Three Seconds ✔

32

"Come on," I say, gritting my teeth in irritation. It's obvious he is aware about my affection towards him, but he doesn't need to lie just to save me from being embarrassed. "You can lie to everyone, but to me?"

I don't know what happened, I just see myself leaning more closer to his cheeks and whisper, "I know you well. And about your words earlier, don't worry because I am okay," I lie, again.

I stand up, acting brave. "You become more taller, huh?" I tell, crossing my arms across the chest part of my wet shirt. "Ganiyan siguro talaga kapag nasa tamang tao ka."

Tinaasan niya 'ko ng kilay matapos ko 'yung nilitanya. Lumapit naman siya sa 'kin at inayos ang towel sa balikat ko. "So talagang ikaw ang tamang tao," he says, not that audible but enough to make my world shine brighter.

"You can go now," utos ko. "Someone must be waiting you there."

"Hmm?"

"Come on. 'Di ako nagbibiro."

"Kailan pa 'ko nagbiro?" hamon niya na nagpatahimik sa 'kin. "After you fix up yourself, come back to me."

"Ano?!" naitanong ko na lang. Kakaiba na talaga ang lalaki na 'to. Parang biglang bumaligtad ang lahat. Noon, siya palagi ang talo, tapos ngayon iba na talaga. "Anong come back to me? Para ka talagang may something," hirit ko sabay talikod.

"Maghihintay ako, Marynald." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Ang sarap talagang pakinggan kapag mismong sa bibig niya lumalabas ang pangalan ko. "We will be having a dinner."

"At kailan ka pa nagkaroon ng overflowing confidence, a', Gopio?"

"Simula noong pinandirihan mo 'ko," matibay niya namang sabi, mata ay nakatutok talaga sa 'kin. "Look," lito niyang usal bago nagpatuloy, "I will wait you here." Sabay upo sa main couch.

"I am busy," prangka ko kaagad at iniwasan siya ng tingin. "Thus, don't wait." I turn my heels on with finality, suppressing my abnormal breathing. I know he won't wait for nothing. He mustn't wait me. Because from the very start, I never deserved the wait and effort.

Mabigat pa rin ang dibdib ko habang tinatahak ang sariling kwarto. Lazily, I walk towards my make-up table and start preparing my cosmetic-kit. I first apply the black mask that I brought a week ago. I put it on, making my cheeks brighten naturally.

Bakit...? Bakit ang sakit pa rin? Bakit ganoon siya? Despite of what I did to him, he is still treating me like a vulnerable diamond. He is too good to be true. I really deserve nothing.

"H-he is unbelievable," I whisper to myself, tightly palming my lip gloss. I reluctantly try it on my lips, and by that, the curve of my lips highly accentuates. "I don't deserve the love. All I deserve is pain. Only pain."

I look upon my rectangular clock just above me. It says it's already twelve o'clock. A new daw to be faced. A new day to be conquered.

Dito na lang ba muna ako? Should I go out? But funny how the latter scares me the most. He has changed. His presence is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, yet giving me the most intimidating feeling I have ever felt.

"Anong gagawin ko, Low?" napagpasyahan kong tawagan na lang siya dahil kailangan ko talaga ng makakausap ngayon. "Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng gagawin ko. Natatakot akong bumaba at baka'y makita ko siyang naghihintay pa rin."

"Nag-usap na ba kayo? Kasi kung 'di mo natatanong, lahat ng eksena sa pools ay kitang-kita ko." Humagikhik pa siya sa kabilang linya. "Mukhang nag-enjoy ka rin naman. Grabe ka, a'."

Natahimik ako at naramdaman ang pamumula ng pisngi. Since nakita rin ni Lowelyn 'yun, 'di na 'ko magtataka kung nakita rin nina Papa at Auntie. "Pero malakas ang feelings ko na nasa sala pa rin siya, hinihintay ka. Naalala ko pa nga ang sabi ni Joyce sa 'kin noon, Nald, na dapat ay huwag tayong magpapadala sa labis na kalungkutan, na dapat matuto tayong mahalin ang mga bagay-bagay... Bagay man o tao."