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Chapter 16

Sumikat na nga ang araw at nandito pa rin kami sa bundok. Wala akong takot na nararamdaman, pagalitan na kung pagalitan. Kasi rito payapa ang puso ko. Kasi rito alam ko someone cares for me. Maybe, all of these are temporary but at least it made me calm and worry less.

Saglit na katahimikan nag bumalot sa paligid. Hinayaan lang akong umiyak ng kasama ko. Like, sa lugar na malayo sa lahat Ang pagtangis ko lamang ang maririnig. Hindi siya nagreklamo kahit pangit pa ang boses ko at mukha akong tanga na rito.

"Hindi ka ba naririndi sa boses ko?" tanong ko sa kanya habang pinupunasan ang tumutulong luha sa aking mata.

"It's music to my ears," he replied. Mukhang tanga naman?! Compliment ba 'yon?

"Tanga ka ba?" Natatawa kong tanong.

"I'm not. Narinig ko na lahat ng tao na umiyak at sa'yo lang talaga ang maganda sa lahat." I don't know how to react to what he just stated.

Pinaglololoko ata ako nito.

"Weird. You're really a weird person," I commented.

"I can feel and hear the stories behind your cries. Kaya nga instead of asking the reason why you're not okay. I told you to let out everything and cry it out," paliwanag niya sa akin.

And I did. Nagiging vocal na ako sa nararamdaman ko these days. And I don't know if is it good or bad.

"I don't know, mula nang makilala kita gumaan pakiramdam ko. Like, ilang tao man ang talikuran ako, I know someone is there for me when I needed a person to lean on." Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. It's like he's telling me to continue what I'm saying. "You know, I have friends but I don't know who the real ones are. Never mind about my family 'cause I know they didn't care about me. They see me as a failure. Parang wala akong nagagawang tama sa mga mata nila. Nakakapagod abutin ang expectations nila."

I sighed.

"Isa akong manunulat, iyan lang ang isang talentong kaya kong ipagmalaki sa lahat. But my parents didn't approve of my passion. They want to stop me from doing what I love. Then I have a friend who cheers me up. I haven't seen her, but I know I can trust her. She's one of my motivations kasi naniniwala siya sa kakayahan ko," I continued.

"But then, I was accused of plagiarism. Everyone judged me because of that lies. Kahit 'yong mga nakakakilala sa akin, they stop supporting me. Alam mo kung anong mas masakit? When I'm trying to find the person behind this mess. The shreds of evidence pointed out the person I trusted the most. Nakakatakot... I wanted to stop seeking the truth but I need to know the reason behind it para makaahon ako at makapagsimula ulit."

Tumikhim ang katabi ko and he smiled at me.

"I don't want you to be stuck. Nakikita ko na mahal mo ang ginagawa mo, ang pagsusulat. So, hindi man kita matutulungan sa paghanap ng totoo. I can help you in writing," confident nitong saad.

"But I don't know how to start. I tried to write again and everything was a mess. Hindi na muli ako makapagsulat."

"That's why I'm here trying to help you in that matter as much as I can. I'm not good at writing but I can help you find inspiration," sagot niya.

"You're having second thoughts? Then, let's meet again. After the day tomorrow, let's meet again."

"You sure, you're doing this? for me?"

"Why not? I'm not going to regret it, anyways. Mas magsisisi ako na hindi kita natulungan when I have the chance to do so." What the fuck is this guy doing to my heart? Natatamaan ako sa mga bulaklakin niyang salita. And it's not good.