I
“Bakit ka nagpakalasing?”
Kay blinked lazily. Halatang pinaglalabanan nito ang antok. “That’s not what you’re here for.”
“Problemado ka ba? May gusto ka bang makalimutan?” Sunud-sunod na tanong ni Leighton, ignoring what Kay said.
Pinisil ni Leighton ang pisngi ni Kay nang makita niyang pumikit na ito. “Hindi naman siguro dahil gusto mong kalimutan ‘yung ginawa natin kanina?”
Itinuro ni Kay ang sahig. “Kunin mo na ang cell phone mo. Maghanap ka na lang ng ibang kausap, please,” he pleaded Leighton.
“Fine,” ani Leighton. “Hindi na kita tatanungin. I’ll tell you something about me instead.” Isinandal niya ang baba sa balikat ni Kay. His nose touched Kay’s cheek.
“Years ago, naaksidente ako. Nahulog ako mula sa balcony ng kuwarto ko. It’s my fault but I lied. I told everyone it’s my Dad’s fault. He suffered from guilt and at the same time, halos nawalan ng tiwala sa kanya ang mga taong naniwala sa akin. Ang akala ko ikasasaya ko ang ginawa ko. I expected him to make it up to me. But he later on became depressed. Mas lalong lumaki ang gap namin hanggang sa nagkasakit siya nang malubha at namatay. He’s so stupid, right?”
“You’re the one who’s stupid,” sabat bigla ni Kay na hindi inaasahan ni Leighton. “Bakit mo ginawa iyon sa Dad mo?”
“I hated him,” kaagad na sagot ni Leighton.
“Why?”
“Because I loved him. My mom and I loved him.”
“Then, why hate?”
Leighton moved his lips closer to Kay’s earlobe. “Maraming responsibility and Daddy ko at mayroon pa siyang ibang anak. Iniisip ko na okay lang kung palagi niya kaming nakakalimutan, na okay lang kahit palagi kong nakikitang umiiyak si mama. Then there’s someone who came and made me feel I should not be okay with that. He cared too much kahit wala naman siyang mapapala. He made my mom smile. He’s always there when I need a Dad-talk. Natakot ako na baka isang araw, magising ako na wala na akong pakialam sa Dad ko. I just did everything to make my Dad realize my fears… but he’s really stupid so…”
Naramdaman ni Kay ang mahinang buntong-hininga ni Leighton bago ito sumagot. “My stepfather won.”
“I see…” Kay whispered. “But don’t you think you’re telling me too much? You should atleast hide something from me.”
“Kung ano ang mga bagay na sinabi ko sa’yo ngayon, ay dapat mo lang malaman,” Leighton pointed out. He raised his head so that their eyes could meet. “Ayoko nang makaranas ulit ng confusion sa nararamdaman ko kaya huwag mo akong bigyan ng dahilan para magkaroon ng options. I don’t know what I can do to you if you neglect me…”
Kay looked away. There’s really no helping it. Mas lalo lang lalala ang sitwasyon kung wala siyang sasabihin kay Leighton. Hindi siya natatakot sa kung ano ang gagawin nito sa kanya. Ang ikinakatakot niya ay kung ano ang gagawin nito sa sarili kapag wala na siya.
“I-I think I need to say something to you, Eight…” panimula ni Kay.
“Really?” Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Leighton. “That’s… not like you.”
Kay slightly nodded. “Pero bukas na lang. For now, I’ll end this conversation by telling you… I love you.”
“What the—?!” There could have been more time for Leighton’s astonishment if Kay hadn’t kissed him.
