15 What Ifs [COMPLETED]

TWELFTH WHAT IF

"So why is it na hindi ka na pinapansin ni Kuya? It seemed to me naman na okay at maayos ang naging pag–uusap niyo."

Napabuntong hininga na lang ulit ako sa tanong ni Khiena. "Hindi ko nga alam. 'Yan din ang tanong ko tapos binabalik mo lang sa akin."

Mahina naman siyang natawa. "Then confront him. Kuya's the only one who can answer that question."

Ipinatong ko na lang ang baba ko sa lamesa saka tumulala. "Bahala na. Hintayin ko munang mag-isang linggo, baka naman maging okay kaagad siya at kusa nang sagutin 'yun."

Bumalik na lang si Khiena sa pagbabasa. "Mmm-hmm. If you say so." Muling akong napabuntong-hininga. Isang linggo.

ISANG linggo na ang lumipas pero mukhang pursigido talaga siyang hindi ako pansinin kaya naman gagawin ko na lang ang sinabi ni Khiena. Kakausapin kita whether you like it or not.

Agad ko naman siyang nakita na saktong nasa kalagitnaan ng hallway. Mukhang pupunta siya sa kusina ah. Sinabi ko kasi kay Tita na hindi ako pinapansin ni Eric at ginawa niyang solusyon? Pinauwi lahat ng maid para raw wala itong utusan at kusang lumabas ng kwarto. Mukha namang gumana.

"Eric..." Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakapagsalita nang agad siyang tumalikod. Tumakbo naman ako papalapit sa kaniya saka humarang sa daranan niya. "Mag-uusap tayo."

"I don't want to."

"Hindi naman ako nagtatanong. Nagsasabi ako." Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin pero hindi ako umiwas. "Tara sa recreational room. Doon tayo."

ERIC'S POV

I remained to keep silent even though I really do not want to talk to him or be near him again. This happened a week ago and honestly, I don't know what to do or how to react.

My heart happens to beat faster than usual whenever I see him, hear him, or even think of him. And it is not normal! It is definitely not!

And then here. In this room. Just the3 two of us. My heart is hammering erratically inside its cage. He is staring right at me and is not even bothered by my glares. Why is he not affected by my glares? And why am I reacting too much?

I let out a sigh, clearly trying to make myself look calm even though I'm far from being calm. "What is it? Make it quick. I don't have all day," I irritatedly spoke out.

It was his turn to sigh. It was as if he has been having a hard time dealing with a lot of stuff lately. I have been dealing with a lot of stuff too! "Bakit... hindi mo ako kinakausap? Bakit mo 'ko iniiwasan? May nagawa ba akong mali?"

I blinked numerous times. They were just normal words and yet... My freaking weird heart is reacting so violently!

"Eric... Hinayaan kita sa loob ng isang linggo, kasi akala ko maging okay din agad lahat pagkatapos nun, pero mukha namang wala kang planong kausapin pa rin ako." I looked at him and it definitely looked like he was as stressed as me. "Ano bang meron? Kausapin mo naman na ako oh."

It's weird. I hate it. Why do I feel like my heart is aching because of how he looks and his words? Why am I being so weird like this? There's definitely something wrong going on.

"Eric—"

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong." I simply hit my chest where my heart is currently in pain.

I saw his eyes land on my hand, which hit my chest. "Okay ka lang ba? May masakit ba sayo? Nahihirapan ka bang huminga—"

"Dax." I saw him freeze. Does it have something to do with me calling his name for the first time?

He shook his head and then looked at me again. "B-Bakit?"

I looked at him with my stoic face, masquerading my in-mess emotions. "Stop talking. Nothing's wrong. Now, can we leave?"

I saw him take a deep breath before shaking his head. "Hindi. Hindi pa tayo okay eh—"

"Dax—"

"Hindi mo pa rin ako kakausapin—"

"Dax—"

"Tapos hindi mo 'ko papansinin—"

"Dax—"

"Tapos—"

"I'm feeling something weird," I suddenly blurted out upon looking at his face and my heart reacting weirdly again.

"Ano 'yun?"

"You don't need to know—"

"Ano nga kasi—"

"No."

"Isa." Why does he even want to know?

"No." I can't say it.

"Dalawa." No. I don't want to.

"I said no." I can't tell you.

"Tat—" That I—

"I think I like you romantically!" I then froze there with wide eyes. I know he was shocked too because he's reflecting the same emotion that I'm showing. What the hell, Ericson?

There was a short moment of silence before Dax finally got to come back to his senses. And for the first time, I saw no emotions on his face.

Then without any word leaving his mouth, he left the room.

He... He left me.

I let out a humorless chuckle. "For sure, he'll never come back. Just like dad."