Chapter 13
1208 Words
Akala ko kakayanin ko lahat para kay Kyle. I thought I'd be satisfied with whatever little he's going to offer me. Akala ko hindi na ako maghahangad pa ng iba.
But I reached my breaking point.
After he said those words to me, I was hit with the truth I've been running away from the moment I saw him again.
He's never going to look at me the same way I look him.
"Chloe-bar! Long time no call." Dawn's cheerful greeting breezed to my ear.
But I am to sullen to return her enthusiasm, "D-dawn. . .are you free? P-puntahan mo naman ako dito sa bahay. . .I need you." I tried my best not to hiccup on my sobs.
I hear rustling on the other line before she told me that she'll be here in less than fifteen minutes.
Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal umiiyak na nakatalukbong. Basta narinig ko na lang ang boses ni Dawn na may sinasabi kay mama bago dahan-dahang bumukas ang pinto ko.
My bed dipped until a pair of hands enricled me in a comforting hug. Kahit hindi ko tinignan, I know this is my Dawn. "Hey. . .what happened?"
I unveiled myself frim my comforter, "Si Kyle. . . hindi ko sinabi sa'yo kasi alam kong magagalit ka. . .we've been seeing lately."
She looked confused as she brushed my hair out of my face so I continued. "He only calls or texts me when he wants to keep himself busy when Reena's not there. He asks for pieces of advice and. . ." hindi ko na natuloy ang sinasabi ko.
My tears came crashing like a speeding truck. Everything hurts. Hindi ko alam kung ako magsisimulang magsabi kay Dawn alin ang masakit. The pain in my heart radiated like a nuclear bomb injuring all my senses.
"Bakit ka kasi ganito, Chloe? Bakit lahat pinaglalaban mo? Attorney ka ba? Hindi naman 'diba? Wala ka na sa tamang katwiran."
I rested my head on her chest and sobbed even harder. She held the back of my head while het other hand rested on my back.
"Mahal ko siya, Dawn. . .mahal ko siya."
"Hindi ka niya mahal. Si Reena ang mahal niya, hindi ikaw."
I knew this before. It's not new to me. But why does it hurt like hell when Dawn slapped the truth to my face? Bakit mas mahirap tanggapin?
"Itigil mo na 'to, Jhauztine Chloe. It's unhealthy obsession."
"P-paano?"
I raised my head to look at her, but she is a clueless as I am. "Hindi ko alam kung paano. Kung kailangan mong mag-date, mag-date ka. Mag-leave sa trabaho, mag-leave ka. Maiaalis mo lang sa isapan mo 'yang taong 'yan."
I let her words hungs over my head. I can't think of anything else to say. I know she's right. Dapat talaga nakinig na ako sa kanya noon pa. Bakit ba kasi matigas ang ulo ko?
That night, I asked for Dawn to stay with me. Nakatulog ako ng mahimbing kahit na parang mamamatay na ata ako sa sakit. The next morning hinintay niya rin akong makapasok.sa trabaho. She has her driver with her, kaya convoy kaming dalawa hanggang marating namin ang building ni Ric.
"'Wag ka ng umiyak, ha? Mamaya na lang gabi kapag kasama mo ulit ako." paalala niya bago niya akong muling niyakap.
I returned her comforting hug with one of mine before I hurriedly made my way to the lift. Buti na lang napindot ko ang up botton bago pa 'yon magsara.
Nagulat pa nga ako dahil si Ric pala ang nakasakay doon. "Sino 'yon?" agad na tanong niya.
I pressed the closed button and stood beside him, "Bakit mo ko sinaraduhan ng elevator?"
"Bakit maga mga mata mo?"
"Bakit ang aga-aga ang dami mong tanong?"
Sandali kaming nagkasukatan ng tingin
na dalawa bago niya ako pinitik sa noo. "Nauna akong nagtanong. Dapat maging magalang ka sa Kuya mo."
I rubbed the place where his finger landed. He stoof straight but his eyes never left mine, "Si Dawn 'yong kasama ko kanina."
A lopsided grin appeared in his face and I instantly knew what he's thinking. Bago pa lumayo ang dako ng pag-iisip niya, hinampas ko siya sa braso, "Hoy, 'wag siya! 'Wag 'yong best friend ko."
"What? Wala naman akong ibang sinabi. Ngumiti lang naman ako."
"Ala ko 'yang mga ganiyan mo. Maraming sabi-sabi sa opisina na playboy ka raw. I won't fault you if you want to add girls to your collection but leave my best friend out of it. Magagalit talaga ako sa'yo."
The smile hes has completely disappeared, and he seemed like he was pondering on a thought, "All right. I won't go near her."
"Saka may boyfriend na 'yon. Matinong babae si Dawn Elizabeth kaya hindi papatol sa'yo 'yon." I numbled.
"Para mo namang sinabing napakasama kong tao, Cleng." He said, clutching his chest as if I just pushed a knife there.
I rolled my eyes at him, ignoring him as we stride together inside the office.
As soon as I reached my table, the light feeling my banter with Ric was gone. Nakita ko na naman kasi iyong ballpen na bigay ni Kyle.
Naalala ko na naman lahat. Napabuntong-hininga ako. I rested my forerms on my table and leaned my head there. Ayaw ko ng umiyak..Lagi ko na lang iniiyakan ang taong 'yon.
My day got busier especially when we were all sumoned back to the branch for an emergency meeting. Sir Anton, wanted to meet everyone because tomorrow, the new hires will report to work.
I got a huge feeling of painful nostalgia when I passed by the Japanese restaurant on my way home. Wala ng susunod pa naalala dahil kailangan ko ng pilitin ang sarili ko na hindi makikipagkita sa kanya.
I reschedule our dinner with Ric since I need Dawn again tonight. Alam ko kasing magmumukmok na naman ako pagkauwi ko kaya sinabihan ko si Ric na next time na lang. And also because I don't want him near Dawn.
"Dapat mag-stall ka na ng OkCupid." Banggit ni Dawn kaya napalingon ako sa kanya.
Kasalukuyan siyang nag-bo-blower ng buhok kaya wala sakin ang atensyon niya.
"Ayoko. Baka mamaya kung sino pa ang na-match ko."
"Edi, alis na lang tayo. Magpakalayo-layo muna tayo for some time. You need a breather."
"Saan naman tayo pupunta?" I said as I slumped to my soft mattress, face first.
"Kahit saan mo gusto. Ako na bahala sa lahat."
Maybe, she's right. Baka ito lang kailangan ko para maalis na sa sistema ko ang taong 'yon. Maybe, I should stop trusting myself when it comes to that guy and should let Dawn do all the deciding.
"Saan nga ulit nagpunta si Angelica sa movie nila ni JM de Guzman? Kung saan siya nagsisisigaw? Baka mga ganoong anek ang kailangan ko."
Narinig kong tumigil ang tunog ng blower kaya inangat ko ang ulo ko para matitigan siya. "Ayoko mag-bundok. Kung gusto mo ng mataas na lugar para sumigaw dalhin na lang kita sa rooftop ng building ni daddy."
"Akala ko ba kahit saan ko gusto?" I whined and again buried my head.
I heard her sighing. "Fine, pero hindi sa Sagada. Sa Baguio na lang, at least doon city pa rin."
- Writer
