Into His Arms Where She Belongs

15

No one speak after what Kathrine said that night. The only thing that we felt in unison that night is tension, especially from the man beside. Ramdam ko ang pagkailang kay Kathrine no'n kaya kahit marami pang pagkain sa plato niya ay nagpaalam na siya.

Gavreel walked me and Allison after the dinner last night. Wala siyang kibo pero madilim at may talim sa kanyang mga mata. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita pa tungkol sa sinabi ni Kathrine, afraid to add fuel to the fire.

The next seminar was held early in the morning kaya maaga kaming gumising at nag-ayos ni Allison. Wala kaming nakitang Gavreel at Rafael nang bumaba kami para kumain. I don't know where they are.

While eating breakfast, Allison and I had a brief conversation.

"May pakiramdam ako na may mangyayari, eh." Nangungunot ang kanyang noo habang sumusubo. Nasa malayo ang tingin. "Parang may ibig sabihin yang si Kathrine."

"Hindi naman na bago iyon, Allison. Alam mo namang wala talagang nagtatagal na karelasyon si Logan. You're just overthinking it," giit ko.

Although I felt the same thing, I refuse to acknowledge it. Like I said, we're just overreacting. Hindi naman ito bago.

"I really hope, Avee because I feel like this time is different. I don't know who caught Logan's attention, but I'm praying it's not you. " Pinakatitigan niya ako. "Dahil alam ko...at alam mo...na hindi mananahimik lang si Gavreel kung sakaling ikaw nga 'yon."

Ang last na ginawa namin ay noong hapon na. It was only consisted of water activities. Pagkatapos no'n ay  dinner na at puwede na kaming magpahinga o tumambay sa rooftop ng hotel kung saan may bar.

Hindi ko pa rin nakikita maski anino ni Gavreel at Rafael simula pa kanina. Wala naman akong mapagtanungan. I want to text him but I don't have his number at kung meron man ay wala naman akong lakas ng loob ituloy.

I decided to go to the rooftop where I can buy some drinks and get some fresh air habang hinihintay ang dinner. May ilang tao na roon at ang iba ay schoolmate ko. I choose the far corner and sit.

Balak ko sanang magpahangin muna bago bumili ng wine or something I saw at the bar but someone knocked at the table. Nakangiting mukha ni Kathrine ang nasalubong ko.

"Hello! You're alone? Where's Allison?" tanong niya. Luminga-linga sa paligid.

"Nagpahinga saglit. I walked alone because I want to see the rooftop," palusot ko.

She didn't ask anymore and just situated her self in the other vacant seat.

"Hindi ko nakita si Gavreel at yung kaibigan niya. Did they go somewhere? Umuwi na ba?" kuryuso niyang tanong.

I have no energy left so I just shrugged and answered shortly, "Hindi ko alam."

Binalot kami ng katahimikan. Saglit lang yon dahil binasag niya rin.

"I'm sorry..."

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Last night, I felt the tension. I didn't know what I said wrong..." Yumuko siya. "But I still want to say sorry."

"Okay lang, at saka wala ka namang sinabing masama," saad ko. "May...hindi lang kami pagkakaunawaan ni Gavreel."

"Oh... Must've been why." Mahina siyang tumawa. "May lover's quarrel pala kayo. Akala ko may masama akong nasabi."

"We're not together." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. It was the truth but something inside me protested. I don't like what I said.

"But he said—"

"Hindi kami. I don't want to explain the details but that's the truth," putol ko sasabihin niya.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Sinamantala ko iyon at ninamnam ang lamig ng hanging humahampas sa aking mukha. I let it calm my raging emotions.

"Kathrine..."

Papakalma pa lang ako pero nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon ay muling nabuhay ang sistema ko. May hirap na nilingon ko ang may-ari ng boses na iyon.

"Logan!" Kathrine beamed. "Finally! Are you done chatting heaven-knows-what with your friends?"

"It's about our next game," simpleng saad ni Logan.

Nakita kong papatingin siya sa akin kaya nag-iwas kaagad ako.

"Logan, meet my new friend, Averina Perez. She's Gavreel's—" Alanganing tumawa si Kathrine. "...friend."

Hindi ako nagsalita, bumati o inangat man lang ang kamay para batiin siya. I just glanced at him. Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Aren't you Forfax's girl?" tanong ni Logan.

Ayaw mag-sink sa utak ko na magkalapit at magkausap kami ni Logan ngayon. Kung noon ay sigurado nagkandautal-utal na ako masagot lang siya, ngayon ay gusto ko silang itaboy na dalawa.

I am so damn exhausted. I want sometime alone.

"No, she's not. I think they're just friends, Logan." Si Kathrine na ang sumagot.

Wala akong narinig mula kay Logan. Kathrine later excused herself to buy ourselves drinks. Nanatiling malayo ang tingin ko. I don't even realize that he's still beside me.

"Averina."

Saglit akong natigilan bago gulat na nilingon siya. For the first time after so many years, he finally called me in my name.

"How are you? I wasn't able to ask you that these last years." Ang tingin niya ay nasa kawalan.

"You finally remembered me..." bulong ko.

"I never forgot."

That sentence hurt me. So it means all these time na nakikita niya akong nakamasid sa kanya, kilala niya ako but he never once approached me.

"Nice to know," I said. I didn't bother hiding the bitterness coating my words

"Avee... I'm sorry." Nilingon niya na ako. "I don't mean to hurt you when I avoided you. I'm... just thorned. I'm confused and frustrated with my family and life. I felt like I would only hurt you and destroy our friendship."

"Nakasakit ka na, Logan at alam mo iyon. What's the point of explaining? You saw me watching from afar, didn't you? You probably saw my failed attempts to talked to you as well... But alas, you didn't do anything...kasi takot kang makasakit?" Mahina akong natawa. Tawang puno ng pait. "Can you believe that?"

I'm in love with you all those years and all those times I gaslighted myself that you didn't remember me kaya hindi mo ako nilalapitan o kinakausap. Who I am anyway? I'm just that poor and weak girl in your highschool days. We're can't even call that friendship. I'm just someone you helped. Tapos sasabihin mong ginawa mo iyon dahil ayaw mong makasakit? I can't accept it, Logan. I hate your reason! I hate you!

Before my emotions burst out, tumayo na ako at naglakad palayo pero hinabol niya ako. He held my arm, stopping me.

"Averina... I'm sorry. It's unacceptable, but it's what's right."

Nagtagis ang aking mga ngipin. Even now, his voice is cold and firm. Like what he said is the absolute right.

Hihigitin ko na dapat ang aking braso mula sa kanyang hawak nang may marahas na humablot ng braso ni Logan. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang galit sa mga mata nito.

"G-Gavreel!"

"You will really learn what's right from wrong when I punch the fuck out of you, Bustamante," Gavreel said menacingly. Marahas na itinulak niya palayo si Logan.

Lumapit ako kay Gavreel at hinawakan siya sa braso. Hindi siya puwedeng mapaaway. For Pete's sake! He's the President!

"Gavreel! Tama na!"

"Why are you guarding the girl like a damn dog? You're not even her boyfriend," malamig na balik ni Logan.

Gavreel took a threatening step. Kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba.

He smirked menacingly. "Talagang babantayan ko dahil akin 'to, Bustamante. Sa akin lang."

*Next update to be announced.