Kanunay Nga Padulngan

Chapter 15

My heart raced so fast that I think it'll explode in a bit.

Tulala kong tinitigan si Third na hindi man lang nagulat sa paglingon ko. It was as if he'd been staring at me for a while, reason why he isn't surprised at all.

Shit. Si Third nga. Nandito nga siya.

"Tita, hoy! Are you okay? Para ka namang nakakita ng multo. Gwapo naman sana,"

Eh ano naman ngayon kung nandito siya, Jexcy Ann? It's not as if ikaw ang ipinunta niyan dito. Baka nagbakasyon lang din at baka nagkataon lang na ito rin ang napili niyang resort. Don't fucking assume and overthink. Just mind your own business and do everything to avoid him!

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig at agad na nag-iwas ng tingin. Iginalaw ko ang aking binti para marating ang edge ng pool at makaahon.

"Tara na. Giniginaw na ako." sabi ko kay Yvonne.

Nalukot ang kanyang mukha.

"What? Ang OA mo, Tita! Kakaligo mo nga lang, giniginaw ka na agad?!"

I could feel Third's stares on my back. Lumunok ako nang maramdaman ang pangangatog ng tuhod.

"Bahala ka, Yvonne. Babalik na ako." I said with conviction.

She can't make me stay longer. Hell no. Not now!

"Fine! Ang KJ! Tss."

Naiinis man ay umahon narin si Yvonne. She kept on complaining but I cared less about it. Nagpatiuna ako sa paglalakad, at bagama't sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ay ramdam ko ang gaan ng aking paa. Para akong nakalutang habang naglalakad. Ironically, my body isn't responding in accordance to how my brain responds.

I was so preoccupied with what I just witnessed. Hindi maalis-alis sa isip ko ang paninitig ni Third sa'kin. His eyes were staring at me with control, and at the same time, so much longing! It was clear to my memory.

Mariin akong pumikit at nanghihinang humiga sa kama. I am all dressed up now. Nagyaya pa si Yvonne na lumabas pero hindi na ako sumama. Hindi pa ako inaantok but I have so much going on in my head that I think I have to come to terms with all of them, or else I'd lose my mind.

Oo nga at balak ko naman talagang lumayo muna kay Third... pero shit. Ang bigat pala sa dibdib kapag harap-harapan na ang pag-iwas! Parang hindi ako. It feels so... cruel! Kumikirot ang puso ko dahil sa guilt at pangungulila.

He is my best friend. He is the closest one to me. We used to be very comfortable with each other. And yet, here I am now. I couldn't even stand his stares?!