Beneath the Clouds (Beneath Series 1) - COMPLETED

Kabanata 33

Warning: Medyo SPG

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Kabanata 33

Kiss

Sandali akong natulala. His words... it's making me drown for some reasons. Wala pa akong naging masuyong manliligaw kaya hindi ko alam na ganito pala ang pakiramdam. It was too foreign that I don't know what to react.

My knees trembled as I remembered his sleepy face. May kung anong kumiliti sa tiyan ko. Kapag pala baguhan ka, lahat ng detalye kitang kita at nasusubaybayan mo.

Dinala ko ang folder at mabilis na tumungo sa labas para sundan siya. I closed the door pero hindi na nag-abala pang i-lock 'yon. May mga facility staffs naman na nag-iikot.

"You don't have to run para sundan ako. Binabagalan ko na nga lang ang lakad ko para antayin ka," he said with a ghost smile.

Nasa tabi niya na ako. Sumimangot ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Obviously, ang hangin niya nanaman. I winced at him saka tumingin sa harapan.

My heart pounded when I felt his hand on mine, slowly clasping our fingers. Malamig ang kamay ko pero nang hawakan niya, ramdam ko agad ang init.

I bit my lips and concentrated on the pathways, convincing myself not to get distracted with our clasped hands.

"I thought you'll pull away," he said kaya napatingin ako lalo sa kanya. He is now holding the office box with his left hand. Mas hinigpitan niya rin ang hawak sa kamay ko.

"B-Bakit ko gagawin 'yon? When we're in highschool, lagi rin naman tayong naghoholding hands, a," I replied.

Another smile crept on his lips. "It's different now, Railey. Back then, we're just friends. I did held your hands noong naging tayo pero panandalian din. You broke up with me on the phone and you me that that's the end for us."

Guilt spread my system. I was immature back then. Nagdedesisyon ako sa kung ano ang tingin kong tama but I didn't considered his feelings at all. I just thought everything that I did was for good him. Hindi ko manlang siya tinanong kung ano ang opinyon niya. Ako ang unang nakasakit. It was me who hurted him first. It was me who has tainted his name.

"I have my own reasons. That time, naapektuhan talaga ako ng mga sinasabi ng mga tao. Ang sabi nila, piniperahan daw kita. Na materyal na bagay lang daw ang habol ko sa'yo kaya kinaibigan kita, and some termed it na... inakit daw kita."

There's bitterness in me pero hindi na katulad noon na galit na galit ako sa mga tao. I stayed away from them dahil sa mga sinasabi nila tungkol sa akin, or even kay Mama. It was too painful. Too painful that I almost forget how to live.

Mas humigpit pa ang hawak niya sa kamay ko.

"But you knew none of them is true, right?"

I smiled sadly. "Hindi naman kasi talaga totoo. Pero hindi mo ako masisisi. I'm weak that time, hindi katulad ng iniisip mo. Naapektuhan ako dahil 'yon pala ang tingin ng mga tao sa akin. At natatakot ako para sa'yo."

Napahinto siya sa paglalakad kaya't napahinto rin ako. His breathing was uneven kaya kinabahan ako.

"Bakit ka matatakot para sa akin? Hindi ako kailanman nagpaapekto sa sinasabi ng iba, Rai. I can fight for us kahit alam kong pagod ka na noon. Gustong gusto kitang ilaban."

"That's what I'm afraid of. Natatakot ako para sa'yo, Nova. I'm afraid that you'll do everything for me..." I swallowed hard while looking at his eyes. "Na... kaya mong itapon lahat para sa'kin. May scholarship ka pa abroad aside from Ateneo. Hindi mo sinabi sa akin, and you just threw it as if nothing dahil sa akin. You threw that opportunity kahit alam mong posible kang madiscover, na pupwede kang lumago."