CHAPTER 6: How To React?

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Isang linggo na ang nakalilipas magmula nang mangyari ang field trip. At sa isang linggong ‘yon ay balik na sa normal ang lahat maging ang buhay ko—walang sigla‚ walang kulay at higit sa lahat‚ walang kabuluhan.

Hindi sa kinakawawa o inaapi ko ang sarili ko. I’m just stating the fact. My life is boring as h*ll! And when I say boring‚ I mean it. Just like now. Look where I am. I am all by myself‚ sitting under the shed of a tree in the school garden while writing something in my notebook. I was like that for almost an hour when a familiar face came near me.

Can I talk to you for a minute? tila kinakabahang tanong ng lalaking kasalukuyang nakatayo sa harapan ko at nakatingin sa akin nang diretso.

We’re already talking. Aren’t we? mataray kong sagot bago ko ibinalik ang tingin ko sa isinusulat ko.

I heard the guy I’m talking to chuckle. At mayamaya lamang ay naramdaman ko ang pag-upo niya sa tabi ko.

Wala ka pa ring pinagbago. It’s been a week pero ang cold pa rin ng trato mo sa ‘kin‚” he uttered which made me turn my gaze at him.

Shoot! He’s the guy I met a week ago during the field trip. But I wonder what’s gotten into him at lumalapit siya sa ‘kin‚ trying to befriend me when in fact‚ rumors about me is all over the campus. I’m known for being a loner‚ a snob and an anti-social freak.

Speak. I don’t have much time to spare‚ I said to him in a cold voice because I’m not really fond of having a conversation with anyone.

I like you‚ diretsahan at mabilisang sagot niya.

What he said made my eyes narrow and made me look at him straight into his eyes.

What? Did I heard it right? Did he just confessed to me? Darn! Is this some kind of a joke? I don’t even know how to react. I’ve never been into this kind of situation. This was the first time! Ni hindi nga sumagi sa isip ko na posibleng may magkagusto sa ‘kin. And now‚ look. Someone just confessed his feelings to me.

Should I be glad? Or should I be mad because it feels like he’s just making the fool out of me and that he doesn’t really mean what he just said?

Look. I know it is kind of weird at sobrang bilis. But believe me‚ I’m dead serious. I really like you. Gusto na kita noon pa man—”

Why? Why me of all people? walang emosyong tanong ko habang diretso pa rin ang tingin ko sa mga mata ng kausap ko para makita kung nagsasabi nga ba siya ng totoo.

I don’t know. Hindi ko rin alam. All I know is you are the reason behind my smiles kahit wala kang ginagawa at kahit pa hindi mo ako pinapansin. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong nagustuhan ko sa ‘yo. Basta bigla na lamang akong nakaramdam ng kakaiba sa ‘yo the first time I laid my eyes on you‚ he confessed.

Mariin akong napapikit at malalim na napabuntong-hininga matapos kong marinig ang mga katagang binitiwan ng kausap ko. Mga ilang segundo pa akong nanatiling nakapikit para pigilan ang sarili kong makapagbitiw ng mga salitang hindi makakatulong sa sitwasyon na kinalalagyan ko ngayon bago ako muling nagmulat.

“Then huwag‚” wala pa ring emosyong sabi ko.

Anong huwag? nagugulumihanang tanong niya.

Huwag ako. Iba na lang‚ malamig kong tugon na tila ba isang bata ang kausap ko na sinasabihan kong sa iba na lamang makipaglaro at huwag sa ‘kin.

“I tried. Believe me‚ I tried. Sinubukan kong kalimutan ang kung ano mang nararamdaman ko sa ‘yo. Sinubukan ko na ring ibaling ang atensyon ko sa iba. But I can’t. Kahit anong gawin ko‚ kahit anong pilit ko‚ ikaw pa rin ang laman nito‚” puno ng emosyong sagot niya habang nakaturo sa kaliwang bahagi ng kaniyang dibdib.

Argh! D*mn it! I can’t find the right words to say! Parang umurong bigla ang dila ko.

I know it won’t be easy for you to trust me. Kaya gagawin ko ang lahat para patunayan sa ‘yo ang nararamdaman ko. I’ll wait. Hihintayin kita hanggang sa handa ka na. Hihintayin kita even how long it takes. Just think about it. Please. You can take your time. I won’t rush you‚” he begged.

I’ll give you enough time to think about it. So I’ll go for now. Thank you for your time‚” mayamaya’y paalam niya at nagmamadali nang umalis.

Naiwan akong tulala at hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa mga narinig ko.

Did someone really confess to me? Am I in a dream or a nightmare?

To answer my own question‚ I reached out for my right cheek and pinch it hard to check if I’m still in reality and not in a dream.

“Ouch‚” I mumbled to myself.

It’s true indeed. I’m still in reality and what happened a while ago was a part of it.

A/N: Oh. Huh! Daig kayo ng lola ko. Confession agad. Ni hindi pa nga sila magkakilala. Iba rin‚ e no? Kyah‚ may lakad ka? Haha!😆

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