Chasing Sanity (Chase Series #1)

Chapter 2

"Hey, Kelly... tama na 'yan. Medyo marami ka nang naiinom." Mabilis na pinigilan ni Charlie si Kelly nang akmang kukuha na naman ulit ito ng isa pang can ng beer.

Kelly paused for a moment and glanced at him with her already droopy eyes. Nagsisimula na ring mamula ang buong mukha nito. She beamed at him. But that simple beam unexpectedly turned into a chuckle. "Hindi, Charlie. Inom pa tayo!"

"Kelly, that's enough. Baka mapasobra ka tapos magkaroon ka ng malalang hangover bukas, sige ka." He really held her arms just to stop her from taking another can.

She blinked and kept her gaze on him. "Hindi. Hindi 'yan. Uminom pa tayo. Uminom lang tayo para makalimutan natin 'yong mga problema natin," she said, smirking.

He then put the half empty can of beer that he was holding on the ground and focused his attention on her. "Bakit may problema ka ba?" kalmadong tanong niya. She just chuckled. "Kelly, kung may problema ka, 'di ba, alam mo naman na pwede mo 'kong lapitan? I am more than willing to help in any way I can."

Umiwas ito ng tingin sa kaniya. She smiled, but this time, it was a bitter one. "Lahat naman tayo may problema." She sighed then glanced at him again. "Ikaw, for sure, may problema ka rin."

He timidly smiled back at her. "Wala naman."

"Sana all na lang sa 'yo."

He couldn't help but to chuckle with what she uttered. "Actually, may isang petty problem lang ako ngayon," pag-amin niya.

"Ano?"

He just blinked as he stared at her flushing but beautiful face.

"Huy! Ano?" she asked again.

"Let's not talk about it. Baka pagtawanan mo lang ako."

Tinaasan siya nito ng kilay. "Akala ko ba 'no judgement'? Hindi kita pagtatawanan, promise."

He kept silent for a moment. Napaisip siya. Paano niya sasabihin ang 'petty' problem na tinutukoy niya kanina? Paano niya sasabihin na hindi niya alam kung paano siya magtatapat ng pag-ibig sa babaeng kaharap niya? He turned his gaze away for a moment.

"So, ano 'yang petty problem mo?" muling nagtanong si Kelly sabay kumuha ulit siya ng isa pang can ng beer, binuksan 'yon at saka tinungga.

He gazed back at her not noticing she was drinking again because nervousness started to creep up from his spine. He took a deep breath and tried to beam. Sa puntong 'yon, hindi pa niya alam kung masasabi ba niya ang gusto niyang sabihin. Nangangapa nga siya.

"Ay, ayaw mag-share," she commented when she got a bit bored waiting for him to speak up.

"Fine. Ito na..." He chuckled and exhaled, trying to keep his cool. "Well, pinoproblema ko kung paano ko sasabihin sa babaeng mahal ko na mahal ko siya. I don't know how to show how much I love her and how much I care for her... kasi alam kong iniiwasan niya ako, eh."

Napakurap-kurap lamang ito habang nakatitig sa kaniya pagkatapos makinig. Unti-unti ring umawang ang mga labi nito. It felt to him that he made her speechless so his heart started to double its beat. But then, she suddenly bursted out laughing. Umiling-iling pa nga ito habang wala pa ring tigil sa pagtawa.

"Sabi ko na nga ba, eh. Pagtatawanan mo lang ako." He looked away.

Sa puntong iyon, pinigil nito ang pagtawa niya. She took a big gulp from her beer and exhaled. She focused her sight on him. "Sorry, sorry. Hindi naman kita pinagtatawanan," she apologized, took another gulp and continued, "Kaya lang... ikaw? The Atty. Charlie Montefiore, isang CEO ng isang bonggang law firm tapos habulin ng mga babae, biglang matotorpe? Parang ang hakdog naman yata no'n."