A string of fate

30

"Are you okay?"

Nabalik ako sa ulirat nang maramdaman ko ang kamay ni Bri. I looked at him and it seemed like he's been watching me since earlier. Lumilipad ang isip ko at hindi ko napapansin ang nangyayari sa paligid. He even had to reach my hand to get my attention.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Bri. Medyo pagod lang ako." Sabi ko at tipid na ngumiti sa kanya.

"Looks like you didn't get much sleep last night. How's the get together with your friends?"

Saglit akong natigilan nang maalala ang nangyari kagabi. I didn't get enough sleep because of that. Buong gabi kong inisip ang mga salitang narinig ko kay Primo at tila ba nababaliw ako. I just can't forget it as much as I want to.

"It was fine. Sobrang biglaan lang. Hindi ko na nasabi." Tiningnan ko si Bri matapos kong sabi 'yon.

"And you were with him too?" Hindi ako sumagot at alam nadin 'yon ni Bri. I told him everything when I came to my unit last night. "It's fine. I'm not surprised that he wants to win you back."

"We've talked about it already. I told him na ayoko na."

Alam kong hindi ko naman obligasyon na sabihin kay Bri ang lahat ng nangyayari. I just feel like doing it. It's like I'll be unfair if I don't. There's nothing going on with us but we're building a good bond since then. Pinapahalagahan ko din ang kung anong meron kami. I know he's still waiting for me too but he's good with anything that I can give. Maybe that's one of the reason why I'm letting him. Hindi nya ako pinipilit. We're both letting things happen. At alam ko na kung ano man ang mangyari ay matatanggap nya 'yon.

Hapon na nang makarating kami sa Cavite. I just decided to go home at mabuti nalang nasa Manila si Bri kanina kaya sumabay nadin ako. Wala ang sasakyan sa condo at wala din ako sa wisyo na mag commute. I'm starting to hate myself because of this. Paulit ulit ko nang sinasabi sa sarili ko na hindi na dapat ako magpaapekto pero kabaliktaran padin ng nangyayari.

"Do you have other plans?"

Nilapag ko sa table ang hinanda kong pagkain para kay Bri. He's sitting in the couch and playing with my dog, Bella. Halos kakaalis lang ni Papa at naabutan pa namin sya. Bri was able to greet him too.

"Wala. How about you?" Naupo ako sa tabi ni Bri.

"Clark asked me to come over to his house. Nandoon ang mga kaibigan namin. They want to drink."

"At hindi ka pupunta?" Tiningnan ko sya. Gusto ko nang isipin na ang laki kong abala sa kanya nang bigla syang ngumisi kaya napairap nalang ako.

"You know, I'm not into drinks, Sey. I'd rather stay here with you."