The Guy Who Fell In Love

Friendship Over

The air was breezy and the wave from the shore makes a music for the night. The moon was full setting in the sky, illuminating the river, who's connected to the vast ocean. I looked at Ely's direction, bent over while holding his two feet in a hug. He was just starring from nowhere, and we are under the bridge where I found him. 

Dinala ko siya rito at ilang oras nang hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. Ang galit na nararamdaman ko ay biglang naglaho ng makita ko siyang umiiyak. I cannot resist his charm nor the crying face of him. I hate it when he cried.

Napabuntong hininga ako dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin. I was drowned with many thoughts and arguments a while ago, but everything vanishes in the air. I don't want to confront him because of his situation but I want to know why he did those things. What's with Kai or Ely thing?

Mayamaya narinig ko ang pag-tunog ng phone niya. Kinuha niya ito sa kanyang maliit na bag at sinagot ang tawag. I was just observing.

"Ma," softly he said. What I know about his mother is that she was working abroad.

"Okay naman ako. Okay din naman si papa," wika niya pero nang tignan ko siya biglang tumulo ulit ang mga luha niya. Hindi ko alam kung paano punasan ito. Ayaw ko naman mag-interrupt sa usapan nila.

"Kamusta work mo diyan? Kumakain ka naman?" tanong nito sa kanyang ina. I can't hear his mother's voice because it was not on speaker.

"Huwag mo ako alalahanin dito, Ma. Matapang kaya ito ana--k m-mo," nautal ito dahil sa hikbi.

"Hindi ako umiiyak. May sipon lang ako. Sige na man tinatawag na ako ng mga kaibigan ko. Mag-ingat ka palagi diyan," then he off the call and wipes his crying face. Despite the sob he was graciously speaking to his mom. Even his was miserable he always got the smile on his lips.

Natahimik na naman siya at hindi kumibo.

Sandali lang ay nag-salita ito.

"I'm sorry," maiksing sabi niya at napatingin ako sa direksyon niya. I was expecting more.

"Hindi ko sinasadya. Hindi ko alam na kilala mo pala si Ashton," wika niya. I didn't say any words I just let him say what he wants to say.

"Hindi ko naman intensyon na hindi sabihin ang totoong pangalan ko."

"But why did you lied or even your name Ely was a lie too," hindi ko na natiis na mag-salita pa.

"Hindi! yung mga sinabi ko sa'yo lahat iyon ay totoo Gideon," wika niya. "Hindi ako nag-sinungaling sayo."

"But why did you leave earlier?'

"Because..." bumuntong hininga siya. " Becaue I was scared. Takot ako at mas lalong takot ako nang sinabi na ni Ashton na gusto niya ako. The last option for me was to leave because I know that I cannot reciprocate the love that he will give. At isa pa, takot ako sa'yo."

"Why?" I said confuse. Bakit naman siya matatakot sa akin?

Hindi siya nagsalita at tumingin ulit siya sa langit. Naghihintay ako ng sagot pero walang lumabas sa bibig niya.

"Hindi mo ba gusto si Ashton?" I bravely said to him. Tumingin siya nung sinabi ko iyon.

"Kaibigan lang ang turing ko sa kanya."

"What about me?"  nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya ng sinabi ko ang mga katagang iyon. Even me, I didn't expect to blurt it out those words.

"Ka-kaibigan din," he said while breaking out our stares.

Napatango na lang ako sa sinabi niya, but deep inside I was hoping for something else. What's wrong with me?

"Okay."