Niji Academy [Completed]

CHAPTER 40

Ramdam ko ang malalalim niyang paghinga sa aking mukha. Pati ang linilikhang tunog niyon ay nagpapatulala sa akin. Ang mga titig ng mga nangungusap niyang mga mata’y tila tinutunaw ako. Kung hindi lang siya nakahawak sa baywang ko ngayon ay baka napaupo na ako sa sahig dahil sa panghihina. Banayad na sinasayaw ng hangin ang kaniyang buhok at ang liwanag na nagmumula sa araw ay nagpapatingkad sa kaniyang mga labi at mukha.

This man in front of me really looked ethereal and it made me think that this perfect scene here in the balcony with him, and his confession, were surreal. Maybe, I was just too tired and sleepy that I thought these were real. Maybe, I’m just having a lucid dream that what I wanted to happen and hear happened in this dream.

Nailing ako, hindi makapaniwala. “Y-You’re just teasing me... right?”

Ngumisi siya ngunit hindi iyon abot sa mga mata, tila naiinis, at napapikit upang pakalmahin ang sarili. Bumakas ang pagkairita sa kaniyang mukha nang tingnan muli ako. “I gathered that courage to confess to you, yet you’re questioning it.” Pagak siyang natawa. “Is it hard to believe?”

Bumakas ang sakit sa mga mata niya dahilan para matigilan ako at nag-iwas ng tingin. “You can’t possibly like me,” naiiling kong sambit.

Linapit niya pa ang sarili sa akin at hinuli ang tingin ko. “Why? Why am I not? Why can’t I?” Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa baywang ko, at ang mga mata niya ay nagtatanong at naguguluhan. “Do you like someone else now?” Humina ang boses niya at bakas doon ang sakit. “Is that the reason why I can’t like you? Is it Shin? Raiton?”

Umawang ang bibig ko at sunud-sunod na nailing. “Hindi. They’re just my friends.”

“Raiton had said he likes you.”

Umiling akong muli. “He was just kidding that time. He didn’t really like me.”

“I’ve heard the two of you at the training room.”

Umawang ang bibig ko at nanlaki ang mga mata. “He was also kidding that time. He’s into Hikari. You know that, right?”

Natawa siya at nailing. “Maybe, he knew I was there listening to your conversation with him and he wanted to piss me and see what would I react.” Nagmura siya at muling nailing. “Then what is it? Why can’t I like you?”

“Because I know you’re into someone else,” halos pabulong kong sagot at nag-iwas muli ng tingin nang maramdaman ang kirot sa dibdib. I tried to bite my lips, trying to hide it, yet the more I tried, it’s hurting me deeper inside.

Natahimik siya ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang mga titig niya sa akin. Lumuwang ang pagkakahawak niya sa baywang ko hanggang sa binitiwan niya iyon. Dahan-dahan ding winawasak niyon ang puso ko nang makumpirma iyon sa kilos niya.

He’s really into someone else, yet he’s confessing to me. Pinaglalaruan niya ba ako? How could he be so cruel?

“I am,” halos pabulong niyang sambit.

Malabo na ang paningin ko dahil sa mga nagbabadyang luha at halos masugatan na ang ibabang labi ko sa kakapigil na tumulo iyon. My heart was throbbing with pain yet I still tried to compose myself, held my head high to meet his gaze, and forced a smile. As I was about to speak, he drew me close to him, cupped my face, and wiped my tears. My mouth fell wide open as he did it. I couldn’t even move and I just stared at him as his eyes were intently looking at me.

“I did like someone else,” he said, almost a whisper, “but that was before...”

Natigilan ako, matamang napatitig sa kaniya, pinoproseso ang kaniyang mga sinabi. “Sairi...”