa kaya ayos lang.

I'm here at the McKinley's mansion. Wala naman sila Tita at Tito kaya bumisita na lang ako kay Summer para maki-chika muna sa kan'ya dahil hindi niya na ako pinansin matapos niya akong halikan. Heto na naman siya at nagsusungit sa akin, wala naman akong ginagawa.

She's talking about Octavia.

"Alam mo rin ang sagot ko d'yan, Summer." I tilted my head to the side and crossed my arms. "Hindi ko siya gusto." Pagdidiin ko pa sa huling salita at bahagyang napangisi nang maalala siya.

I don't like Octavia, romantically. Alam naman ni Summer ang sagot ko, pero nagtatanong pa rin. Hindi naman magbabago ang isip ko tungkol doon. Mabuti nga at hindi ako na-report na shoplifter doon sa mall nung magkasama kami. Legit pala 'yung promo nila.

Kita ko ang mabilis na pagtamlay ng itsura ni Summer at unti-unting nawala ang kislap sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa kung saan. Seryoso siya, pero walang buhay ang mga mata niya, tulad na lang nung nakaraan.

Summer also knows that I'm not attracted to anyone, or if there's anyone who already caught my interest. No one did. Updated siya sa ganyan, eh.

"Bakit mo natanong?" I asked, curious. Inayos ko ang salamin na suot ko at kita ko ang malalim na pagbuntong-hininga niya.

"I just want to confirm." Simpleng sagot niya at binalingan ako ng tingin. "Hindi ka pa kasi nakaka-move on kay Velasquez."

Natigilan ako nang mabanggit niya ang pamilyar na apilyedo na 'yon. I suddenly felt the stinging pain inside as the sound of that familiar name repeatedly rang on my mind in a cruel manner, slowly killing me. Para akong biglang nawalan ng gana at nanghina nang ipaalala niya kung sino siya sa buhay ko.

I haven't moved on?

"Your ex left you, Ferish. It's been years."

She left me... she didn't mean to. It's been years yet the pain that she left is still here, deeply etched into my soul. The agonizing feeling of losing her is still here that even I don't know how to ease.

I've lost a lot of people in my life, but, she's the only person who scarred me deeply, that 'til now, the wounds won't heal even if I want to. I just... can't. I can't bring myself to heal from the only love I had.

"'Wag mo na ulit banggitin 'yon, Sum." I looked at her straight in the eyes and smiled a bit. "Just don't."

Summer is talking about the only girl I've ever loved who left me, even if she don't want to. We both know her reason. She just can't stay with me and now, we're in this situation. How can I move on from the girl whom I loved so much, that the world and people can hate me for loving her?

I do not mind being hated. I do not mind hearing their violent and harsh remarks, as long as I can love her. But, they took her away from me. Kasalanan nila 'yon.

"Okay na ba pakiramdam mo?" Tanong ko kay Sum nang matahimik siya sa gilid ko.

"Oo, okay na." Bahagya siyang ngumiti at namula. "I didn't mean to avoid you for the past days."