The Scenery Calms Down

Every time I see him, my heart betrays me. I can't help but notice how his eyes light up when he laughs, kahit na pinagmamasdan ko lang siya mula sa malayo. I tell myself his smiles mean more than they do.

Naiisip ko, "What if he's just afraid to let someone in?" But then again, baka ako lang talaga ang nagpapaniwala sa sarili ko. "What if I'm just fooling myself?"

Then came his words: "I never even loved you. You were just a distraction, a short moment I allowed myself to enjoy. You didn't matter to me."

Napatigil ako, di makapagsalita. Parang nanlamig ang mundo ko. Mga linyang dati nababasa ko lang sa kwento, ngayon, parte na ng buhay ko. It felt like fate was playing tricks on me, throwing me into a scene I never thought would become real. Oo, gano'n lang pala talaga siya sa lahat. He was just a gentleman-nothing else meant, nothing more. Everything was just a misunderstanding, nothing deeper than that.

This is unrequited love, after all. No one believes it's mutual except for me, who always assumes that every move he makes holds deeper feelings.