Almost, But Not Quite (COMPLETED)

Chapter 31

#ABNQ31 Chapter 31

Tumingin ako sa kanya. Mas lalo lang lumakas ang iyak ko dahil sa sinabi niya. He began to panic when my cries got louder. Halos hindi ako maka-hinga dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak ko.

"S-sorry," I said in between my sobs. I just couldn't control the tears that kept on flowing from my eyes. My heart was hurting so bad. My chest was tightening from the pain.

I was trying to get a clearer look of him, but my eyes were swimming in my tears that I couldn't clearly see his face. Ang alam ko lang, tinaas niya iyong damit niya.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?"

Napakamot siya sa batok. "Wala akong dalang panyo. Punas mo na lang 'tong t-shirt ko," sabi niya sabay lapit sa akin nung damit niya.

I laughed at the absurdity of his suggestion. Patuloy pa rin sa pagtulo iyong luha ko, pero nagawa kong matawa sa sinabi niya.

"Sorry, di ko naman alam na umiiyak ka," he said, still looking problematic. Tumayo siya bigla.

I looked up. "Iiwan mo ako?" I asked, sounding like a little kid. Bahagyang napaawang iyong labi niya dahil sa tanong ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko tinanong sa kanya 'yun, pero ayoko lang maiwan ngayon. I didn't want to be alone because that would mean that I would be alone with my thoughts of him... with her.

God, just by thinking of them together, my heart constricts in pain.

My eyes were most from all the crying that I did. I could see Marcus crouching in front of me, but I really couldn't see his face clearly. Kinusot ko iyong mga mata ko para mas makita ko siya.

And there he was.

He was far cry from the guy I imagined him to be. I was imagining him to be wearing glasses, not sporting a stud in his ear. Pero ibang-iba siya sa nakikita ko ngayon. His skin was tanned and his jaw prominent. But his eyes were gentle and his lips were red.

And he was looking at me like I was the only one he could see.

"Kukuha lang akong tissue kasi umiiyak ka," he said with a gentle voice na parang bata iyong kausap niya. Hindi ko alam pero may isang luha na kumawala sa mga mata ko dahil sa tono ng pagsasalita niya.

"O-okay lang ako," I said in between sobs. Sinubukan kong tumayo, pero hindi ko magawa dahil naka-heels ako.

"Tutulungan kita, okay lang?" he asked. I looked at him. "Kasi baka ayaw mong hawakan ka," he explained, while still keeping a small distance between us. It was like he was near, but he was still far. He didn't want to touch me without my consent.

I nodded, then reached for his hand. Gently, he pulled me up with him. Napa-tingala ako sa kanya kahit na naka-heels na ako.

"Thank you," sabi ko. Pinunasan ko iyong luha ko na ayaw tumigil. Hindi ko alam pero patuloy lang siya sa pagtulo kahit na gustung-gusto ko nang tumigil. Pagod na ako, pero iyong mga mata ko ang dami pang gustong ilabas.

"Ikaw talaga si Marcus?" I asked. I really didn't know how he looked like... but based on his messages, I was expecting... I didn't know... glasses?

He was different from what I imagined him to be. From the guy who kept on sending me jokes about Chemistry and Physics.

He nodded. "Ayun lang 'yung CR. Kukuha lang akong tissue," he said, pointing at the restroom at the end of the hall.

Pinunasan ko iyong luha ko gamit iyong kamay ko. "Okay na ako."

He looked at me again, his head cocked to the side. "Totoo?"

I nodded. Pinagpagan ko iyong dress ko dahil kanina pa ako naka-salampak sa sahig. I knew I looked like a mess, but that was the least of my priorities right now.