Under the Dazzling Night Sky (Hearst Series #1)

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

"I really mean it," he sincerely said. Ngayon ay nakatitig na ang kaniyang mga mata sa mga mata ko.

"Mula noon pa, gusto na kita..."

I cleared my throat as he slowly step backward, making me feel at ease, at least, much better than earlier. Hindi ko malaman ang gagawin. This was... out of the blue. Hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa akin ang kaniyang sinabi. At halu-halo rin ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

Even if he already confessed his feelings, I couldn't stop myself from doubting him. Ang gulo-gulo ng isipan ko ngayon. The way he looked at Leigh, the way he smiles whenever he was with her, the way how they looked good together... but then, suddenly, he was confessing his feelings to me? Hindi kay Leigh?

Sa akin na kahit sa anong paraan tignan, hindi ko magawang makita ang dahilan kung bakit niya ako nagustuhan? Sa akin na, hindi man lang niya kayang tignan kung paano niya tignan ang babae tuwing kasama niya ito?

Malakas pa rin ang kalabog ng aking puso pero pinatili ko pa ring huwag gumawa ng kahit anong katangahan.

"B-baka... naguguluhan ka lang," saad ko at nag-iwas ng tingin dahil hindi ko ata kayang titigan ang lalaki.

"I'm sure of what I've just said, Astraea..." pagsisimula nito. "I like you for fourteen years... up until now. So how could you say that? Na naguguluhan lang ako?"

My lips parted. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin naiintindihan ang nangyayari. I looked at him and said, "You knew me as Aniezka noon, Kael. Hindi bilang ako. Hindi bilang Astraea."

"That's why you're doubting my feelings?" he asked.

I nodded. "That's why I'm doubting your feelings."

His Adam's apple moved as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "O-okay... I understand you." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "And I will always understand you."

Kaelestis Skyler Gálviez, a man that everyone knows as an unbother guy, suddenly, I saw the pain passed through from his eyes. He looked sad. He looked... hurt.

I like you, too, Kael. Gusto kong sabihin 'yon sa kan'ya. Pero ang tanong, tama bang sabihin 'yon gayong alam kong—kahit ngayong umamin na siya sa 'kin—ay may agam-agam pa rin sa 'king puso na gusto nito ang babaeng si Leigh?

I knew he was sincere. I saw that he was sincere.

Pero sa tuwing maalala ko kung paano nito tignan, kausapin, samahan, at ngitian ang babae ay mas nanaig pa rin ang duda sa puso ko. Kitang-kita ko 'yon! At sabi ko nga, inggit na inggit ako do'n. Kasi gusto kong ako 'yon. Kasi gusto kong ako ang nandoon.

"Kael..." I called him.

"Hmm?" He answered, still looking at my eyes.

"Mahal mo ba si Leigh?"

That's it. Ito ata ang tamang gawin para mawala ang pagdududa sa akin. Gusto ko lang marinig ang sagot nitong "hindi". Gusto ko lang na sabihin niyang hindi niya gusto ang babae sa paraan ng iniisip ko.

"Astraea..."

I gulped. "W-what? Nakita ko kayong dalawang magkasama palagi. Even your friends teased you with her."

Nakita ko kung paano nahirapan ang lalaki. He looks like he wanted to say something but his mouth couldn't just say it. Mukha siyang naguguluhan and that's when I knew, he was doomed.

I smiled bitterly. "I guess you do."

Kumikirot man ang puso ay nagawa ko pa ring humakbang papaalis sa harapan ng lalaki. Hindi natin kayang magmahal ng dalawang tao. At kung ngayon man ay naguguluhan siya sa kan'yang nararamdaman para sa babae ay mas mabuti pang magpaubaya.