LOVE-NAT, isang makulit na love story! ♥ [2 of 2]

Chapter 56-5. Love-Nat Musketeers!

“Sige na,” Max calmly told Ellie. He mustered every ounce of strength left in him and gave her a reassuring smile. He wiped the tears off her cheeks, not caring even if Sef was right in front of them. “Tahan na.”

Wala nang iiiyak si Ellie pero hindi pa rin siya tumitigil.

“Ellie,” Sef hesitated for a moment before he offered his hand to her. Hindi kasi siya sigurado kung gusto bang sumama ng girlfriend niya sa kanya. But for some strange reason, Sef felt his heart jumped when Ellie quietly let go of Max’s shirt and walked towards him. She stood before Sef while her head facing the ground and she was struggling to wipe her tears with the back of her hands. Her shoulders were still going up and down in continues rhythms and her nostrils were obviously blocked that she’s now breathing through her mouth. 

Hindi napigilan ni Sef ang sarili niya at niyakap niya bigla si Ellie.

“Dammit, pinahiram ko lang saglit sa’yo ‘to pinaiyak mo na agad ng ganito.” He told Max but he wasn’t angry at all. In fact, Sef just sounded as if he was only stating an observation.

Hindi nakaimik si Max. And Ellie only buried her face on Sef’s chest, finally feeling warm.

“Napansin ko lang, you are always the reason every time I see this girl cry.” Sef said, his arms still wrapped protectively around Ellie. Naalala niyo ba ‘yung umiyak si Ellie sa rooftop ng St. Mercy’s? Si Max nga naman ang dahilan nun. Nung namumuo na ‘yung luha ni Ellie nun sa may Tagaytay? Si Max din ang nagpaiyak kay Ellie nun.

“Well,” Max gave a sad smile. “I’d rather be the guy who’d comfort her when she cries than be the one who is making her cry.” Bigla itong tumango kay Sef, “Kaya ‘wag mong paiiyakin ‘yan. Ewan ko na lang kung sino makakapag-patahan d’yan.” 

Sef nodded. For the first time, nakuha ni Max ang respeto ng binata. Tumango lang ulit si Max kay Sef. Para bang meron silang pagkakaintindihan at napagkasunduan na hindi na kailangan pang idaan sa salita, na silang dalawa lang ang nakakaalam.

Pagkasakay na pagkasakay nila ng Pajero, inabutan agad ni Sef si Ellie ng isang kahon ng tissue na lagi niyang nilalagay sa sasakyan niya. Pinagmasdan pa muna niya saglit ang girlfriend niya na siyang umiiyak pa rin, pero wala ng luhang tumutulo sa mga mata nito. “I can’t take you home looking like that.” He finally said. “Baka isipin ng Papa mo kung anong ginawa ko sa’yo.”

Dumiretso sila sa bahay ni Sef, dahan-dahan pa ngang na nag-drive ang binata dahil signal number 3 na ang bagyong si Glenda. Walang humpay sa pagsayaw ang mga puno at kung anu-anong mga bagay na hindi naman dapat lumipad eh nasa ere na at malayang nagsisiliparan. Ang hirap na nga rin makita nung daan dahil sa lakas nang pag-hampas ng ulan sa wind shield niya. It took them an hour or so to get to his place and he has to turn off the air conditioner dahil halatang giniginaw na si Ellie, although she didn’t say a word all throughout the trip. Pagkarating nila, it was the first time na nakita ni Sef si Yaya Kusing na kumunot ang noo at tumingin sa kanya na para bang gusto siyang pingutin nito.

“What did you do?” Tanong agad ni Yaya Kusing sa binata pagkakita niya kay Eleonor na siyang basang-basa at namumula at medyo mamasa-masa pa rin ang mga mata nito.