More Than Just A Kick

Chapter 19

Natahimik kami nang maglakad papalapit sa amin si Stephen. "Hey girls! Bakit natahimik kayo bigla? Pinag-uuspan niyo ba ako?" Sambit niya na may halong tawa.

"Kapal ng feather mo manok! It's not you and you'll never be our topic."

"N-no we are not. W-were planning to throw a party for Française." Sandra said without looking at him and obviously because she's nervous. After two years, she's still in love with him. What does she sees in him? He's a playboy!

"Yes, we can do that!" Sa masiglang boses ni Stephen. "But no beers or ant alcoholic drinks dahil bawal kami sa ganon."

"But that's boring!" Apila ni Laura na may paghalukipkip ng braso at pagsiring kay Stephen.

"Boring o ipapatalsik ko kayo sa Taekwondo?" Pananakot ni Stephen, he's serious with that. Parang hindi siya yung Stephen na kilala ko at buti naman at may paninindigan siya.

"Hindi na, kakain na nga lang ang sabi ko 'di ba?" Laura says. "And you should come including Rouge, Marsan, Jonel and Clarence." Natutuwang sambit ni Laura.

"Go back now." Saway ni Marsan dahil sisipa na. Kanya-kanya kaming balik sa dating pila at ang napatapat pa sa aming kickpad holder ay si Stephen.

A memory flash in my head from months ago. "Can you be my girlfriend?" Nakangiti pa rin si Stephen kahit na hindi ko magawang magsalita sa tanong niya.

"I, seriously, like you and it's been two years pero parang ayaw mo naman akong paniwalaan."

"It's not that I don't believe it but I just can't see your efforts to prove it." Halos bulong kong sagot.

"It's that it? Kapag ba niligawan kita sasagutin mo ba ako?"

He was right, bakit pa siya mag-eeffort kung babalewalain ko naman? Hindi niya na kailangang gawin sa akin yon. Pero bakit ba ayaw kong maniwala at ayaw ko ring ligawan niya ako.

Wasn't it because he's a playboy? Wasn't it because he's not serious? Wasn't because I don't like him? Yes, that was it. Because if it was him, it will just be so easy. Noong naging kami ni Marthim, nasaktan muna ako bago naging kami. Kay Stephen hindi ako naghabol, I think it's the other way around. Pero parang hindi rin naman kasi yung kay Stephen walang effort puro salita lang naman, madaling iwasan. Hindi tulad nung ako yung naghabol kay Marthim. Why do I compare them?

"See you can't even say anything."

"Stephen, you don't have to court me. It's really hard for me to turn you down but if I will not, masasaktan ka lang. Pero don't get me wrong, I like you as a person and also as a friend but I don't like you romantically." I said it shaking as tears fall down on his cheeks. Binuksan ko na ang pintuan ng kotse pero nakalimutan kong nakaseatbelt pala ako. Narinig kong tumawa si Stephen, tawang may halong lungkot.

"It's like the situation, gusto mo nang umalis pero may pumipigil pa." Sambit niya habang tinatanggal ang aking seatbelt.

Stephen look at me with an extreme intensity in his eyes. Tila may nagbago sa kanya. Ofcourse, usap-usapan ba naman na hindi na raw siya nambabae at baka may girlfriend na raw na sineseryoso.

"Hindi mo na ako maiiwasan. You don't like me. Well, I don't care. Hindi ko sinasabing naka-move on na ako sayo kasi hindi naman talaga ako nag-moved on. But one thing I really want to beg you, basta huwag mo lang akong iiwasan."

"May girlfriend ka na kaya kailangan." I sounded like I am jealous when in fact gusto ko lang siyang itaboy.

"Ano pang pinag-uusapan niyo diyan? Magsimula na kayo at huwag na mag-usap!" Suway sa amin ni Marsan sa masungit na tono.