Blind Love

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

I thought looking at them at that state was the worst thing I'll encounter today but I was wrong, mas nanghina pa ako nang makitang palapit sa may pwesto ko sina Dash at Rheallyn, sa pwesto sa may tabi ko. Nakita ko ang paghawak ni Dash nang marahan sa siko ni Rhea at ipinag-angat ito ng upuan.

"Thanks, babe," ani Rheallyn na may malambing ngiti sa labi.

If this is another case, I'll probably root for them. Sa unang tingin pa lang ay bagay na bagay sila. Pareho silang nanggaling sa magandang pamilya at pantay ang estado ng mga buhay nila.

I saw Dash smiling when she sat on the chair at halos tumakbo akong palayo nang iniangat niya ang upuan sa tabi ko kung saan siya mauupo.

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at nakita kong napatingin siya sa akin. Natigil siya at nangunot ang noo sa pagtitig ko at nang matauhan ako ay kaagad akong nag-ayos ng upo at malungkot na nag-iwas ng tingin.

He sat beside me and I couldn't even breathe right! Gusto kong umalis at lumayo rito pero ayoko namang gumawa ng eksena.

"So, thank you for today..." ani Sir Ejercito.

"Thank you for accepting today's invitation for our small dinner dahil sa pagbabalik ng anak ko," ngumiti si Ma'am Lena.

Tumango ng mga tao sa harapan namin at nang bumaling ako kay Dash ay kagat-kagat niya ang mga labi.

"Dash," ani ng Dad niya. Umayos naman ng upo si Dash at pagkatapos ay tumikhim bago ngumiti.

"Uhm, I am not good with words." He smiled. "But I just want to thank you all for making time for this dinner tonight. I wanted to thank my family for being supportive. They never left my side since the tragedy happened. Thank you, Mom, Dad, and to my brothers and Thallia." Bati niya. Zeijan cheered habang nakangiti lang ang mag-asawa sa tabi ko.

"It's our pleasure, anak," ani Ma'am Lena. Dash nodded and stared at the family in front of us.

"And Tito Lucio and Tita Cindy and to your family, thank you for making it here tonight to give us a blessing." Ngumiti ito bago sumulyap kay Rheallyn na nakangiti lang habang nakamasid kay Dash.

"And most especially," his voice softened at halatang napakasaya niya. "I wanted to thank my beautiful fiancée for taking care of me..."

I can feel my heart breaking and shattering inside of me as I listened to him.

Mali talagang sumama ako rito. maling sumabay pa ako sa pagkain. I should've just stayed in the kitchen to help.

"I thought no one will love me despite of what happened to me but she..." he chuckled softly. "She loved me while I was in that state, she took care of me kahit pakiramdam ko pabigat ako."

"I told you, hindi ka pabigat..." Rheallyn stopped him. Dash smiled sweetly.

That was my line! Gusto kong isigaw at hilahin si Dash palayo rito pero hindi ko naman magawa.

That's the worst—'yong napakalapit na niya sa akin at pwede ko siyang mahawakan pero hindi ko siya makayang abutin kasi pakiramdam ko lumalayo siya sa akin.

Maybe he was learning to love her in the short period of time they're together? Siguro, siguro wala naman siyang naramdaman sa akin noon.

Maybe I was just the one who assumed he'll remember me but looking at this one now, I don't think he can. He could.

But it wasn't his fault, really. It never was. He shouldn't be the one to blame.

On his eyes, I saw passion while looking at her, like he was totally in love with her at hindi ko maiwasang mapaiyak sa harapan niya kaya nag-iwas na lang ako ng tingin at pasimpleng nagpunas ng luha nang maramdaman ko ang pag-ipon no'n sa gilid ng mga mata.