Winning the heart of the Tigers (Editing)

Chapter 19: The Archer's Confession

Chapter 19: The Archer's Confession

-Jeron's POV-

I don't exactly know when I started feeling this. All I know is that I love Fran. I know it's too early to tell that I love her because we've only known each other for a month. But this what I really feel.. I love her..

My heart beats a little faster everytime she's near me. I don't eat butterflies but I can feel one in my stomach. And when I see her, my smile shines even brighter..

I even get jealous with Mark. I am afraid that he can make Fran happier more than I do. I'm starting to doubt myself, I become insecure. I don't know why.. Or maybe because I know that Fran likes him so much and she only sees me as her guy friend.

I don't want to tell her what I really feel inside because I am afraid that it might ruin our friendship. And I can't afford to lose that because it's the only thing that we have right now. I can't lose her, I don't know what I would do if that happens..

Every night before I go to bed, I think about "us" a lot even though I know that "us" doesn't exists.. </3

--

So here I am at the gym in school, doing what I always do. Nah, not basketball. Our training just ended. I'm thinking about her while fixing my things..

I only stop thinking about her when my phone suddenly beeped..

From: Jeric Fortuna

Goodevening Jeron! Are you with Fran? Umalis kasi sya kaninang umaga hanggang ngayon hindi pa umuuwi, hindi kasi nagpaalam samin ni yaya kung saan pupunta kaya nag-aalala kami. She's not with Almira daw, so baka ikaw ang kasama nya. Text me ASAP! She's not replying and answering her phone eh.

I check the time on my watch, it's getting late.. Mag-10pm na.. Nasaan kaya yun? She didn't text me the whole day.. Reply-an ko muna si Kuya Forts..

To: Jeric Fortuna

She's not with me, Kuya. I'll try to call and text her kuya. Balitaan kita agad pag nalaman ko kung nasaan siya..

From: Jeric Fortuna

Okay. Thanks Jeron! I'm just really worried


Nasaan kaya si Fran? Kainis yun ah!

Hayy, I'm really worried right now.. Mamaya kung napano na yun..

Wait, baka naman kasama niya yung Mark na yun. Badtrip! She's always with Mark nalang. She doesn't have time with me anymore </3

I dialed Kuya Forts' number.. I forgot to ask him if he already asked Mark..

“Hello Kuya Forts!”

(Ano? Alam mo na kung nasaan sya?)

“No. I haven't texted her yet, kuya. Just wanna ask kung natanong mo na rin ba si Mark. Fran's always with him..”

(I don't know his number. But I already tweeted him. He's not with Fran rin daw. That's why I am really worried. Lahat ng friends nya natanong ko na, kahit isa walang may alam kung nasaan sya)

“Sige kuya.. Try ko tawagan and i-text sya baka sakali sumagot sya sakin”

(Sige.. Thanks again Jeron!)

After talking to Kuya Forts, I immediately texted Fran..

To: Franny my Muffins

Muffs! Where are you? Text me ASAP!

While waiting for her reply, I sat on the bleachers..

“Oh paps! Kala ko umuwi ka na?” tanong ni Thomas sakin pagkakita nyang nakaupo ako sa bleachers. He sat beside me..

“Hinihintay ko text ni Fran eh”

Thomas smiled at me, “Gabi na may date pa kayo! Umamin ka na kasi Jeron! Bagal mo eh!” Ano ano pinagsasabi nito ni Torres! Porke sila na ni Ditse ganyan na sya!

“Loko! Wala kaming date ni Fran. Saka ano naman aaminin ko ha?”

“Your feelings bro!”

I chuckled, “My feelings? Bro we're just friends!”

“Bro we both know that a guy and a girl can be friends but sooner or later one will fall in love for the other. Maybe too early or maybe too late..”

May pinaghuhugutan ba tong si Torres?! Mga pinagsasabi eh.. Nakakaloko, but he's right.. I fall in love with Fran..

“Wala bro.. Friends lang talaga kami..” then I looked on the floor

“The best relationship starts with friendship, bro.. Tell her what you really feel, Jeron.. habang may oras pa..”

“Wala na bro.. May Mark na yun eh..”

He tapped my back, “Hindi pa sila bro.. It's not too late.. Never give up on something you really want. I know it's difficult to wait but it's worse to regret”

“Wag na nga natin pag-usapan to bro..”

He laughed, “Sige na nga.. I think you are not yet ready to face your feelings eh.. Bakit mo nga pala hinihintay yung reply nya? Eh hindi naman pala kayo lalabas..” chismoso pala tong si Thomas! Why am I even friends with this guy? haha!

“Nawawala kasi si Fran. Kuya Forts texted me a while ago, sobrang nag-aalala”

“Baka naman kasama lang ni Almira o kaya ni Mark” Pwede ba Thomas! Stop saying his name in front of me! Oo, ako na ang bitter!

