American Boy ✔️

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One: I Know

Staying by his side and the desire to protect him would only make it worse for me. Mas lalo lang akong mahuhulog, samantalang alam ko namang walang sasalo, kahit siya.

And that's how we got into this situation.

"Alexander?"

"Kate...rina..." tawag niya sa'kin habang basang-basa siyang nakatayo sa ulan sa labas ng bahay na'min.

Ang lakas ng ulan kaninang umaga pa, umuulan pa rin kahit tapos na yung klase, mag-dadalawang oras na since natapos yung klase today. So now I'm wondering, what the fuck is he doing here? Sa ganitong oras at panahon?

"Anong ginagawa mo dito...?" tiningnan niya 'ko, nagkatinginan ulet kami sa isa't-isa.

"Gusto... lang kitang makita."

"But..." muntik na 'kong 'di makahinga sa sinagot niya but I know that I had to hold my feelings back.

"...we saw each other, earlier..."

"We just looked at each other, you didn't even smile at me..." he pause, natawa siya.

"Ilang araw mo na rin akong hindi pinapansin, Katerina. Alam mo bang yun ang pinakaunang beses na tiningnan mo 'ko sa mata for a while now?"

"What are you talking about?" alam ko kung anong sinasabi niya, but it's only been a few days! Ano bang pinagsasabi niya? He's acting as if I've been avoiding him for decades!

Pero... lahat ng galit at gulo ay nawawala sa tuwing nakikita ko yung mga mata niya. Maybe, maybe it's because I can never push him away from me so I had to pull myself away from him instead. Ever since elementary, napapansin ko na yung mga mata niya.

It was sad, distant, and cold. So not like him. And when we became close, that's when I start to hate those eyes. Hindi ko narinig ang sinagot niya sa sinabi ko dahil masyado akong nakapocus sa nakaraan at sa mga mata niya, I'm too focused, I'm too into it.

"Rina..."

"Huh?"

"I wanted to see you. I..."

Naramdaman ko ang malakas na pintig sa puso ko. Of course I can't take it if he says it, if he says that he wanted to see me.

"I just... a lot of things happened and all I could think of is to be with someone... I... I don't..."

"Alexander." natigil siya at nabalik ang tingin sa'kin.

"Use your words." huminga siya nang malalim sa sinabi ko bago niya tinapos ang sasabihin niya.

"I don't want to be alone, please."

Ako naman ang huminga nang malalim this time. Tell me, tell me. How could you even reject this guy with such eyes? I can't. Those are the most gorgeous pair of blue eyes I've ever seen, but I hate it whenever it holds so much sadness and loneliness.

I didn't hesitate at pinapasok ko siya. He's lucky that my mom is not here at this time, uuwi naman si mommy mamayang mga gabi pa.

Pinaupo ko siya sa sofa sa may living room na'min malapit sa TV, tumakbo ako papunta sa banyo para kumuha nang malaking tuwalya, I then used the towel to wrap it around him. Mukha siyang naligo sa ulan, sobrang basa yung uniporme niya to the point na kita-kita mo na yung sando niya, tumutulo yung tubig mula sa mukha niya at buhok niya.