How to Break a Heart (To be published by LIB)

Ten

Allie

I’ve never feared any monster in my closet because my mother usually sings me to sleep ever since I was two. I was never given the chance to be afraid of the darkness because my father made sure to turn on the night light every time I’ll be going to sleep.

I’ve never experienced being scared of heights because I’ve never really been into high places. Hindi pa rin ako nakakasakay ng airplane kaya hindi ko alam kung may takot ako sa eroplano.

Marami akong mga bagay na hindi ko alam kung may takot ba ako o wala dahil hindi ko pa nasusubukan. Maybe I was that babied since I was kid. Natural lang yon para sa akin, lalo na at ako ang panganay nila–and I’m a girl. That would probably answer every ‘why’ questions.

Hindi ko pa rin nasusubukan manuod ng horror movie o kahit anong nakakatakot na palabas. Akala ko ay dahil hindi ko lang ito talaga nakahiligan, pero hindi ko lang talaga binigyan ng pagkakataon na manuod ng mga thriller o kahit ano pang suspense.Naalala ko nung unang beses na inaya ako ni Dominic manuod ng movie sa bahay nila.

“Which movie do you want to watch? Centipede, The Ring or Shutter?” ihinarap sa akin ni Dominic ang mga DVD na dala-dala niya. Napakurap-kurap ako habang tinitingnan ang mga ito.

“I don’t like horror movies.”

Napasimangot si Dominic. “You don’t?” we’ve been only dating for a month and we’re still trying to get to know each other kaya hindi ako nagtataka na hindi niya alam ang bagay na iyon.

“No. Not really.” umiling-iling pa ako.

“Takot ka ba? Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” binigyan ako ng isang nakakasilaw na ngiti ni Dom at nahawa naman ako sa pagngiti niya sa akin. I giggled and shook my head.

“No. I just never watch horror movies.”

“Not even once?”

“Nope.”

“Then we have to change that! Horror movies are classic. Better than your sappy chick flicks.” he teased at ngumisi na lang ako.

“Sorry baby, ayaw ko talaga ng horror movies.” Dominic sighed.

“Fine. Sci Fi, then?” tumango-tango ako sa kanya at ngumiti siya sa akin bago lagyan ng isang mariin na halik ang noo ko.

I never realized that I was avoiding fearing over it. Kaya hindi ko hinayaan na manood dahil ayaw kong matakot. Kaya sinanay ko ang sarili ko na laging may nakabukas na night light ay dahil ayaw kong maranasan ang dilim. It was like putting a cure on something that never happened yet. More like–a prevention.