100 DAYS OF YOU (A MAYWARD STORY)

Part 56

We got into Zambales after 4 hours. Malapit lang naman ang Zambales but the community that we've gone to medyo liblib kaya nahirapan kami.

Inasikaso kaagad namin ang pagsstayan namin. Para makatipid kami, we were asked to bring tents instead of renting rooms. Malawak naman ang lugar dito sa zambales, malapit pa sa dagat kaya presko.

'Need help?' I heard Tyrone said while I was trying to put up my tent.

'No Ty, I can manage.' Tipid ngiting sagot ko sa kanya.

'I know you always do but I want to help.' Pangungulit niya.

Binitawan ko ang hawak kong pole at hinarap si Tyrone.

'What are you doing here anyway Ty?' Diretsang tanong ko sa kanya.

'What do you mean? I'm here for the charity of course.' Natatawang sagot ni Tyrone

'We both know that isn't true.' I crossed my arms infront of Tyrone to let him know I am damn serious.

'Oh c'mon Maddie. More than me wanting to be with you, I believe for the cause of SOF so why not hit 2 birds in one stone.' Sagot naman ni Tyrone

'Didn't we talk about this already Ty? I can only be friends with you.' I want to let Tyrone know that's all its going to be.

'I am okay with us being friends but like what I said, I will not give up on you Maddie. So just let me.' He smiled and walked away.

Hindi na ako nagkaroon ng another moment to talk to Laureen. We have been busy handing in school supplies sa mga bata. Since we have a lot of donations received, we also managed to feed the whole community.

Nakakatuwang makita ang mga ngiti sa mga bata. Nakaligtaan ko ang kung ano mang problema na bumabagabag sa akin ngayon. For every school supply we have provided, the kids became a lot closer to their dreams. What we have given them may not be much pero yung alam nila na may mga taong handang tumulong sa kanila para matupad yung pangarap nilang makapagaral will give them a little more boost.

Bukas magkakaron kami ng programa para sa mga bata. Hahatiin namin sila depende sa kung anong gusto nilang matutunan. Kanta, sayaw, arts at pagluluto. Naggrupo grupo na din kami sa kung saan namin gusto magturo. Sumama ako sa mga sasayaw. Sina Laureen naman ay sa pagluluto. Most of the boys naman sa arts. Mga ayaw magperform.

Natapos kami sa pamimigay ng supplies at pagkain mga bandang alas 4 ng hapon and everyone is so tired dahil tuloy tuloy ang ganap. Pagod pero masaya.

While the others are preparing the food that we will be eating for dinner, naglakad lakad muna ako. Nagmumuni muni sa mga pangyayaribsa buhay ko na wala akong naiintindihan. Isa lang naman ang puno't dulo ng lahat.

Si Ethan.

Meron akong nakitang upuang kawayan malapit sa kinatatayuan ng tent ko. Duon muna ako nagpahinga.

'Need company?' Si Tyrone na naman

'Sinusundan mo ba ako?' Tanong ko naman. Parang kabute na bigla bigla kasing sumusulpot

'Maybe I did. You're alone and it looks as if something's bothering you so in case you need someone to talk to, I can be that person.' Tipid ngiting sagot ni Tyrone habang papaupo sa kabilang dulo ng upuang kawayan.

Kilalang kilala pa din talaga niya ako at nararamdaman pa din nya pag may pinagdadaanan ako. Napabuntung hininga na lang ako at hindi na pinilit umalis si Tyrone dahil alam ko naman na mangungulitnlang sya which is the last thing I want right now.

Tumingala na lang ako sa langit at pinagmasdan ang unti unting pag lubog ng araw. Tyrone did the same.

'Ang dali lang siguro ng buhay no? Kung lahat naayon sa gusto natin. Yung gusto mo, gusto ka. Yung mahal mo, mahal ka. Yung wala kang masasaktan at wala ding mananakit sayo.' Unconciously, I voiced out what I am thinking.

Kaya napasagot naman si Tyrone. 'That would be ideal but boring. Everything will just be as expected, no thrill.'

'But atleast people do not have to go through heartaches. Walang iiyak. Walang madedepress. Walang aasa.' Napangiti ako sa huling sinabi ko. Kasalanan ko din naman kasi kung bakit ako nasasaktan. Nag eexpect kasi ako. Nagaasume.  Binibigyan lahat ng malisya ang mga bagay bagay.

'Well I guess people who falls in love knows from the beginning that they would get hurt but would still go for it. For some, even if it is no longer right, they would try to justify it just to make it look like it's right.' Kibit balikat na sagot ni Tyrone.

'Sabi nga nila, Love is blind' natatawa kong sagot.

'Partly true. Love has a way of blinding even the sharpest minds. We don't look because we don't want to see but once love is stripped away, we see the real person clearly.' nakatinging sabi sa akin ni Tyrone

'Lionel Luthor—smallville.' Sabi ko naman and yes that quote Tyrone said was from a series we used to watch together. It made me smile.

'Is it Ethan?' Direktang tanong niya. Hearing Ethan's name made me stopped.

'H-huh? What do you mean?' I pretended as if I didn't get the question but I do. I really do and he got it on point.

'Is Ethan the one bothering you?'tanong ulit ni Tyrone

I didn't answer. Diretso lang akong nakatingin sa kawalan habang kinukuyakoy ang mga paa.

'C'mon Maddie. You can tell me anything, we're friends right?' Napatingin ako kay Tyrone sa sinabi niya. Seryoso ba sya? Kanina lang sabi niya sa akin he will not give up on me tapos ngayon gusto niya sa kanya ako mag sabi ng heart problems ko?

Baliw na talaga. May konsensya naman ako kahit papano no.

'Yeah, we are friends so and as a friend I consider your feelings Ty. So no, I wouldn't tell you.' I hope he can feel na hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala sa kanya but more on hindi naman tama na sa kanya ko sabihin.

'Tara na.' Aya ko kay Tyrone at tumayo na ako sa pagkakaupo.

'Maddie, wait.' Hinawakan ni Tyrone ang kamay ko and he stood up as well.

'Maddie, just know that come what may, I will always be here for you okay? Whether as a friend or more than that I will always care for you. You will always have me, yeah? Just tell Ethan to not damn dare hurt you or I swear Maddie, I'm gonna kill him.' And he look damn serious as he says this.

He pulled me towards him and gave me a friendly hug. I can feel Tyrone's sincerity with all that he said and I appreciate hin a lot. We may have had a misunderstanding back then but the friendship we have built over the years I guess is still intact.

As I try to move away from Tyrone's hug, thats when I saw him.

Standing there with fiery eyes.

Left arm on a cast, placed on a padded sling around his neck.

Is Ethan staring intently back at us.