Guarded Soul (The Brats #2)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Wakim

His confession kept on reverberating in my head. Pati ang mga sumunod na usapan namin noong araw na 'yon.

"You were young, I was right of age. What do you want me to do? Prey you?" saad ni Rejo nang sabihin ko na bakit hindi na lang siya umamin noon.

"Rejo—"

"You were young and naive, Hiraya. Everyone sees you as my sister because your brother and I are ultimate friends. It felt so wrong to do moves to get your attention. Ano? Aamin ako, tapos ano, Ra?"

He sounded frustrated and hurt. Sinabihan ko kasi siya ng ridiculous kanina. Totoo namang ridiculous ang ginawa n'ya!

"Anong mangyayari kung umamin ako noon? Noong minor ka pa?" naghahamon ang boses n'ya.

"Then I'll wait 'til I reach eighteen, Rejo!" mariin kong bulong.

"That's not gonna happen."

"I can wait... Kung umamin ka noon, maghihintay na lang ako. Hindi mo na sana kailangan pang—"

"If I confessed before, Ri, do you think I could still wait? Do you think I wouldn't be tempted every time I remember you know about my feelings? When I know you like me, too, huh?"

Mahina lang ang mga boses namin pero diin na diin ang mga salita. Hindi kami galit sa isa't-isa. Siguro iritado? Ako, naiinis talaga ako. He made everything complicated. Pero masisisi ko ba siya?

Those lines made my heart palpitate in joy and pain at the same time.

I hate life! Why is it always like this? Why do things not align instantly? Kailangan laging may harapin munang trahedya o problema bago maging masaya, bago malaman ang lahat.

"You could—"

"Hindi," wika n'ya, mas lalong nainis sa akin. "I know my feelings better than other people. If I knew we had mutual feelings back then, I'd momentarily chain you to me! Kahit magkagulo pa kami ng Kuya mo!"

Gusto kong magmura at gumulong-gulong sa higaan. My crush really likes me. I think he's head over heels for me. Hindi ko magawang tanggapin nang normal ang mga salitang binibitiwan n'ya!

"I didn't want to look like I was manipulating or preying on you. Tama lang ang ginawa ko. You had to enjoy your life while you were young. You had to discover what you like, your dreams, yourself. I didn't want to corrupt your mind and make your life complicated..."

Gets ko siya. My life would be messed up if we took the risk when I was young. People will attack and criticize us. And for sure, Kuya Mooze would never let the situation slip. He'll surely ruin their friendship to make a point. He'll ruin Rejo, too.

I realized mali rin talaga 'yon.

"Okay, okay. You're right, pero mali pa rin ang ginawa mo, Rejo. You... you made the situation worse. Dapat hindi ka na pumayag sa gusto ni Marinelle."

He leaned on his chair and looked up. He massages his nose bridge before resting his arms on the table. The pain in his eyes intensified. Truth hurts.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. Lagi mong kasama si Marinelle noon. Gusto rin kitang kasama..."

Pakiramdam ko may humaplos na maiinit na palad sa puso ko. His voice was tender and soothing, like a steel rusting.

"Sumasama rin naman ako kay Kuya noon, a?"

"Pero mas madalas na kasama mo si Marinelle noon," mataman n'yang sabi.

I sighed and nodded. Pakiramdam ko sasakit ang ulo ko mamaya sa bahay dahil sa pinag-uusapan namin. These things are too much to bear in one sitting.