Against the Heart (Azucarera Series #1)

Kabanata 9

Kabanata 9

Move On

"Let me see..."

He spaced out to think. Tinitigan ko siya. Seryoso ba siyang hindi niya maalala kung paano niya niligawan si Keira? Ako nga na nakarami na ng boyfriend, tanda pa rin paano ako niligawan ng bawat isa!

"You don't remember it?!" I exclaimed, shocked and offended.

Kaya siya iniwan kasi ganyan! Hindi niya man lang maalala! Keira was a nice girl! She's pretty! Madalas kong makita sa campus pero mga kaibigang babae na ang kasama at hindi na ang grupo nina Kuya Levi. Kung napapahalo man sa kanila'y marami sila roon at hindi sila magkalapit ni Leandro! Hindi tulad noon na kung hindi malapit ay minsan nagho-holding hands pa! Kung hindi naman nagho-holding hands, nakikita ko namang silang dalawa magkasama. Minsan pa si Leandro ang may hawak ng mga libro ni Keira! Minsan pa nga... nakikita ko rin silang magkasama sa liblib na mga Kiosk.

"That's why she broke up with you!" giit ko.

His lips twisted and spaced out again.

"You can't even remember anything? Monthsary n'yo, baka 'di mo rin na-aalala?" I said, very concerned now.

Kumunot ang noo niya habang tinititigan ako.

"One day, we just decided to be in a relationship. That's all, Chayo."

"My goodness! Kaya ka niya iniwan!" I said, very dismayed. "You didn't court her? You didn't surprise her?"

His face darkened at that.

"Hindi lahat ng lalaki ay gaya ng mga naging boyfriend mo. At hindi rin lahat ng mga babae, gusto ang materyal na bagay-"

"That's the point! Girls don't want or need it but they secretly like it if they receive it!" agap ko.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. Dismayadong dismayado ako sa diskarte niya.

Ilang sandali ay naningkit ang mga mata ko. One day, they just decided to be in a relationship? Are you kidding me?

Hi, Ralph! Tayo na? Okay lang? I cannot imagine!

Or is it like this? Leandro, I like you. Do you like me, too?

Yes. I'm your boyfriend now.

Something about the latter left a bad taste in my mouth. But that's more believable since I've seen girls confess to him. Bukod sa chismis, nakita ko first hand paano niya tinanggihan ang isa. Hindi pa natin isasali si Aria, ang pinsan ni Nan. At s'yempre ang iilan pang mga naririnig kong nagtapat sa kanya.

"Will this mean you also don't give her gifts while you were together?"

Suplado niya akong binalingan. "Is that important in a relationship, Chayo?"

Nagsapo ako ng noo. I got a feeling that I'm right with my thoughts. And he just doesn't get it. Hindi ko pa natatanong ang lahat ng tanong ko, parang alam ko na ang nangyari.

But then, if say Leandro is right and it doesn't really work like that for boys and girls his age, then there could be a direct reason.

"Based on my deductions, maybe you courted her subtly while you were friends. Then eventually you both decided to level it up? Am I right?"

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. Ilang sandaling nagtagal ang tingin niya sa akin bago humilig sa upuan at marahang tumango. Nagsulat ako sa notes ko at may napansin.

Leandro can pull it off without any grand move to a girl like Keira. Dumaloy ang pait sa aking tiyan habang sinusulat ang impormasyon na iyon.

"May pasok pa ako. Kailangan ko nang umalis."