Hindi agad naproseso ng utak ko lalo na ng puso ko ang sinabi niyang iyon. Ramdam ko ang kirot. Nasilayan ko ang galit sa kaniyang mga mata.
Ate Aiks: So yun na? Di kayo nag usap? As in wala na?
"Oppps, Bro I didn't quite understand that. Dr. Janine I am James. I am from the same program as Seb's. Seb, why don't you invite her to dinner later?"
"Oh,yes. You should come, Dr. Janine. Actually all of the new students are invited."
Gusto ko pa sana siyang makausap pero tinawag na sila ng isa niya pang kasama.
"Sorry, excuse us. We have to go. See you later?"Sabi niya
"Ha?" Sagot ko.
"Sa dinner later. Lipad na agad yang isip mo." At agad na umalis.
Ano ka ba naman Tricia, anong ineexpect mo? Okay kayo? And that he will welcome you with open arms? Mali ka. Malaki ang kasalanan mo.
DINNER
Nagdalawang isip ako kung pupunta ba ako o hindi. Pero dahil bago ako ay minabuti ko nang pumunta. Ayaw ko din naman na masabihan ako ng kung ano ano. At mas lalong ayaw kong isipin niya na iniiwasan ko siya (as if naman iisipin niya pa yun. Mukhang okay naman na siya. At sino naman ako para pag tuunan pa niya ng pansin).
I can't take my eyes off him. I miss him. I wanted to say sorry and kiss him after.
"Enjoying the view?" Sabat ng katabi ko.
"Ha?" Sagot ko.
"You are staring at him. By the way I am also from the same class as Seb's. I am Martha. And you are?" Pag papakilala niya.
"I'm Tricia. GHD."
She nodded. She seems very curious kung bakit hindi mawala wala ang tingin ko kay Carmelo.
I ended up sitting next to Martha. I wouldn't mind listening to whatever she will say. At this point I am desperate to learn more about him. Kung hindi ko siya makamusta ng direkta - ang kwento tungkol sakanya mula sa iba ay sapat na - sa ngayon.
"Are you in any way attracted or interested in him?" Tanong niya.
"Neither." Pag kukunwari kong sagot."I am just curious because he is the only Filipino here aside from me."
Tumango tango naman siya. Sinasabi ng isip at puso ko na Martha mag kwento ka. Please. Magkwento ka ng alam mo tungkol sakanya. I am dying to know.
"Yeah, you're right. You two are the only Filipinos I've seen in HMS. I hope you two can get along."
"Seb is a very genuine guy. By the way my name is Patrick and I am not eavesdropping. You are?"
"Tricia. I am Tricia." Sagot ko. "Nice to meet you, Patrick."
Me: So sobrang desperada ko na ba? Ate? Jill?
Jill: Ate Trish, yung Patrick ba pogi?
Me: Jilllllllllllian!!!
Jill: Okay. Seryoso na. Tapusin mo muna yung kwento mo girl. Wag ka din pabitin.
"Are you friends with him?" I asked them.
Tumango sila bilang sagot. Sabi ko sa isip ko please wag lang kayo tumango. Mag salita kayo.
"Yes. But that just started late last year. Right, Martha?"
"Yeah! He was so quiet on the first 2 terms of last year. He was not open to the idea of going out. Have fun. At first we thought he was just studious or nerd something like that. But -
"He was just heart broken. Poor, poor guy." Pag agaw ni Patrick sabay sulyap kay Carmelo.
I know you were heart broken. Now that I am here I hope I can make it up to you. I hope I can still say sorry.
"He was so devasted. He just had the courage to open up during one of our serious late night talks. That day was the very first time we got to talk to him with no school requirements involved." Martha recalled.
Sinulyapan ko siya ngunit agad ko iyong binawi ng nahuli niya akong nakatingin sa kanya.
"Like girl, if you were just here back then. You'll feel sorry for the guy. He was deeply hurt by his girlfriend of 8 fucking years. Can you believe that? If I was just his girlfriend I wouldn't say No when he asked my hand in marriage. Like fuck that's Seb. Seb Carmelo Castro - a good looking, funny, kind, intelligent and hot guy! I wouldn't say NO! " gigil na turan ni Patrick.
FLASH BACK
"Trish, love. Alam mo naman na hindi ako sobrang effort na tao. I mean hindi ako yung tipong grand gesture. Simple lang ako kasi alam ko na simple ka lang din."
Nasa dalampasigan kaming dalawa. Watching the sunset on our 8th year anniversary.
"Hindi ko naman kailangan ng grand gesture na anniversry date, Love. Basta kasama kita okay na yun. Sapat na yun."
Little did I know that while we are watching the sunset ay may surpresa na pala siyang nakahanda.
"Love, lingon ka sa likod mo." Nangungusap ang mga mata niyang sabi.
Nag tataka man ay lumingon ako. Nandito ang mommy at daddy niya. Nandito rin sina Mama, Ate Aiks and Jill.
Pag balik ko ng atensyon sakanya ay nakaluhod na siya. Hawak hawak ang isang itim na kahon. Kitang kita ko ang kinang ng singsing na laman noon.
Natakot ako. Hindi naman namin napag uusapan pa ang kasal. Hindi pa. Madami pa siyang gustong matupad sa buhay. Ako man ay marami pa ring gustong maabot.
"Love, No. Tumayo ka diyan. Not yet. I am sorry but please not now. Hindi pa ako handa. Hindi pa ngayon. Hindi bukas. Hindi ko pa alam kung kailan."
Pag kasabi ko noon ay muli akong tumingin sa pamilya namin na nag hihintay na isuot sa akin ni Carmelo ang singsing. Ang mga ngiti nila ay napalitan ng pag tataka. Niyakap ko si Carmelo at tumakbo palayo sa kanya.
" Tricia! HEY, Tricia. You okay?" Martha snapped her fingers in front of me.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just remembered something. He looks happy now. I can't see any sadness on his eyes. Is he happy?" I asked.
"You see that girl. The girl beside him? That's Lilly. That's his girlfriend. And to answer your question? Yes, he is. He is happy. Lilly means the world to him."
Masaya siya. Masaya na siya pero sa piling ng iba. Hindi simpleng kirot ang naramdaman ko sa mga oras na iyon. Wasak. Pakiramdam ko ay winasak ang puso ko.
Jill: Double Ouch! Tagos na tagos, girl!
Ate Aiks: Jilliaaaaan!
YOU ARE READING
Bitter Sweet
Romance"They used to mean the world to each other. But even the strongest love can fall apart. Years after, they meet again. Would it completely drive them apart or would they find a way to rekindle their love?" I am still working on "ALWAYS & FOREVER". Th...
