SCRIPTOREM

Chapter 11

"Luwi, no."

"and give me an answer because I cannot go on like this! Any longer..."

"Please, no..."

"I gave up billiards! I gave up the things that you don't like! I'm happy I did."

"Luwi... Please, no..."

"It's fine, and I waited, and I never complained because I... You know I figured that you'd love me, Eli."

Naaawa si Eli ngayon sa itsura ni Louis dahil hindi sya sanay na ganito si Louis sa harap nya.

"And I realize I'm not good enough and I'm not this great man-"

"Hindi, Louis. Hindi." Iiling-iling na sambit ni Eli. "You're a great deal too good for me. I'm so grateful to you, and I'm so proud of you, and I just... I don't see why I can't love you as you want me to. I... I don't know why..." Naluluhang saad ni Eli.

"Hindi mo kaya?"

"Hindi... I can't change how I feel and... It would be a lie to say that I do when I don't. I'm so sorry, Luwi." Malungkot ang tono ni Eli.

"I'm so sorry, but I just can't help it. I can't love anyone else, Eli. I only love you."

Nasasaktan ngayon si Eli para kay Louis dahil hindi nya ito kayang mahalin pabalik gaya ng gusto nya.

"It would be a disaster if we married,"

"It wouldn't be."

"We'd be miserable."

"I'd be a perfect man for you." Pagmamakaawa ni Louis.

"I can't! I can't! I tried and failed. I can't. Why does everyone expect it?"

"Your family and my grandpa expect it. Why are you saying this? Say yes! Let's be happy together, Eli." Pagmamakaawa pa ni Louis.

"I can't say yes truly, so I'm not going to say it at all." Ani Eli kahit na magkalapit na ang mukha nila ngayon.

"And you'll see that I'm right eventually, and you'll thank me for it." Kalmadong sabi ni Eli.

Pagkasabi nun ni Eli sa harap ni Louis ay agad itong umalis at naglakad papalayo.

"I'd rather hang myself than realize this." Saad ni Louis saka mabilis na naglakad papalayo.

"Luwi!" Habol ni Eli.

"I would rather be dead!"

"Luwi... Don't say that..."

Tumakbo si Eli palapit kay Louis. "Makinig ka. Makakahanap ka rin ng maganda, accomplished girl na mamahalin ka at magiging faithful sayo. Magiging perfect sya sayo, unlike sakin."

Humarap sa kanya si Louis. "Yes, yes you would, Eli."

"Tignan mo ko... I'm homely, I'm awkward and I'm odd-"

"I love you, Eli."

"and you'd be ashamed of me-"

"I love you, Eli."

"At mag-aaway lang tayo kasi tignan mo naman ngayon diba?" Aniya pero hindi sumagot si Louis.

"I hate elegant society, you'd hate my scribbling, and we would be unhappy. And we'd wish we haven't done it, and everything will be horrid." Tuloy tuloy na sabi ni Eli.

"Is there anything more?"

"No, nothing more..."

"Alright," ani Louis saka tumalikod at naglakad papalayo kay Eli.

"Except that..." Panimula ulit ni Eli kaya lumingon sa kanya si Louis. "Luwi, hindi nga ako naniniwala sa sarili ko na magpapakasal ako. I'm happy as I am, and I love my liberty too well to be in any hurry to give it up."

"I think you're wrong, Eli."

"No."

"I think you will marry."

"No."

"You'll find someone and you'll love them. You will live and die for them. That's your way, and you will. And I'll watch." Saad ni Louis saka nya iniwan si Eli na mag-isa.

I hope you find someone who can love you the way you do, Luwi ...