When The Heart Beats (Completed)

Ch. 16

Ch. 016
Weakness

Hinayaan ko si Trench na puntahan si Jenna. Lumabas na rin ako sa convenience store only to find Henry waiting for me with a perplexed expression.

"I have no energy left to explain." Pinangunahan ko na siya. "You should hear from Jenna after she talks with Trench."

"Get in the car."

"Hindi na. I was supposed to leave kung hindi lang sumulpot yung pinsan ko. I did not intend to wait for you." I honestly said.

"So he's your cousin, then." He said to himself. "Yun pala yung odd feeling na naramdaman ko noong birthday ni Exodus. Anyway, naabutan pa rin kita dito so get in. It's getting late."

"I lied to your cousin. You shouldn't be here treating me with concern because I don't deserve it." Pagmamatigas ko.

"Nadamay ka lang sa kalokohan ng pinsan mo. I knew it the moment he lied because you were too shocked. Natangay ka lang sa agos ng kasinungalingan niya."

"But I had the chance to tell Jenna the truth but I didn't. May mali pa rin ako. Accessory to the crime pa rin ako dito." Pangangatwiran ko.

"Fine. I won't argue with you about that. Just please get in the car because I can't have you turn me down for the nth time. It's humiliating." Aniya. Napaisip ako bigla. Kanina ko pa nga naman siya rinereject.

"You can just give up." Sabi ko. "Hindi ko kayang maging pabigat pa sa ibang tao. Let me just take care of myself. That way, wala akong utang na loob at walang magpapalayas sa akin."

He frowned. "Simple lang naman ang hinihingi ko sayo. Imagine there's no Jenna. Just you and me. Just me wanting to help you out without asking for anything in return. Fuck utang na loob. Hindi mo kailangang tanawin ito bilang utang na loob kasi hindi kita susumbatan dahil dito. I've been a jerk to you, Paige. Hayaan mo naman akong bumawi."

I frowned too.

I don't want to be mean to a person who just wants to make up for his lapses.

"Okay. Isang gabi lang." Sabi ko.

Natawa siya bigla.

"Anong nakakatawa?" Tanong ko.

"That didn't sound good. Isang gabi lang?" He laughed again. Oh god. Hindi ko alam that he had a green-minded side. I thought he was just stiff and masungit.

"Ewan ko sayo." I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, don't be so serious. Magkakaayos din kayo." Aniya.

"Were you always this decent? Bakit hindi ka ganiyan noon? Then we could have gotten along pretty well." Kumento ko.

"I went through mental and emotional turmoil, Paige. Pero tapos na 'yun, at gusto kong bumawi sayo." Aniya. "Come here. Give me your bag."

Wow! The improvement...

"Thanks." Mahina kong sabi. Pumasok ako sa kotse. He did the same. Binuhay niya ang makina at nagmaneho.

"Kumain ba si Jenna?" I asked.

"Oo. Kumakain na siya pagdating ko." He replied.

So hinintay niya lang talaga akong makalayas...

"Anong sinabi niya sayo?" Tanong ko.

"She just showed me the photo and the break up text." He replied.

"Mukha ba akong babae ni Trench sa litrato? Porke ba magkasama kami sa iisang litrato ay ganoon na agad ang ibig sabihin?"

"That's exactly what I said to Jenna. We never truly know what's behind that photo unless we ask the persons in it. I told her she was wrong for kicking you out without listening to what you have to say." Sabi niya.