Always

Chapter 27

"If being with you means pain and sufferings, I ought to endure them to spend every minute by your side."

°°°

Alex (girl)

Minsan sa buhay may hindi ka talaga inaasahang darating. Sabi nga nila, aalis din sila. Will Alex be one of those who leaves? I don't know.

I hum to the tune of Hotel Ceiling nang makasalubong ko si Maxine. I nearly looked away but then strucked dumbly when she smiled at me.

??

Huh? Totoo bang ngumiti siya sa akin? Totoo bang hindi siya sumimangot o itinaas manlang ang kilay?

Itinigil ko yung tugtug sa headphones ko pero hindi ko tinanggal sa tenga ko.

"Can we talk?" tanong niya. Tumango lang ako at sinundan siya.

We sat down inside her car. She's on the driver's side and I'm on the passenger's. She keeps fidgetting with her painted nails.

She cleared her throat and started speaking. "You know, Alex. I am still pissed at you," she stated flatly.
"I know," sagot ko sa kanya na nakatingin lang sa rearview mirror.
"But I wanted to say sorry for....for those things I did," she spattered.

"I know it would be impossible for you to forgive me but I still wanted to say that. Siguro ito yung unang step na gagawin ko para makapag move on na ako," tuloy niyang sinabi.

"Alam mo Maxine, hindi naman ako ganun kahirap magpatawad eh. May kasalanan din ako and I also apologize for that. No one deserves to be hurt that way," sagot ko na nakatingin sa kanya.

When our eyes met, unshed tears were evident in them and she keeps blinking. "I know it's wierd for me to say this but it's okay to cry. It's a sign of courage not weakness," I comforted her.

"No, I don't mind actually. You're the first person to say these things to me. Yung walang tunatagong ibang motive sa akin," she sniffed.

She needs someone who can help her get through this and I am not the best person to do that but I still want to comfort her.

"Is that so? Well, I'm honored," I say earning a giggle from her. "You know Maxine, you're pretty. Even prettier than me. Men are lining up behind you for all you know. Tulad nga ng sinabi ko, I know I'm not in the right place to say these but I feel something tugging inside me that wants to comfort you," I continued.

She started crying and I hugged her, genuinly comforting her. When we pulled away, she once again cleared her throat.

"Hindi naman ako umiiyak dahil sa break up namin ni Alex, it's just that....Alex was also one of those people who wanted to be around me. Who wanted to know me because I am good, I am talented. Not because of my wealth or my appearance," she continued fidgeting.

I thought she would be embarrassed of saying that to me but no, she's not.

"You're one of them too," she looked up at me.
"What do you mean one of them?" I ask confused.

"Kuya Kevin and Alex. Sila lang ang mga taong naging totoo sa akin. And I know na maswerte lahat ng magiging at naging mga kaibigan mo. Maswerte si Alex sayo," sagot niya.

"That was, that was nice of you. Very nice. Alam mo, wala nga akong masyadong kaibigan eh," I grinned at her.

"Really? Can I be one?" she blurted and looked down at the same time. "I'm sorry," she quickly apologized.

"Bakit ka nagsosorry? Oo naman pwede kang maging kaibigan ko. I think you'll be a great friend too," I nodded.

--

Having that talk with Maxine changed everything. Alam ko nang may tao na magdedepend sa akin lalo na sa sitwasyon ni Maxine. I really need to be a good example for her.

She was something, I can tell. Kaya siguro siya nagustuhan ni Alex noon.

I was pulled from my string of thoughts when Kevin snapped his fingers infront of me.

I looked up and smiled. "Hey," I greeted.
"Ang lalim ng iniisip mo ah? Care to share those thoughts?" sabay upo sa upuan ni Camille.

She hasn't been around lately, namatay daw kasi lolo niya. She's been crying over the phone when she first saw his grandfather's body sa loob ng kabaong. I wonder if that would be the same feeling I'd be feeling when my grandma will die. Considering that she has been so distant and angry with me as far as I can remember.

Late na ako ng 5 minutes kanina but I don't mind. Kakatapos lang ng first 2 hours ng choir training namin so here's Kevin speaking to me again.

"I think that's not a good idea," I shook my head playfully.
He chuckled softly and winked at me. "Well, I'm not going to sit here not listening to nothing, not looking at no one," he wriggled his brows playfully earning a playful smack from me.

"Nag-usap kami ni Maxine kanina," sagot ko and all his playfulness were gone. His posture changed.

"No, no," I defended quickly. "She actually said sorry," I quickly supplied and his body posture returned to normal.

Huminga siya ng malalim, "Nagsorry siya? That's odd," sagot niya furrowing his brows.
"She never asks for apology. Not even to her parents," he shrugged.

"Sabi niya isa daw ako sa naging totoo sa kanya. Tulad mo at ni Alex, ako lang daw yung hindi nakipagplastikan sa kanya. Not even after her money or her looks," I stated.

"Oo, isa yun sa mga struggles niya pero out of the school's population, bat yung girlfriend pa ng ex niya?" he blurted grinning.

"Oh shut it, everyone deserves to be happy," I defended her. His face became stoic and frowned.

"Sorry may nasabi ba ako?" tanong ko na naalarma bigla.
"Wala," ngumiti siya pero halatang pilit. "May naalala lang ako," tuloy niya sa sagot niya.

"Ano?" I prodded. Probably not a good idea but I am hoping to know more about him.
"You remind me so much about her," he looked down.

Her?

"Oh," was all I can muster. Bago pa ako makapagsalita, nagpaalam na siya at umalis.

Maybe he had a rough past because of that someone who I remind me of him.

Paglabas ko ng school nandun na si Alex. I smiled at the familiarity of his face, his presence, those lips.

Bumaba siya sa motor niya at hinalikan ako sa noo. This is what I call home.

**