Not So Typical High School Love Story [On-Going]

Chapter 9

Aiden's POV

I STOOD outside Ryder's home, waiting, hoping, that he sees my message and comes out. Hindi ako mapakali, I can feel my hands and how cold they were. Ramdam ko rin ang sarili kong paghinga kaya ng rinig ko ang sariling tibok ng aking puso.

Second by second, I patiently waited hanggang sa bumukas ang pintuan... binati ako ng mukha ni Ryder. I could see the emotions painted in his eyes, mixed emotions, vaguely spits from his eyes.

Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa gate para buksan ito. When he opened it, kaagad niya akong tinanong, "What are you doing here?"

"I like you," I told him. "Gusto kita, Ryder, and I'm here to tell you that you're the one that I want."

Yes, it's true. I could still remember how happy he was while he was listening to the music I was playing. I could remember how we both got locked in the room, which made me so glad... because I got more time, and a chance to be with him.

My mind can still recall how our lips crashed onto one another like a supernova. I can still recall how we danced the night away. Tandang-tanda ko kung paanong kaming dalawa lang ang tao sa gabing iyon, na tila ba ang mundo ay kaming dalawa ang nagmamay-ari. Na sa gabing iyon ay walang kahit sino man ang makakapigil sa aming gawin ang gusto namin.

Ang kalayaan at kalma na kay Ryder ko lang nadama. Ang katahimikan ng mundo, na tila walang ingay sa paligid. Ang kapayapaan na nakita ko sa kislap ng kaniyang maamong mga mata. At ang tahanan, na tangi ko lamang nalasap sa kaniyang yakap at halik.

"Please let me explain." Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kamay.

Parang binasag ang puso ko nang hilahin ni Ryder ang kaniyang kamay. "I already know the truth," he said.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "S-sinabi ba sa iyo ni Rex?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

Tumango ito.

"I'm sorry, baby..." Napayuko ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong ihaharap ko sa kaniya. "I'm a coward, dapat nagsalita ako. I should've cut the tie bago pa lumala. Kung sana nag-isip ako edi sana wala tayo ngayon dito, I know I'm at fault, and I'm always going to apologize for that."

Napalunok ako, pilit kong iwasan na maiyak. I don't want to look like a kid in front of Ryder. Ayaw kong makikita ako nitong naiyak na parang bata.

"I'm sorry, Ryder... please, I don't want to lose you, I'm scared that I already lost the chance to be with you. I will do anything just to have you back." I then took his hand again and held it tightly.

Hindi kita bibitawan... hindi kita susukuan...

"Earlier, I was so scared because, you weren't reading any of my messages, hindi mo rin ako nirereplyan, I understand why you don't kaya ako pumunta rito so I could tell you all of this," dagdag ko.

Ryder remained silent. He was still, and I kept looking at the ground, because I don't know how am I going to look at him. I feel like... I betrayed him, and even though I know that I do not deserve an apology, I still stood right in front of him because, I am hoping that even for a percentage, I can make up for the mess I have caused.

Slowly, I gathered all the courage I could pull para tumingin sa kaniya. Nang maiangat ko ang ulo ko, I was shocked to see Ryder... he's tearing up.

He held my head and suddenly, hugged me tightly. He wrapped my arms around me, mayakap niya akong mahigpit. I could feel his arms hugging me tighter and tighter.

"H-how could you hug me?" tanong ko sa kaniyang mangiyak-ngiyak pa. "I hurt you, why are you hugging me like this? I don't deserve your treatment like this, baby."

"Then be better for me, Baby..." Ryder whispered  while he was still hugging me.

"I already know the truth, and I understand what happened, it did hurt me, so I hope it wouldn't be too much to ask if I tell you to... please... be careful with my heart next time..."

Gently, I gave back his hug, niyakap ko rin ito pabalik. "I'm sorry."

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the comfort of his hug. Kahit papaano, gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

"Shhh... I don't want you apologizing more than once. I want you to say sorry once, and change for the better every day, Aiden," he whispered to my ear.

What Ryder said made sense. You could say sorry every single minute, but still choose not to change. But saying sorry once, and change for the better every single day... is probably the best apology.

Ryder was the first one who pulled back from our embrace, inayos nito ang suot ko at pinunasan ang aking mga luha. And I did the same to him, I wiped away the tears from his eyes that's caused by me, and there I realize that I will be better for him.

I will be better for this gentle soul who chose to understand me.

I was even shocked of what he said next.

"Ayos ka lang ba? You had me worried, please tell me that you've already rested." He held the hand that Rex almost crushed.

"What happened to your hand? Sinong may gawa nito? Please don't tell me Faye did this to you," Ryder said.

Mahina akong natawa. "Don't worry it's not Faye," sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Then who?" Ryder asked.

"Rex..." amin ko.

"What!" gulat naman na tugon sa akin ni Ryder. "How could she do this to you, I understand her anger, but this is too much. Ayos lang ba ang kamay mo? Look at those scratches, kaunti na lang ang lalalim na..."

I combed his hair with my other hand. "Hey, it's okay. I understand why Rex did it, and again, it's okay, Baby, this is the consequences of my choices and decisions, so I have to take responsibility for this."

Ryder sighed. "Ewan ko sa'yo, Aiden. Pain is still pain, nasaktan ka, and that's valid. You shouldn't invalidate your pain just because you made a wrong decision. Aaminin ko, nasaktan din ako, and I acknowledged it. Ignoring your pain would be so unfair for you, don't ever do that."

Natahimik ako. The only thing I could respond was, "Okay po, boss."

Ryder sighed again. "Pumasok ka muna, I need to see your hand, and also magpahinga ka muna. Baka pagod ka pa, I know you went at Faye's dinner dahil nandoon si Rex..."

I didn't let him finish his words. "Then we could spend time sa k'warto mo?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"No, I apologized you, but I'm compromising na hindi ako magpapakarupok sa iyo, and I'm not going to kiss you," Ryder said as he held my hand and took me inside his home.

Napasimangot ako. "You won't kiss me in any way?" tanong ko.

"Yes, because kahit napatawad na kita, at naiintindihan kita, naiinis ako sa iyo for invalidating your feelings. You're being unfair to yourself, so you have to behave muna," Ryder explained.

"Yes po, baby," sagot ko nang makapasok sa bahay nina Ryder.

Nagulantang kaming dalawa ng pagbukas ng ilaw, binati kaming dalawa ni Ryder ng boses ng isang matanda.

"HA! ANONG BABY NARINIG KO?" An old lady reacted.

"Ryder, sino 'yang lalaking 'yan?"

Augustine M.