“Hindi daw eh. Nakausap na yun ni Kuya Forts”

“Ganun ba? Sorry bro ah? Hindi kita masasamahan sa paghahanap sakanya. Pagod na rin talaga ako eh”

“Okay lang bro.. Intindihin mo nalang kapatid ko” then I smiled at him

He laughed, “Sige bro.. Una na ko, baka ma-question pa ko ng ate mo! Goodluck nalang sa paghahanap mo” then he stood up and started walking

“Ingat bro! Wag kang manchix jan ha!” sigaw ko sakanya habang naglalakad sya palayo

I check my phone.. Still no text from Fran..

I texted her again the same message but this time, I sent it 10 times.. Flood kung flood..

Hindi ko na hinintay yung reply ni Fran.. Naglakad na ako papuntang parking..

Saktong pagsakay ko ng kotse, my phone rang..

Franny my Muffins calling..

I immediately answered my phone..

“Hello Fran! Where are you?! I'm worried” natatarantang sabi ko sakanya

(Jeron, where are you? Pwede mo ba ako puntahan?)

Wait, is she crying? I know she's crying.. I heard her cry..

“Where exactly are you? I'll be there..”

(Area05, Tomas Morato)

“Got it! Just stay there, Fran..”

After talking to her, I started the engine and drove away..

Kulang nalang paliparin ko ang kotse ko ngayon.. Hindi pwedeng mabagal na speed, anong oras pa ako makakarating dun.. Nasa Taft kaya ako..

Habang nagda-drive ako, hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi mag-alala.. Ang dami dami kong tanong sa utak..

Bakit nasa bar sya?

Why is she crying?

What's her problem?


After 30 minutes, finally! I'm here at the bar.. Yes, narating ko to in just 30 minutes.. Ganun kabilis ang pagda-drive ko..

When I entered the bar, there are a lot of people.. Mostly guys..

Mejo maliit lang tong bar, siguro naman hindi ako mahihirapan na hanapin sya..

Hinanap ko sya sa buong first floor pero wala sya.. So umakyat ako ng second floor..

And there she is..

Nakasubsob ang mukha sa table.. May ilang bote ng beer at andaming cocktail glasses.. Marami na tong nainom..

Bago ko siya lapitan, iti-text ko muna si Kuya Forts..

To: Jeric Fortuna

Found her kuya.. She's safe now.. Ako na maghahatid sakanya

From: Jeric Fortuna

Thank god she's safe now. Thank you so much Jeron!


“Fran..” I called her name while tapping her back

When she saw face, she hugged me.. really really tight.. I hugged her back..

“Fran, what's wrong? Why are you drinking?” sunod sunod na tanong ko sakanya

“Jeron, bakit ganun? Bakit nya ginawa sakin yun?” she asked me. she's crying.. Shit. Ayoko ng ganito. I don't want to see her crying.. Nasasaktan ako!

I wiped her tears using my thumb, “Tell me what happened Fran”

“Si Mark” then her tears started to flow again.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh! Kaya ayaw ko syang palapitin dun eh. Kaso ayaw nyang makinig sakin. Hayy, pag in love ka nga naman!

I cupped her face, “What did he do to you? Sinaktan ka ba nya o ano?” nag-aalalang tanong ko

“He has a girlfriend now..” diretsong sagot nya

I was shocked with what Fran just said.. He has a girlfriend now..

Pano nangyari yun? Kala ko ba MU MU sila? Ano ba tong nangyayari? Bakit biglang iniwan nya sa ere si Fran? Naguguluhan ako!

I don't know what to say.. I hugged her.. That's the only thing I can do right now..

“Shhh.. Stop crying Fran.. Hindi mo sya dapat iyakan. He's not worth your tears. Maraming nagmamahal sayo..”

“Mahal na mahal ko sya, Jeron.. Sana hindi nalang nya ako pinaasa kung hindi naman pala nya ako gusto!” kung ako nalang kasi ang minahal mo, Fran.. Hindi ka sana umiiyak ng ganyan..

“Isang linggo syang hindi nagparamdam sakin tapos bigla ko nalang malalaman na may girlfriend sya!”

I cupped her face again, “Fran, look at me.. Ayaw kitang sisihin sa nangyari.. Pero we warned you diba? Hindi ka dapat nag-assume and nag-expect kasi wala kayong commitment”

“Hindi ko sya kayang iwasan.. I love him Jeron.. I love him so much” ang sakit sakit na marinig yun sakanya. Parang sinasaksak yung puso ko

“Pano ka na ngayon? Don't tell me aasa ka parin sakanya..”

“Kahit mahirap, susubukan kong mag move-on agad. Alam ko wala akong karapatan na magreact ng ganito, eh wala namang kami. Pero ang sakit lang kasi eh. He left me hanging.. He should've told me that he's courting her friend.. Alam mo yun? Para hindi na ako umasa na magkakaroon ng kami, na hanggang dun lang talaga ako. So now, if you are asking me kung aasa pa ako sakanya, my answer is no.. I'll try my best to move on.. Gusto ko na syang kalimutan” then she gave me a fake smile

“That's right, Fran.. Just stay strong.. Make him wonder why you are still smiling despite of what he has done to you” then I smiled at her