Rule #1: Rule of Fate

[8]

"I'm sorry."

Ilang minuto din siguro bago ako nakasagot sa kanya.

I saw how his face fell. Unti-unti niya rin binitawan ang mga kamay ko. I looked at him apologetically. I wasn't good with rejections. Probably, because I never rejected anyone ever. Hindi naman kase ako ligawin. I heard some people saying they wanted to, but they think I look suplada or something that's why they back off. Hindi naman talaga ako ganon.

"Look, I know I liked you before... pero kase, hindi na ikaw ang gusto ko ngayon." dahan-dahan kong sabi.

He became my friend at some point kaya naman ayaw kong siya saktan. Pero kahit pagandahin ko naman ang sasabihin ko sa kanya, alam ko wala rin. Masasaktan at masasaktan pa rin siya.

Malungkot siyang ngumiti sa akin. "So you like someone else huh?" he asked, his voice laced with pain.

Hindi ko alam.

Magulo pa, honestly.

"Maybe...?" I said. "Everything's still confusing to me."

He nodded. "Who?" he curiously asked. He chuckled a bit. "He's a competition, I have to know who it is, Lia."

Pinagisipan ko tuloy kung sasabihin ko sa kanya, but that would only make it worse. I rejected him, then sasabihin ko sa kanya sino yung nagugustuhan ko ngayon? Ang insensitive naman non. Besides, halos same circle pa ata sila since basketball player rin siya.

"Sorry... I'm not comfortable saying who it is." sabi ko sa kanya.

He smiled again, though I could see it is not one of his genuine smiles. "It's okay, I won't force you."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. I'm glad we are on the same page on this one.

"But... I still won't give up." he said. "Don't worry. I won't force you to like me. Hindi rin kita kukulitin. Hindi rin ako magpapakita sa 'yo kung ayaw mo. I also won't talk to you if you don't want to talk to me. I'm just here... I'm here if you need me. I'm here if you need to talk to anyone."

Nawala ang ngiti ko sa sinabi niya. What should I say?

"Besides you liked me once, who says you can't like me twice?" he added a hint of hope in his voice.

"Kale naman..."

"What? It's true. Don't worry about it too much, Lia. I chose this. Kaya papanindigan ko 'to. It's my fault that I'm in this situation anyway." he says.

I was about to say something but then I saw Elijah walking toward us. Agad niya rin kaming napansin. He waved his hand at me.

"There you are! I was looking all over the place for you guys!" Elijah says slowly approaching for us. Lumingon si Kale sa kanya. "Oh, I see. You're talking. Did I disturb anything?" he asked.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kale. Parehas naman kami napangiti. I saw how Elijah smirked. He probably thinks there's something going on between the two of us.

Nakita ko naman si Gray na lumabas ng restroom, napansin naman din siya agad ni Elijah.

"Gray! My man!" he says raising his hand for a handshake from Gray. Ngumiti naman si Gray at nakipag handshake kay Elijah. I'm guessing they know each other from basketball too or maybe because of Prince. Whoever is friends with Prince is introduced to everyone. Nakakapagtaka lang. How come, hindi talaga siya nakilala ni Emma? How come, I never really saw him before?