Suitor
"Are you mad? " Halos mapanguso kong tanong.
"I am not mad, Av. "
"Why are you quiet, then? "
"Nothing, " Matipid siyang ngumiti, "Taste it, come on, " Sabi niya at tinulak palapit sa akin 'yong sandwich na order.
"I don't want you mad, Ethan. Kakaayos lang natin-"
"Baby, I'm not mad, " Agad na uminit ang pisngi ko.
He likes calling me baby. Akala mo naman ay kami na! Kainis! Ni hindi nga niya 'ko nililigawan!
Habang kumakain kaming dalawa ay naalala ko 'yung nangyari sa pagitan namin kanina ni Shan.
"Sinaktan ka ulit? "
"Hindi naman, pero she likes you so much, eh. Wala bang chance na nagustuhan mo siya? " Awkward akong tumawa.
"I've told you that thousands of times already, Av. "
"Baka sakali lang naman, " Irap ko.
"Dumaan muna tayo sa infirmary bago ka umuwi, para magamot ulit ang sugat mo, " Pahayag niya.
"'Wag na. Malayo 'yon sa building n'yo. Baka malate-"
"Let's just go. I won't be late for my class. You don't have to worry. "
"Pwede naman kasi sa bahay na lang 'to gamutin. Itong isa nga-"
Natigil ako nang marinig ang pagbuntong hininga niya.
"Next time, don't fall for her lies again, okay? At 'wag ka nang lumapit sa kan'ya. "
"Hindi nga ako ang lumalapit, Ethan. Siya 'yong parinig nang parinig at lapit nang lapit. Kanina nga tinawag pa talaga ako, para lang humarap sa kan'ya. "
"That's why I'm asking you to stay away from her. 'Wag ka nang pumatol-"
"Paanong hindi ako papatol? Kung ano ano ang sinasabi niya tungkol sa'kin! " Is he defending his friend?
"Yes, I know that, but-"
"Are you defending her? " Kunot noo kong tanong. "
"I'm just worried about you. I'm not defending her, Av. "
"Well, it seems like you're taking her side. Na gusto mong 'wag ako pumatol dahil masasaktan siya-"
"You're the one who's hurt," Mariin niyang sabi.
"You know what? Kung hindi mo siya mabitawan totally, you better stop talking to me-"
"I dropped her already. What else do you want me to do? " Mas malumanay ang boses niya ngayon.
"Stop taking her side, then! Parang pinapalabas mo na ako ang mali-"
"Pinapalayo kita dahil ayokong masaktan ka, but if you insist on fighting, fine. Just don't let her hurt you again. "
Inismiran ko lang siya at umirap sa hangin.
"I thought you don't want us to fight? " Ngumuso ako, "Kanina lang ikaw 'yung nagsosorry tapos ngayon," Bumuntong hininga siya, "You're so good at twisting things up, Av. "
"Ikaw kasi-"
"I'm sorry. Let's not fight, okay? We didn't talk for almost a month. I don't want that to happen again. "
Tumikhim na lang ako at nagpatuloy na sa pagkain.
"How was your term break? Did you have fun in Batanes? "
"Yup. Nagzipline kami ni Kuya then island hopping, then beach, " Ngumiti ako, "Ikaw? How was your finals and term break? Saan kayo nagpunta? "
"My exams were fine. We stayed in Palawan for three days. Dad needed to go back here immediately for work. "
BẠN ĐANG ĐỌC
In Between Maybes
Lãng mạn"𝑇𝑜 𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒. " I closed my eyes as soon as I finished reading the letter she left.
