Home, Sweet Home (GxG)

40: Just us

"Chris,"

"Yes?"

Nakahiga kami ni Chris sa damuhan, malinis naman dito kaya wala nang pagdadalawang-isip na humiga kami rito. Nakaipit ang dalawa kong kamay sa uluhan ko, nakatingin kaming pareho sa kalangitan, pababa na ang araw at nagkukulay kahel na ang langit. Paunti na nang paunti ang mga tao sa park, at ang katulad rin naming mga nakahiga sa damuhan ay tumatayo na rin at umaalis.

"Nagkagusto ka na ba sa babae?" Bigla kong tanong. I just want to know, I still can feel a little doubt about what she feels about Mads. Paano kung totoo pala na may gusto pala talaga sya kay Mads?

What should I do? Wala naman, we'll just talk about it. Tsaka, at least alam ko, at naging totoo sya sakin.

Well, if ever lang naman. Malay mo di naman pala totoo, baka medyo naparanoid lang ako heheee.

"I did."

Nagulat ako sa sagot nya kaya napalingon ako agad sakanya. Tumingin rin sya sakin nang dahan-dahan. It feels like something is going to burst out from her mouth. Yung parang ang tagal nya nang kinimkim ang nararamdaman nyang yun.

"You did? Kanino?" Pagtatakang tanong ko. Kasi magtataka ka talaga eh.

"Hindi ka ba magagalit?" Tanong nya rin.

"Why would I? Sabihin mo sakin. Hindi mo man lang sinasabi, parang di tayo magkaibigan." Marahang tawa ko, iniisip ko na hindi kay Mads. Baka sakin. Hehehe.

"Hindi ka talaga magagalit?" Pagaalala nya pa rin.

"Hindi nga." Sagot ko naman.

"Kay Madeline."

Nahinto kaming pareho at tanging hangin lang ang nadidinig ko. Hindi ko na sya matignan-tignan. Well.. as I said earlier, at least nalaman ko. At totoo sya, kahit nakaramdam ako ng kaunting inis.

"When?" I asked, kahit alam ko na. Well, siguro dahil dun..? Dahil sa.. books, when that time came..?

"Ah.. how should I say this— alam mo ba yung time na.. lumabas tayo..? Kasama si Madeline, and we went to bookstore to buy some things for my art."

I nodded, still not looking at her.

"Uh.. yes, that time.." She continued. Halatang ninerbyos sya.

"Ano namang nagustuhan mo sakanya?" I asked, seriously.

"Ah.. because we both like books..? Vintage something, arts." She shrugged her shoulders.

I like arts too, and vintage. But that books, it's a no no. Haha. I mean, hindi ko hilig magbasa, but when I read novels, I couldn't stop. That happens SOME other times, not very often. And it's just sudden, sometimes.

"Yun lang?" I asked, again.

"Oo nga pala, so yung pagholding hands nyo ni Mads, it means something?" Tanong ko ulit.

"I.. didn't know.. na sya pala yung kahawakan ko ng kamay. I thought it's yours, may kalakihan rin kasi kamay ni Madeline." She chuckled.

"Then why would you hold my hand?" I asked, again.

"W- wala." Napansin kong medyo namula sya.

"So you like girls? I thought you're straight?"

"I- I am—"

"Well, hindi rin naman kita masisisi. I knew that thing, and you can figure yourself out, maraming time para dyan. Basta wag mo lang agawin si Mads."

"Hindi!" Sagot nya agad nang may pagaalangan sa mukha nya.

"Good."

"I— I wanted to say those to you.. pero alam kong magagalit ka, tsaka.. kinakabahan talaga ako sa tuwing may gusto akong aminin sayo..." She sat next to the tree we're lying down.