Chasing Her (On-Going)

Chapter 27 - Always

Hindi ako nahirapang hanapin si Sole dahil sa laki niya. When Matt saw me, nakahinga siya ng maluwag at binitiwan si Sole para makaupo sa bench. The surrounding is loud due to music.

"You're Ynelle?" Tanong niya.

Matt is tall, pale and curly. Kahawig niya si Sole but more likely a good boy type. Ngumiti siya sa 'kin bago tumingin sa pinsan niyang tulog.

"Yes, I think you're Ynelle. He seems to recognize you." Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya bago tumingin kay Sole na nakaangat ang tingin sa 'kin. "Bro, stop drinking and be drunk like that. Hindi maaayos ang problema niyo sa gan'yan. Be good. Una na ako. Thank you, Ynelle for coming and you can take him sa mental or somewhere you like." He joked before running and waved good bye.

Hindi man lang ako nakapagsalita dahil sa daldal ng pinsan niya. No wonder they're complete different.

"Ynelle..." He whispered before grabbing my t-shirt. "Anong ginawa ko?"

Hindi ko maintindihan pero parang may mali. He's... crying. I bent down and look him in the eyes. Umiiyak siya pero hindi dahil sa nakita niya ako, because he's in pain.

"Bakit kailangan kong mamili?" Tanong niya bago ako hinila at niyakap. "I don't wanna lose them but I don't want to lose you either. Gulong-gulo na ako."

Habang sinasabi niya 'yon, hindi ko mapigilang maawa at yakapin siya pabalik. This isn't my first time seeing him this desperate, nakita ko rin siyang ganito when I broke up with him.

"I can't choose. I didn't want to choose!" He stated. "But they did. They do choose you and left me."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. I thought he's talking about his family. Is he talking about...

"Why did they left me like I'm no one? Bakit nila kailangang pumili when we can do this all together? Ikaw lang naman ang kailangang mamili sa 'min. Ikaw lang."

Maybe, that's the reason why they didn't bother to call or text me. May gulo sa kanila.

We stayed like that hanggang sa kumalma siya at matauhan. He kept on saying sorry pero tinatawanan ko lang siya. I bought water and gave him that.

"Make yourself sober para mahatid kita pauwi." Ani ko kaya nabilaukan siya.

"What? Ihahatid mo ako?"

"Masama ba 'yon?"

"No. Kaya ko na. I can commute, maraming taxi dito." Pagtanggi niya. "You already done enough for today. You even saw me cry, again."

I couldn't help but to laugh at him. Hindi rin siya nakapagpigil at mahinang hinampas sa ulo ko ang bote ng tubig na binigay ko sa kan'ya.

"You never change, Ynelle."

Pinilit ko siya na sumabay na sa 'kin. He even insisted to commute pero binantaan ko siyang hindi ko siya papansinin at kakausapin kaya naman sumakay agad siya ng kotse. He offered to drive but hindi ko binigay ang susi ng kotse ko.

"I can drive!"

"You're still drunk. Hindi mo dala ang lisensya mo kaya ako ang magmamaneho, maliwanag?" Parang nanay na sabi ko sa kan'ya kaya natawa siya.

I just looked at him and smiled. I made him laugh, kahit sa kasungitan ko and it made me at ease. At least I can cheer him up.

I drove him to his place. Hindi gano'n kalayo sa location nila kanina kaya mabilis lang ang byahe. Nang makababa siya, magmamaneho na sana ako pabalik pero bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Can you at least join me inside?"

I couldn't explain why I feel pain when I looked at him. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumango at ipasok ang kotse sa parking lot niya.