My Lotto Experience

MLE10

10

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“What are you doing here?” he asked dangerously when he noticed me. Anak nga naman talaga ng pagkakataon! Bakit nandito na naman siya? I rolled my eyes and decided to sit on the swing beside him.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? What are you doing here?” I asked back and he just clicked his tongue on me.

“None of your business.” he said, his voice cold and I just shrugged my shoulders.

“I could say the same thing. It’s also not any of your business kung bakit ako nandito.” I told him, feeling all smug.

“You know what, you talk too much. Manahimik ka na nga lang. Tsk.” at sinimangutan pa talaga ako. I did the same thing to him.

“Ganoon ka din naman! Hindi ako magsasalita kung hindi ka nagtanong! Baliw!” I hissed.

“Pangit!” he muttered under his breath, and looked away pero narinig ko pa rin.

“Sure ka?” I countered back at napatingin ulit siya sa akin. He was first glaring at me, till his features softened and his glaring eyes...suddenly turned sad. Umiwas ulit siya ng tingin sa akin at bigla naman akong naawa sa kanya. I suddenly felt guilty for pulling his hair and strangling him earlier.

“Zan probably told you.” he said, almost in a whisper. Napa-tango na lamang ako, even if he couldn’t see me. But I guess na-sense naman niya dahil bigla siyang bumuntong-hininga. Later on, he cried.

“I miss her. So much.” he sobbed. I didn’t know what to do. First time kong makakita ng lalaking umiiyak. Hesitatingly, I slowly reached for his shoulder and stroked it gently. He didn’t seem to mind dahil patuloy pa rin siya sa tahimik niyang pag-iyak kaya nagpatuloy rin ako sa pagtapik sa balikat niya.

“I...I’m sure she misses you too.” I whispered, still stroking his back gently.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano siya katagal na umiyak, pero nang matapos siya, agad kong binawi ang kamay ko na para bang napaso ako. He harshly wiped his face and stared into space.

“Pasensya ka na. I’m not usually rude, but you really just remind me of her.” he told me nonchalantly, but I could feel that he was being sincere.

“Mahal mo talaga, ‘no?” I asked all of a sudden and he nodded. Mapait akong ngumiti and stared into space as well. Kira must be really lucky when she was still alive dahil mukhang mahal na mahal siya ng gago. And I don’t know why I unexpectedly felt envious. Bigla ko na naman kasing naalala si Daniel at ang huli naming pag-uusap sa classroom na hindi na nasundan. I was so mad na hindi ko siya nabigyan ng chance para makapagpaliwanag. He tried to explain his side. Every day, nag-aabang siya sa labas ng classroom ko at tumatawag din siya pero sadyang ako lang ang nagmamatigas. Hanggang sa nagsawa na siguro siya. But I guess he doesn’t have to explain things to me anymore. Mukhang masaya naman na siya without me.

“Tell me yours.” JM said out of the blue kaya napa-baling ako sa kanya.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“You know my story, I guess it’s only right na sabihin mo sa akin ang kwento mo. Bakit ganoon ang itsura mo noong una tayong magkita?” he asked curiously. I leaned on the chain I was holding on to and drew out a breath.

“May manliligaw ako. I saw him with a beautiful girl and...” I trailed off, not really quite sure if I should tell him everything.

“And?” he pried. I sighed. I’m really in the mood to tell him all the details.

“And that’s it. End of story.” I finished. Nang tumingin ako sa kanya, he was glaring at me. Instead of glaring back like what I usually do, I grinned at him and gave him a peace sign.

“You’re not being fair.” he muttered with his funny accent and looked away from me.

“Bakit ka nga ba nandito? Dito ka rin nakatira?” pag-iiba ko ng usapan maya-maya lang. Medyo awkward kasi ang katahimakan na pumagitna sa amin kaya binasag ko ito.

“Hm.” was his only answer and I frowned. Anong klaseng sagot ‘yon? Napaka-tino niyang kausap, grabe. Nang sa tingin ko ay hindi na siya magsasalita pa, tumingin na lang ako sa kalsada habang dahan-dahan na nagswi-swing.

“So you saw him with a girl. So what?” he suddenly asked.

“Anong ‘so what?” tanong kong pabalik sa kanya and he rolled his eyes on me. Kung hindi ko nalaman na may girlfriend siya, iisipin ko talaga na isa siya sa mga sinasabi nilang paminta.

“From the looks of it, you just assumed na pareho niya kayong nililigawan. Ni hindi mo man lang pinakinggan ang explanation niya?” Was he reprimanding me? Parang kanina lang halos magpatayan kami, ngayon naman he’s giving me an advice?

“Kalalaking tao, napaka-conyo.” I muttered.

“I heard that!” he said and I just rolled my eyes.

“Talagang ipinarinig ko sa’yo ‘yon. Gago!”

“Napaka-dumi talaga ng bunganga mo, ‘no? Kababaeng tao, mura nang mura.”

“Ano naman ngayon sa’yo? Sa gusto kong magmura, paki mo? Kairita ka!”

“So ano na nga? Hindi mo siya pinakinggan?” he asked. Sighing, I shook my head para matigil na siya.

“But did he at least try to explain his side?” he asked and I nodded.

“Ang tanga mo!” he suddenly exclaimed kaya napatingin ako sa kanya and glared at him.

“Excuse me?”

“Bakit hindi ka nakinig sa kanya?” tanong niya ulit and I rolled my eyes heavenward. Ang kulit niya!

“Kasi ayokong marinig ang excuses niya! For all I know, baka hindi niya talaga ako gusto. Pagkatapos ng limang araw na hindi siya magparamdam, makikita ko siyang may kasamang iba? Ang bullshit, dre! Maybe he finds me challenging because he knows that I never had a boyfriend and he wanted to get under my pants! Kaya I didn’t give him a chance to explain because I didn’t want to hear any lies from him! Gets mo?” sabi ko sa kanya na parang sumisigaw na. He didn’t say anything more. He just continued staring at me.

“I see.” was what he told me few minutes later before staring into space again.

“Ang tanga mo talaga.” Dagdag niya pa at napasimangot na naman ako. Mukhang hindi ko ata talaga makaka-sundo ang isang ‘to.

“At ang bastos mo. Makauwi na nga.” I stood up and walked away from him without even turning back. And I thought na magkaka-sundo na rin kami, hindi pa rin pala.

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to be continued