Bienvenido A Casa

Chapter Seven

Love Hurts

"Why is it like a normal thing that's happening to you?" hindi ko na mapigilang sabihin. 

He stared at me for seconds. Then he answered, "Because it is." 

"It is what? Normal? Normal to talk to people behind their backs? How sick is that?" hindi ko na talaga ma-contain ang inis na nararamdaman ko para sa mga taong 'yon 

"It is normal for someone like me, Bright. Lumaki akong ganon ang naririnig sa mga tao. I told you right? Marami akong issues.." tinuhog niya ang fork sa cup noodles naming dalawa. 

"Then you should learn how to not let them say that to you, Win. You don't let people talk behind your back just because... just because of a thing that is not even your fault!" 

Nanatiling tahimik si Win. Hindi siya tumitingin sakin. Maya maya pa narinig ko ang pagsinghot niya. "A-are you crying?" I said 

He laughed, "Loko! Sinong umiiyak? Hindi ako umiiyak no!" 

I didn't know what to do. I mean, may nasabi ba ako? May nakakaiyak ba sa nasabi ko? Shit, did I just-

"It's just that in my 21 years of existence, it's my first time hearing from someone that being the unwanted, illegitimate son is not my fault.. Kahit yung buong mundo parang pinaparamdam sakin na kasalanan kong nandito ako." he hurriedly wiped his tears. I almost panicked, I then gave him some tissues. 

"Thanks." aniya 

Why are people in this world is so cruel? Kailan pa naging kasalanan ng isang walang kamuwang muwang ang mabuhay sa mundong 'to kahit pa nabuo sila dahil sa isang pagkakamali? And how the hell did Win managed to bear all of these? 

"Pwede na 'tong noodles! Hindi na masarap pag masyadong soggy." pag-iiba niya 

Tahimik lang kaming kumain. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sakanya. You see, one moment he's sad and then one moment it's like nothing happened. This is the first time I met someone like him. 

"I don't need the pity eyes, Bright." nakangiti niyang sabi 

"What?" 

"Yung mga tingin mong 'yan. Alam ko na. Naaawa ka sakin. Don't be." 

"How sure are you that what I'm feeling is pity? It's definitely not pity, Win."

Uminom siya sa softdrinks bago sumagot, "So ano pala yang tingin mong yan?"

"I'm just wondering... this is the first time I met someone like you. Someone as strong as you. And it amazes me." I sincerely said. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti niya. Umiwas ako ng tingin atsaka nagsimulang kumain ulit. What the hell did I just say?

I heard him sigh. "Being friends with you, I guess is not a bad decision after all." 

Friend? So we're friends? Am I his friend? 

Napatigil ako sa pag kain. "Tonight, you just proved to me that you're not like them. So yes, I want you to be my first ever friend." 

I didn't know I was able to smile widely after I heard Win said those words. 

After the night we decided to be friends, we literally became the closest. There are times na tumatambay si Win sa kwarto ko kahit na nag-aaral ako habang gumagawa siya ng plates. We were almost inseperable. And that went on for weeks already.

"Balita ko, nagkakamabutihan kayo ni Win.." halos maibuga ko ang tubig sa sinabi ni Tay Berting isang biyernes ng gabi. 

"Ang ibig kong sabihin, naging mas malapit kayong magkaibigan." aniya pa. Napalunok ako. "Bakit hindi mo siya anyayahan ngayon na sumalo satin?"