We Said Never (City Series #3)

End

"Theo, please.." hinabol ko si Theo pagkalabas niya ng sasakyan ko.

She kept shaking her head, which made me question what I did for her to be so angry.

"Babe, pag-usapan naman natin." Namaos na ang boses ko dahil sa pagpipigil ko ng iyak. "Theo."

"Ezra, tama na nga, eh." She wiped off her tears. "Ano bang hindi mo maintindihan sa ayoko na? Ayoko na sa'yo. Tama na."

Kung ayaw niya na, bakit siya umiiyak? Bakit pakiramdam ko, gusto niya pa rin?

Umiling ako at lumuhod. That was the first time I've knelt in front of her. In front of anyone, for that matter. But I didn't care.

Habang buhay 'to, sabi niya. Kami hanggang dulo, sabi niya.

"Di ako bibitaw." Umiling ako. "Sorry. Sorry kung may nagawa man ako.. I'm sorry!"

"Pinapahirapan mo lang ako. At ang sarili mo. Just stop." She sounded desperate. "Please, Ezra. Just stop."

And so.. she left. I had a feeling that she still loved me, though. We were each other's firsts. With everything. I spent our relationship thinking, ah, eto na. Ito yung papakasalan ko.

Kaya hindi ako sumuko. I went to great lengths just to win her back, but she didn't budge. The only thing that seemed to bother her was when I was with another girl.

But of course I couldn't do that. To the other girl, I mean. Use her to make my ex jealous, without her knowledge? Hindi naman ako gago.

That's why I asked permission.

Finding out that Selena was not into commitment felt like a big, huge sign. It was perfect. I could give her whatever she wanted, and she could help me win my ex back. Nobody's taking advantage of anybody, since we both would benefit out of it.

It was the perfect deal. No one would get attached, no one would fall in love. And no one would get hurt.

That's what I thought.

Pero nung nakilala ko siya?

It was like a breath of fresh air. I didn't even know that she was my type. Hindi ko napansin na kapag kausap ko na pala siya, biglang umo-okay ang araw ko. Napapangiti na lang ako.

And I didn't want to compare my past with her but.. Theo leaving me was something I ended up being thankful for.

"Who is she?" tanong ni Theo habang inaayos ko ang bag ko.

"What?" I laughed.

"Stop laughing, Ezra. It's not funny." Humalukipkip siya. Her eyes were raging with anger.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit galit na galit si Theo. She was the one who left me. Not the other way around. I'd understand kung ako yung umalis, tapos pinagpalit ko siya sa iba. Mas maiintindihan ko pa yung galit niya kung gano'n. Pero hindi naman gano'n ang nangyari.

"Apollo, stop laughing!" Theo raised her voice.

Kami kami nalang ang naiwan dito sa classroom. We were about to leave when Theo barged in.

"Sorry." Tumikhim si Apollo.

"Ano ba, Ezra? Hindi mo ba ako sasagutin?"

Oh.. no. Alam ko yung boses niyang 'yon. That's her voice when she's so angry, she's about to cry.

Fuck, I hate seeing her cry.

Pero.. si Selena. Nag-aantay sa building nila. Kailangan ko nang umalis.

"She's my girlfriend, Theo."

Napaawang ang labi ni Theo sa akin. "What?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya gulat sa sagot ko. It's natural for me to go out and date. She left me.