No Strings Attached

Chapter 23

LEISON was invited in a birthday party na kung saan ay wala siyang gaanong kakilala. Medyo awkward noong una dahil karamihan sa bisita ni Nero ay ang mga kabatch nilang intimidated sa kanya. Saka niya lamang nakapalagayan ng loob ang mga ito noong magkasama-sama sila sa iisang table at magkakwentuhan.

Masaya siyang lumilingap sa paligid, nang bigla ay may madaanan ang kanyang mata.

A familiar man burst into that room out of nowhere. Nakipagbatian pa ito sa mga nakasalubong. It was a nostalgic feeling to see him again-- Jacob. Ngunit alam niya sa sarili na wala na siyang nararamdaman para dito. It's just that, iba lang talaga minsan sa pakiramdam kapag hindi nabigyan ng closure ang isang pangyayari.

"Jacob!" Napalingon ito sa kanilang lamesa noong kumaway ang isa sa kanyang mga kasama.

Jacob greeted the squad included her. Nakipagtawanan ito sa kanila habang nagrereminisce ng mga terror profs noong college days.

She's glad to see that Jacob has moved on. Natitignan na siya nito ngayon sa mata nang hindi naiilang. Maybe this is the right time to talk about the history.

"Jacob... what happened?" She asked, smiling while looking at him. They chose to stay in that verandah, thus seemed like they both know that they want to give closure to their unfinished business in college.

Natawa ito at ginulo ang sariling buhok. "Uhhm, realization hit... I think?"

"Oh.." Napatango siya. "Pero bakit parang galit ka sa akin noong mga oras na iyon? I mean, hello? Ikaw yung nang-ghost."

Kapwa sila nagtawanan.

Nahihiyang napahaplos sa batok si Jacob. "Mali yun, sobrang mali yun. I know."

Tumango siya. "You're right. I just don't get it haha. Ang dami kong tanong that time kasi I thought we were good. You know I really liked you then, right?"

Jacob nodded. Ipinatong nito ang siko sa railings at tumanaw sa mga nagsswimming sa unang palapag.

"Yeah, I believed you when you told me you liked me, and you know what? It was supposed to be overwhelming, but it didn't."

Napalingon siya kay Jacob. Nagpatuloy ito.

"Knowing that you liked me, hearing that I was your dream guy, yet couldn't commit to me? It... hurts... and confusing."

Lumingon sa kanya si Jacob.

"Within the months that I was with you, halos mabaliw ako sa pagka-confuse. It took me meditation to realize what it simply means. It means that you like me, but you don't love me; You don't love me because you don't want to be with me."

Napatanga siya kay Jacob nang marinig ang mga salitang iyon. It was as if it hit a home.

"Doon ko narealize na kahit tumagal pa ako sayo, hindi ka talaga magcocommit sa akin. You know... like, want, and love are different variation of feelings. Noong mga oras na iyon hindi ko na kayang maging proud na gusto mo ako. Kasi... alam mo yun... gusto mo lang ako eh, pero hindi mo ako mahal. Your action showed what you really felt for me, so I believed in it. I know  you  wouldn't understand but at least I have explained my part--"

"I understand." Tulad nito ay ibinaling niya ang kanyang atensyon sa ika-unang palapag. She waved her hand as she saw Nero looking up to them. She smiled. "I could never blame you for doing that."

Mangha ang mukha ni Jacob na lumingon sa kanya. Tila hindi nito inaasahan ang konsiderasyon mula sa kanya.

"I am sorry to offend you that time, Jacob. Hindi ko alam ganun na pala nararamdaman mo."