I Just Loved Too

IJLT 30 - Amends

Bwisit na bwisit si Iya nang ipagkalat ni Hans sa buong klase na sila na. She was so worried, lalo na with Aubrey. But Hans assured her that she won't tell a soul outside class. Pero kahit na. Alam niyang it's only a matter of time bago makarating kay Ken ang balita. And then he would tell their father. And then... hindi na niya alam kung ano'ng mangyayari.

"Ang sabi ko sa 'yo huwag mong ipagkalat, di ba? And that's the first thing you did!" panunumbat niya rito.

"Did you really expect me to be mum about it?" natatawa nitong tanong. "Dapat nga matuwa ka at ipinagkakalat kong girlfriend kita. Yung iba nga, itinatanggi ko pa e."

Pinamay-awangan niya ito. "A, ganun? So, dapat ma-flatter ako?"

He nodded, his face painted with amusement. "Yeah. Aren't you?"

"And if my dad finds out?"

"E di patay ka."

Huminga siya ng malalim, nagpakalma. "Alam mo, mabuti pa sigurong mag-break na lang tayo. Gusto mo lang namang sagutin kita, di ba?"

Hanson scoffed. "You think I'd let you dump me?" He stood up and leered down at her. "No one dumps me, Iya. I always do the dumping."

Napamaang siya sa sinabi nito. Mukhang namali yata siya ng strategy. Akala naman kasi niya, madali lang magsasawa itong si Hanson. She's just another challenge. She already let him conquer her. Akala niya ay magmu-move on ito agad.

Siguro ay kailangan niyang gumawa ng paraan para ayawan siya nito.

--

"Did you like the teddy bear?" nakangiting tanong ni Paris kay Jasmine during lunch. He managed to corner her. Saktong wala itong kasama. Pagkalabas nito ng classroom ay hinarang niya ito agad.

Mukhang nagulat pa ito nang magtanong siya. She wasn't expecting him to approach her personally. Simula kasi nang nalaman niyang galit ito sa kanya, hindi na siya nito binigyan ng chance na makalapit dito. Kaya nag-lie low muna sya ng ilang araw.

"U-Uhm..." Tumikhim ito. "E-Excuse me."

She tried to get away from him but he managed to grab her arm.

"Jas, let's talk."

"G-Gutom na 'ko."

"I'll buy you lunch."

Agad itong umiling. "N-No thanks."

"I insist."

She wanted to say no. He could see it in her eyes. Pero hindi niya ito hinayaang makatanggi. People looked when they entered. Napansin niyang yukong-yuko ito paglalakad, probably embarrassed.

Nang maka-order siya ng pagkain nila ay agad niya itong dinala sa usual spot na kinakainan niya. He's usually with his gang, but not today. Today, he's with her.

"Look, Jasmine, I'm sorry for what happened before," panimula niya. "I admit that I was a bit superficial. Maybe I still am. But you can't take that away from me because that's just what I am. I usually like the outside first."

Nakatitig lang ito sa pagkain. He pushed the tray of food towards her.

"Aren't you going to eat?" he asked, to which she answered, "No."

He sighed. "Come on. Please. I'm trying to make amends here."

"Tapos na yun e. Hindi mo na mababawi yung mga sinabi mo sa 'kin dati," sagot nito.

"Alam ko. Tama ka, tapos na yun. Hindi ko kayang bawiin ang mga sinabi ko. Pero, hindi ka na rin naman tulad ng dati, di ba? So why hold on to your grudges?"