The Late Bloomer (Published under PSICOM)

Chapter 24 : To be confused

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"I guess this is it," mahina ang boses na sabi ni Noreen kay Grey.

Boarding na ng flight papunta sa Paris. Naka-check in na rin ang mga gamit ni Noreen pero hindi pa lumalapit man lang sa boarding gate ang babae. Nakaupo pa rin silang dalawa sa passenger lounge. Naka-shades ito kahit na dumidilim na. Tinatakluban ang namamagang mga mata. Grey, on the other hand, was torn between relief and regret.

Sigurado siyang mami-miss niya si Noreen. Isa ang babae sa kakaunting mga taong nakakikilala sa kanya.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito. Nanuot ang lamig niyon sa balat niya at nagpagapang ng sakit sa puso niya. Bumigat ang dibdib niya kaya napahinga siya nang malalim. She was hurting. Hindi madali sa kanyang tiisin ang sakit na ibinibigay rito–she's his best friend. But he could endure the torture and trust that everything would be okay in time because she is Noreen.

"I could never be this honest if it wasn't for you. Thank you for always forgiving me with all that I lack." Lumunok si Grey, nakatitig sa hindi tumitinag na babae. "I love you. Always."

Bumaling ito sa kanya.

"And I love you, Grey." Kinagat nito ang labi at bumuntong-hininga, "It's weird. The words are the same but we mean differently."

It's not just weird. It's cruel.

"Hey, corny..." ngumiti nang matipid si Noreen, "Can I slap your face?"

Lumunok siya. "I've been waiting for you to do so."

"I'm just really calm on the inside before. I guess, it's not yet sinking in that I have to live without you in my plans. But right now, I'm quite pissed off. And you know that this won't go away unless..."

"Unless you shout or slap at something," panapos niya sa sinasabi nito.

"Yeah."

"Go. Make it hurt."

Pumihit siya paharap kay Noreen. Nakatingin sa magandang mukha nito. Mabigat sa dibdib ang bawat paghinga niya habang naghihintay.

Umigkas ang kamay ng babae at lumagapak sa kaliwang pisngi niya. Malakas ang tunog na nilikha niyon. Pumaling ang mukha niya. Nagtinginan ang mga tao.

The slap stung and burned his cheek. It hurts so much he shed a tear that had been keeping his heart heavy.

Pero ang una niyang ginawa ay kunin ang kamay nito. Sinuri niya ang nanginginig at namumulang palad nito. Masuyong hinaplos.

Malambot ang kamay ni Noreen. Siguradong nasaktan ito.

"Are you hurt?" tanong niya sa babae.

"Yes," nanginginig din ang boses na sabi nito, "Did it hurt?"

"God, yes," aniya at pinaglapat ang mga ngipin. He breathed heavily before pulling Noreen into his arms. Mahigpit niyang niyakap ang kalambutan nito. Tinandaan ang init ng katawan nito. Yumugyog ang balikat nito sa pag-iyak kasabay ng pagkawasak ng puso niya rito. "I'm really sorry about this, Noreen."

"Yeah. I'm sorry for myself, too," bulong nito, "Pero marami pa namang mas guwapo kaysa sa'yo. So, don't worry, Gregorio. I'm pretty as hell."

Mahigpit ang yakap nila sa isa't isa nang gupuin ng tahimik na pag-iyak. People were watching but they didn't mind. No one knows how hard it is to part unless you're the one forced to say goodbye when you don't even want to.

"Yeah. You're pretty as hell. You're perfect," sabi niya at mabigat na huminga. He's never good at saying goodbye. He's never good with words. He wanted to do enough for her–for the friendship, for her tears, and for her kindness. But he has no idea what's enough.