The Candle of Love

Chapter 20: Rejected

Medyo natagalan akong abutin ang kamay niya.

"Nice to meet you."

Tumango lang ako. My smile faded. I hate that the smirk is still plastered on her face.

"Berlin! Prague!"

Maeve waved her hand at our back. Sabay kaming lumingon ni Blaine doon. Hindi pa man tuluyang nakakalapit, kita ko na agad ang lamig ng tingin ni Berlin sa babaeng kasama ng pinsan niya ngayon.

"Hi, Ash." His ex-girlfriend awkwardly greeted her. Wala siyang sagot doon.

"Maeve, what is this?" seryosong tanong ni Prague.

"What? Gusto lang namin makita ang school niyo."

"Hi, Prague. I guess you're not happy to see me," si Anie habang nakangiti.

"It's not like that."

"Come on, guys. Are you seriously thinking that I brought Anie here on purpose?"

Hinarap ako ni Berlin. "Kanina ka pa?" He softly asked.

"Hindi naman."

Humarap siya kina Prague. "Mauna na kami ni Zeph."

I noticed that he didn't take a look at Anie. Reason for his ex-girlfriend to smirk.

Tinignan ko si Blaine para magpaalam. Tumango naman siya sa'kin at ngumiti.

Berlin is probably pre-occupied of something because I managed to bring him in my unit. Sa Clubhouse lang dapat kami pero hindi niya napansin na nakalagpas na kami doon at paakyat na. I'm hungry so I'm going to cook.

I checked my countertops to see what food I have. Napanguso ako nang makitang spicy noodles lang ang nandoon. It looks like I need to grocery now.

Nilingon ko si Berlin. He's seated on my couch while still seriously thinking of something. I hate that it might be his ex-girlfriend that showed up earlier.

Lumapit ako. I hugged him on the back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He finally looked at me.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

Umiling siya.

"Are you not starving?"

"No. How about you?"

"I am. Pero wala na akong stock ng pagkain kaya wala akong maluto."

"Then let's just order something." He got his phone from his wallet. Umirap ako at agad na kinuha ang cellphone niya. Pero may napansin ako roon.

"Wait. Let me see your wallpaper."

My eyes widened when I confirmed it. Agad akong napangiti. His wallpaper is me. Nakatalikod ako habang tinitignan 'yung painting sa BenCab Museum.

"Kailan pa 'to?"

I looked at him. Nakangiti na rin siya sa'kin ngayon.

"The day we took that."

"Ang daya. Hindi mo sinabing wallpaper mo ako. Dapat ako rin."

Umupo ako sa tabi niya at pinilit siyang kuhaan ng pictures. Kaya lang ay tinatakpan niya ang mukha niya mula sa camera.

"No," natatawa niyang sabi.

"Just one picture."

"Let's just take a photo together." Kinuha niya ang cellphone ko. But I'm sulking because I want his face alone.

Bakit hindi ko naisip 'yon dati pa? Noon pa lang dapat ginawa ko na siyang wallpaper. Tignan natin kung hindi pa ako magising nang maaga sa tuwing titignan ko ang oras sa phone ko.