Come Inside

XII

"PANSININ mo naman ako. May nagawa ba akong mali? Tell me, what's your problem? Why are you ignoring me?" Jacob asked, pulling her close to him, making her head bump into his chest. "It took months for you to talk to me. Tapos ngayong friends na tayo, bigla mo akong lalayuan. Is it because I told you I like you?"

"May sinabi ka bang gano'n? Hindi ko kasi ramdam eh," aniya. Elaine rolled her eyes heavenwards, pulling her arm free from his grip. "Sorry, ha? Manhid kasi ako. Maghanap ka na lang ng ibang gugustuhin. Para kasing mas magandang gustuhin ang taong laging nasa tabi mo kasi guaranteed na hindi ka nila iiwan once they had an assurance."

Hindi na niya ito pinansin no'ng huminto ito sa paglalakad, ni hindi na nga rin niya inalam kung ano ang reaksyon nito sa sinabi niya. Basta nagdire-diretso lamang siya sa paglalakad patungo sa room kung saan na sila susunod mag-k-klase. Kung hindi siya siguro iniwan ni Camille ay hindi magtatagpong muli ang landas nila ni Jacob.

"What did I do? I thought you're my friend, pero bakit ka lumalayo? Is it something I did? Is it something I said? Ddan it, I don't want people shutting me out without reason. I might get crazy asking myself where did I go wrong." She heard him say. Huminto siya sa paglalakad para bigyang tugon ang sinabi nito. He wants reason? Well, she'll give one.

"Ayoko sa mga taong manloloko."

"I am not," he shouted. "When I tell something, I really damn mean it. Heaven will roar and hell will open up to swallow me whole if I damn lie."

Liar. Royce Jacob never meant everything he had said. Why did she stay by the fire? And when she gets burned, she cries. His promises were nothing but a sick joke making her stomach churn in annoyance. It was never funny being played at.

"Stop being bitter, will you?" Kael said, circling his arms around her shoulders to make her lean to him. The side of her face rested along his broad shoulder, tears were streaming down.

"Napaglaruan ako, napaasa, napagsabihan ng mga bagay na hindi naman niya sinasadya. Sila habang kami, sinong matutuwa doon?"

"Wala, pero ang iyakan ang bagay na nangyari 5 years ago, kagaguhan." Buntonghininga ito. "Tumahan ka na't mamaya'y matatapos na sila mama sa pag-uusap tungkol sa... Sigurado ka na ba sa desisyon mo? Alam ko namang ayaw mong magpakasal sa akin dahil hindi ako ang mahal mo," humina ang boses nito kaya lang ay rinig na rinig pa rin ni Elaine ang sinasabi nito maski ang bigat ng bawat paghinga nito ay hindi napapalampas ng kanyang tainga.