How to Break a Heart (To be published by LIB)

Thirty-Three

Maybe he got tired of me. Maybe he realized that I wasn’t worth it. Or maybe he didn’t really want me. Maybe that’s what he realized after we kissed. Siguro ay hindi niya naramdaman ang naramdaman ko nung oras na hinalikan niya ako.

“Hey My,” pumunta muna ako sa kusina bago pumanik sa taas. Naabutan ko siyang nagbe-bake ng cupcake. Yun ang madalas pagkaabalahan ni mommy. Mahilig siya mag-experiment at magdiscover ng ibang flavor ng cupcakes and other pastries, which makes sense dahil family business namin iyon.

“Hi sweetie, how was your day?”

“It was okay.” ngumiti ako.

Tumango si mommy at ngumiti rin. “Nasa kwarto mo nga pala si Frannie, she’s been waiting for you.”

“Kanina pa?” kumunot ang noo ko. Hindi ko maalala kung kailan ang huling beses na nakita ko si Frannie. It felt like it has been a month kahit na alam kong linggo o araw lang ang lumipas. Masyado kasing maraming nangyari nitong nakaraang mga araw.

“No, just recently lang. Go talk to her.” mom gestured upstairs and I reluctantly nodded. Walang isang salita na naglakad na ako paakyat ng hagdanan, patungo sa sarili kong kwarto.

“Frannie?” I opened my room’s door. Bumungad sa akin si Frannie na tahimik lang na nakaupo sa kama ko. Mukhang kanina pa siya nakaupo at parang malalim ang iniisip.

I got really nervous when she raised her head and her eyes met mine. Unlike her usual mood, her face seemed to be unreadable. I sent her a smile to which she didn’t return. Naglaho ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nang tumayo si Frannie at bigla akong sinampal.

My eyes widened in shock. Sa sobrang gulat ko ay hindi ako nakapagsalita. I wasn’t given the chance to say anything too. Biglang umiyak sa harapan ko si Frannie at matapos ay lumapit sa akin para yakapin ako ng napakahigpit.

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Ang daya-daya mo talaga. Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin, Allie?” humihikbi si Frannie habang yakap-yakap ako. My eyes were still as wide but my lips were parted this time. Gulat pa rin ako sa ginawa niyang pagsampal at biglaang pagyakap sa akin.

“W-What?” yan lang ang tanging nasabi ko sa kanya.

Humiwalay sa akin si Frannie at matapos ay umiyak ulit. She wiped her tears, catching her breath at the same time. Matagal-tagal na rin simula nang huli kong makita si Frannie na umiiyak.

Bigla ko tuloy naalala nung grade one kami ni Frannie. We were classmates back then. Inseperable na talaga kami mula bata pa lang kami. Though our situation’s a bit reverse. Kung ngayon ay si Frannie ang matapang at outgoing sa aming dalawa, well… it used to be me who’s brave and sociable.

Naabutan kong nakasalampak si Frannie sa sahig ng loob ng room namin at umiiyak mag-isa. I got worried when I saw her crying, afraid that she was badly hurt. I remember asking her what was wrong that day and she told me about the guys who teased her.

“Sila John Michael at Alexander kasi, niaaway ako.” I can still hear how adorable her little voice sounded at the back of my head.