Strings and Arrows

Chapter 34

Sinusundan ko ngayon si Clara. Pero sinusubukan kong hindi niya ako mahalata. Minsan ay huli akong liliko o di naman kaya ay kunwari may kakausaping kaklase o schoolmate. Nagmumumha na 'kong tanga dahil sa pagiging chismosa slash pakialamera ko eh.

After a very long walk, nakita kong tumigil si Clara sa Reading Kiosk. Shit. So dito pala.

Akala ko siya lang mag-isa do'n pero nagkamali ako. Nakaupo si Christian sa isa sa mga asul na bench. Tahimik lang silang dalawa. Tila ba nagpapakiramdaman sa isa't-isa.

Mukhang alam na yata ni Chrsitian ang sasabihin ni Clara.

"Christian.." panimula ni Clara.

Tumayo naman si Christian at humakbang palapit sa kaniya.

"Clara, anong pag-uusapan natin?"

"May sasabihin ako sa 'yo. First of all, hayaan mo muna akong magsalita. Mahirap mag-ipon ng lakas ng loob na gawin 'to kaya sana ay hayaan mo muna akong makatapos. Second, sana walang magbago sa pakikitungo natin sa isa't-isa."

Narinig kong huminga ng malalim si Christian.

"Clara, I think I know where this is going--"

"Christ. Please, ako muna. Okay?"

Tinitigan ni Christian si Clara sa mata. Nakikita kong nahihirapan din si Christian sa sitwasyon nila. This is hard for the both of them. Like how it was for Maris and Carlo and every other people who are stuck with this same kind of situation.

Tinanguan siya nito bilang pagsang-ayon.

"Chris, mabait kang tao. You're not like how people stereotyped the Varsity players to be. Matagal na tayong naging magkaibigan at sa mga panahong 'yon, I realized something. Like, I don't want us to be just friends. Chris, gusto kita. Gusto kita higit pa sa pagkakaibigan." Nakayukong sambit ni Clara.

So this is how a live confession looks like. Nakakatakot na nakakakaba. Ako nga na audience lang, intense na ang nararamdaman eh. Ano pa kaya kapag ako na mismo 'yong umamin or kung ako 'yong pinag-aminan.

"Clara, you're a great person. Mabuting tao ka and You're very pretty. Konti na lang at aakalain kong isa kang anghel." Bahagya namang natawa si Clara doon sa sinabi ni Christian.

She remained silent so Christian continued.

"You're smart. You're brave to confess something like this and I admire you for that. You are the kindest person I know, please put that in mind. You have the biggest heart dahil nagawa mong kaibiganin ang lahat. Even the bad guys can't afford to hurt you. No one wants to. Even I don't want to hurt a precious angel like you. Kaya I have to say sorry to you Clara. But all I can offer for you is great friendship."

I started hearing Clara's sobs. Para namang nataranta si Christian nang marinig niyang umiiyak si Clara.

"Hey Clar. Don't cry, please. I don't deserve your precious tears. I am not worthy of those."

Clara wiped her tears with her hands saka itinaas ang ulo niya at tignan si Christian.

"I'm fine. This is normal after being rejected, dummy." Nagawa pa niyang magpakawala ng isang mahinang tawa.

"Please. I am not rejecting you. You're still special for me. We're more than friends, okay? But less than lovers. You're like a little sister to me." Sabi naman ni Christian nang nakangiti at ginulo pa nito ang buhok ni Clara.

Damn. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung alin ang mas masakit. 'Yong ma-friendzone o ma-siblingzone? I think it hurts equally though. At the end, hindi ka pa rin naman gusto ng taong gusto mo. You see? All heartbreaks are the same. Mali si Carlo! Tse.

"Ouch. That kinda hurts though." She said and hid the pain by laughing.

"Silly. You'll get over me soon and when that time comes, I know you'll thank me for doing this. You deserve a much greater person to put up to the level of your greatness. Just remember that I'll always be here for you. As your friend."

"Thanks. You have to go. May practice pa kayo diba? I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"No it's okay. Hindi mo naman ako na-istorbo. I can stay here."

"No. 'Wag na Christian. Pumunta ka na lang ng court."

"Are you sure? Are you going to be alright here?"

Clara gave him an assuring nod.

Christian responded a warm smile bago tuluyang nagpaalam.

As soon as Christian was gone, ay agad namang naupo si Clara sa isa sa mga upuan at humagulhol.

I felt so sorry for her. I want to comfort her. I feel like she needed someone to be with her at times like now.

Lalapit na sana ako nang may nauna nang gumawa no'n. Inunahan na 'ko ni Carlo na makalapit kay Clara.

He immediately enveloped her with a hug na mas lalong nagpaiyak kay Clara. Wow, he's fast. I wonder if he was here the whole time. Listening to what they were saying just like me.

Now that I'm looking at the two of them, mas lalo lang bumigat ang nararamdaman ko. Two people, experiencing heartbreaks at the same time? It's too much. All of these are too much.

I was taken aback when the time suddenly froze.

H-Holy shit..

This is..

W-What is--?

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko nang lumitaw ang mga pana sa harapan ko.

My arrows. Ibig sabihin, may papanain ako ngayon? And to sum it all, kulay pula pa ang dalawa! They're freaking soulmates!

Muli kong binalik ang tingin ko kina Carlo at hindi nga ako nagkakamali! Silang dalawa ang papanain ko! They were both glowing. The light's very powerful lalo na't magkayakap silang dalawa. Shit this is giving me goosebumps.

Kanina pa lumulutang ang mga arrows sa harapan ko pero hindi ko magawang igalaw ang aking mga kamay.

This is too magical for me.

When I finally digested all of those in my head, ay agad namang nanumbalik ang lakas ko. I managed to get the arrows and shot Carlo and Clara.

The time immediately went back to normal. I can hear their cries now. I can see other people walking at the opposite side of the ground.

That's it. They were the ones who are meant for each other. Sinadyang maging malapit sila sa ibang taong magiging parte ng pagbuo ng love story nila. They would still end up with each other at the end no matter what happens.

They just needed some push in order for their love to be recognized. Christian and Maris were just instruments! Wow. What a great realization.

Kaya dapat pala hindi tayo magsisi na nakilala natin 'yong mga taong nanakit at nakilala natin throughout our journey dahil may kaniya-kaniya silang purpose sa buhay natin and we can never reach our endgame without their presence in our lives. Wow.