Deal Breaker (Published under Pop Fiction, Summit Publishing)

Chapter 46: Too Late?

I'm looking at the party. Now I'm one of those pathetic people. A fact that saddens me. Nakailang baso na ko nang dumating si Ed. 

"You're enjoying your party."

"My own way."

"Indeed." Tapos umupo siya sa tabi ko. Kumuha din siya ng isang baso at ini-straight yun. Nakita niya ko na nakatingin sa kanya. Kaya naman ngumiti siya. Nung magsasalita na siya, I cut him off.

"You're saying sorry again?" I smiled sarcastically and look away. Look back again to the party. "Umay na umay na ko kaka-sorry mo. You better stop it or I'll cut your throat."

Tumawa siya ng bahagya. "I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything." Alam kong nakatingin siya sa'kin. Naging habit na niya yun. "You're staring again." kumuha ako ng isang baso pa tapos straight.

Inalis naman niya yung pagkakatitig sa'kin.

"Ang ganda ng langit ngayon no?"

"I don't care."

"Ang liwanag ng buwan."

Tumingala ako. Totoo nga. Maganda nga ang buwan. Para sa'kin. the moon is one of the most enigmatic thing ever existed. I've been fascinated by the moon ever since I was a child.

"I know you love the moon. You used to stare at it when we were younger."

Huh? Tama ba yung dinig ko? O medyo lasing lang ako? Problema neto? Tinignan ko siya ng masama. Tapos may kinuha siya sa inside pocket ng tux niya. A picture. at iniabot niya sa'kin yun. It's a picture of two kids. The girl is kissing the boy sa cheek tapos yung boy ay halatang nagblush. They look cute. Napangiti naman ako. Pero bakit niya pinakita 'to sa'kin?

"That's you and me."

Tinignan ko siya. Weh? Di nga? Tumingin siya sa'kin ng nakangiti.

"We're close before." Tinignan niya yung picture na hawak ko. "That close." then he looks back at me.

"You mean, tayo talaga 'to?"

He smiled again and he nods.

"Pero bakit wala akong maalala?"

"You're too young to remember."

"I'm six by then and you're only four."

Lalong napataas yung kilay ko. "And I kissed you nung four years old ako?!"

He chuckled. "You did." hindi siya nakatingin sa'kin. It's like he's in a different time line. "And I can still feel what I've felt on that day."

Kumunot yung noo ko. Tinignan ko ulit yung picture. The boy is blushing here. Does that mean?

"Don't tell me you're ---"

"Yes... I'm in love with you ever since I'm six years old." tumawa siya na parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa pinagsasasabi niya.

Huh. Kalokohan tong lalaking to. Who will be in love by six years old Sige nga!? Tss. Kumuha ako ng isa pang baso. Straight!

I heard him chuckled. "No one believes me, not even my twin sister."

"Huh! Sino ba namang maniniwala sa'yo?!" He gave me that sweet smile again. Tss! Nakakairita na ah! Tumitig ulit siya sa'kin at nakakatunaw yung tingin niya.

"You know what? Nung nalaman ko na nawala ka. I told myself that the moment I found you, nothing will take you away from me again." Tapos tumawa na naman siya.