The Living Fictions

Chapter 23

“Confident mo naman. Bastedin kita diyan, eh.”

He cleared his throat. “Aye, I'm serious. I want you, I want to court you. Papayagan mo ba ako?”

“Ilang beses mo na 'yang tinanong sa'kin kanina pa ah.”

He smirked. “I mean it.”

“Pinapayagan naman kita... I am just thinking about it, okay? We'll get there din.”

“No problem, I'm not in a rush. I just want you to know that I'm courting you.”

“Fine. Pero kapag nalaman kong may nililigawan ka ring iba, ekis ka agad sa'kin, ah. Walang second chance second chance.”

Inabot pa kami ng hating-gabi kakausap sa isa't-isa. But I didn't mind it. I love talking to him at tsaka, it's not like he's forcing me to talk to him instead of sleeping. Hindi lang talaga namin namalayan ang pagdaan ng oras. Parang ang bilis kasi, eh.

Kaya naman nang maghating-gabi na, nagpaalam na kami sa isa't-isa at natulog ako kaagad at kinabukasan ay tanghaling nagising. Parang sa isang iglap lang ay lunes na naman. Nakakapagod mag-aral pero siyempre hindi iyon dahilan para umabsent ako. Also, I want to see him.

***

I am really happy about how my day went. I and Ryden spend another time at the library. Wala kaming ibang ginawa buong vacant time namin kundi magbasa lang ng libro doon. It means a lot to me. Especially when we are both reading my new favorite book.

“Why does it have to end that way, though.” Malungkot kong saad. Magkatabi kami ngayon ni Ryden habang nagbabasa ng libro at ang aking ulo nama'y nakasandal sa kaniyang balikat.

“Kasi red flag iyong lalaki. He's very abusive towards her girlfriend. Kapag sila ang nagkatuluyan sa huli, their relationship would be unhealthy. Kawawa iyong babae.”

Bumuntong-hininga ako. “Alam ko naman iyon. Naiintindihan ko naman iyong point but it's just so painful. Alam mo, masaya naman ako para sa kanila but it was just so painful that they have to end up that way.”

“Ganoon naman talaga. Kaya nga if a story is full of tragedy, I'd appreciate if it ends them being in separate ways. Kasi, kapag pinipilit mo ang isang pag-ibig, pareho lang kayong masasaktan. Kung hindi naman kayo, maaaring iyong mga tao sa paligid ninyong dalawa ang masasaktan. That's why, sometimes giving up is the best way to do.”

Napatango naman ako sa punto niya. Actually ay mas nauna pa niyang natapos iyong libro basahin kaysa sa'kin. Sinamahan niya lang talaga ako at hinintay kung kailan ako makatapos.

“Ryden, if I will give up on something that really means to me, or to us, magagalit ka ba?”

He shifted his gaze at me. “I may get frustrated but at the end of the day, I'll choose to understand you.”

I smiled and just buried my head on his shoulder.

***

“How's school Ayezza?”

Nang mag-uwian na ay namataan ko kaagad si Mommy na pababa mula sa hagdan. Sinalubong ko siya ng halik sa pisnge.

“Okay naman po, My”

“That's good to hear.” Ngumiti siya sa akin ng simpleng ngiti.

Matapos ang batian namin ay umakyat na akong kwarto para ilagay ang mga gamit ko roon. Ginawa ko na rin ang homework namin bago maghapunan.

“AYE!”

Nasa panghuling baitang palang ako ng hagdan ay rinig ko na agad ang boses na matinis mula kay Arin.