EVER SINCE WE WERE TEN

CHAPTER 23

SUNDAY at nasa bahay lang kami ni Shawn. We both decided to clean the room next to mine so he could stay there.

We took a day off from work because of a very exhausting week. We decided na pagkatapos naming maglinis, we will go for a stroll.

It's been a week after that dinner at tita Anna's house. Isang linggo ko na ring hindi nakita ulit si Kyle. He must be busy.

"Shawn! gimme that broom" I asked Shawn.

"What broom?" hindi talaga ginagamit ang mata eh.

"At your back, dummy." napakamot lang siya ng ulo pagkakita niya nito.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagpupunas ng ibang furniture habang tinatapos ko naman ang pagwawalis. Ang init. Nakapatay kasi ang aircon.

The doorbell rang. At dahil wala namang ginagawa si Shawn, siya na ang bumaba. Wala naman kaming inaasahang pupunta ngayon. Baka si tita Anna lang at naghahatod ng pagkain?

Natapos ko na ang pagwawalis, hindi pa rin bumabalik si Shawn. Wht's taking him so long?

"Shawn? Who was that?" tanong ko pagkababa. Nasa harap pa rin siya ng door. When I went closer, I saw who he's talking to.

Matalim na tingin ang ipinuko saakin ni Kyle. He looked at me from head to foot, then at Shawn's. Then I realized, this is a bad timing.

"He's looking for you. I told him you're still busy upstairs fixing the bed. He won't go" Shawn just shrugged and headed back upstairs.

"Really, Rian?" he looked at me as if I made a grave sin.

"N-no. It's not what you think!" I looked at myself. I am wearing a big white shirt and a cycling shorts. The shirt is covering my shorts kaya mukhang naka underwear lang ako. Napapikit ako sa inis, because Shawn was shirtless.

"What do you think am I thinking? Hmm?" Kyle said, moving closer to me. Tuluyan na siyang nakapasok sa bahay. Umaatras naman ako.

"U-uhm.... No...thing?" This is beyond embarrassing. Bakit ba kasi ngayon lang siya magpapakita ulit after a week?

He then sighed and stopped walking towards me.

"Let's have dinner later? Hindi pa tayo nakakapag-usap ng maayos simula nung bumalik ka" he looked at me warmly.

"I-I'll just ask Shawn if ------

"Just the two of us, Rian. I don't want him to tag along" agad niyang sabi na may halong inis. Ano na naman kayang sinabi ni Shawn dito at oarang pikon na pikon?

"Kasi, a-ano. May pupuntahan kami mamaya eh." he looked so sad. I felt my heart ache as I watch him being sad.

"P-pero we can go out tomorrow. Well, uhm... If you.....want?" he looked at me, now hurt. What now?

"Tomorrow? Can I pick you up?" he asked. Hopeful.

"Yeah, sure. May work ako bukas. Pero pwede mo akong sunduin d'on. I'll just ask Shawn to go hime first. Is that fine?" he chuckled humorlessly.

"That's good enough. Hindi pa rin ako sanay na may iba kanang sinasandalan maliban sakin" he can't look at my eyes. He's just looking everywhere but me.

"H-hey. I'm sorry. It's not like that-----

"No, it's fine. I'm fine. Kita nalang tayo bukas." he gave me a tight hug and I hugged him back. Umalis na siya ng bahay nang hindi ako nililingon. I just sighrd and closed the door. I missed us, but we can't bring it back. Andbwe both know it.

Matamlay akong bumalik sa taas. Only to see Shawn messing up what I just cleaned.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Sawakas at natapos na rin ang paglilinis. Pinalabas ko nalang si Shawn kasi mukhang dumodoble pa ang lilinisin. Naiwan lang saglit sa kwarto, pagbalik ko lahat ng winalis ko, kumalat sa buong kwarto. Tatanga tanga kasi, pinaandar ang electric fan kahi hindi pa natatapon ang mga dumi.

Naglinis na rin kami ng sarili and we both decided na pumunta sa pinkamalapit na mall.

We went first to Jollibee, para kumain. Walang Jollibee sa America kaya naisip kong dito nalang kumain kasi namimiss ko na.

"What did he want?" Shawn asked out of the blue.

"Who?" wala sakanya ang atensyon ko. Gustom na gutom na 'ko kaya ayokong maistorbo.

"Him. Your Kyle" And there, he got my attention. Kahit pagbanggit lang ng pangalan niya, pakiramdam ko sasabog ang puso ko.

"He wanted to take me out for dinner" I tried acting na parang wala lang 'yon.

"And? You refused, why?" how did he know I refused?

"Because obviously, you're eating dinner here with me. So, you refused. Why?" ang chismoso talaga ng kanong to.

"I don't know what to say yet. I'm scared. Baka mas lumala lang ang lahat kapag may mali na naman akong masabi." I'm scared of opening up to him again. Paano kung hindi na naman niya magustuhan ang sasabihin ko, at lalayo na ulit siya?

"You wouldn't know if you wouldn't try, love. I know he cares for you. And he's also afraid of doing the same mistakes again" Shawn said sincerely. Medyo gumaan naman ang pakiramdam ko. I will just hold onto clesribg things up, and our care for each other.

"How can you tell?" Shawn always talks like he's reading Kyle like an open book. I wonder how he does that .

"Trust me, I know."

After eating dinner, we just strolled around. May nadaan akong boutique. Gustong kong mamili ng damit kaya sinamahan nalang din ako ni Shawn sa loob. He does have a good fashion taste.

"Shawn, what do you think about this?" I picked a red above the knee off-shoulder dress.

"Pick another color" hmmkay. Naupo na si Shawn sa sofa na nakadisplay doon. Mukhang napagod na yata kaya ako nakang ang nag ikot sa boutique.

A familiar woman caught my attention. Pero mukhang hindi naman, but they really look the same. The woman looked at me, shocked. But not as shocked as me.

Lumapit siya sa gawi ko. I just stood there, motionless.

"Rian, nakabalik ka na pala." She hugged me. Which made me shock even more.

"J-juliet?" This can't be her. Ang dating Juliet, na naging simula ng gulo sa pagitan namin ni Kyle. The Juliet who threatened me of stealing Kyle. And the Juliet who was always judging my actions, is here in front of me. But this ladu in front of me is not her. Gone the fashionista Juliet. Gone the glamorous mini dresses and thick make up. Gone the rude, and bossy aura.

"W-what happened to you?"