Mr. Conceited Jerk (Queen's Knight)

Chapter 29: The Appearance

-KEVIN KNIGHT BUENAVIDEZ POV-

Nakatingin lang ako kay Jennica na kasalukuyang masayang nagkekwento ng kung ano anong bagay habang kumakain siya ng ice cream na binili ko para sa kanya. Hindi kagaya kanina, she was smiling and laughing now.

Everything about her just glowed. But even though she didn't show it, I know she was still hurting. If only I had my way to ease the pain she was feeling right now, if I had my way...

I would hug her.

"Hey, where are you going?" napaayos ako ng upo nang bigla siyang tumayo. Tapos na niyang kainin ang icecream niya.

She turned and faced me. I wanted to pull her down. First off, I didn't want her to leave. Secondly, I was actually about to hug her but she stood up before I could do it.

"Sa fountain. Sama ka?"

"Anong gagawin mo dun?" I asked, confused.

She didn't respond. She just turned her back on me then started to walk off. I sat there for a little while and then stood up.

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang sundan siya papuntang gitna ng plaza kung saan nandun ang fountain. Iniwan ko na muna ang mga pinamili namin dahil hindi naman kalayuan yung fountain dito. Hindi ko naman kasi kayang iwan lang siya mag-isa at umuwi nalang.

Tumabi ako sa kanya. Nakita kong may kinuha siyang barya sa bulsa niya pagkatapos ay itinapon ito sa fountain. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya nang naguguluhan habang ginagawa niya yun.

"What exactly are you doing?" I asked quietly looking at her.

Jennica faced me, she smiled softly but I saw sadness in her eyes.

"Wishing." She answered.

Magtatanong pa sana ako pero muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin niya sa fountain. She had her eyes closed, like she was thinking deeply. She was taking in deep breaths, like the ones that make you calm down when you're about to cry pero nakangiti pa din siya.

I wanted to say that she didn't have to pretend to be happy. I wanted to tell her that she didn't have to keep the tears locked up inside her. I wanted to tell her to stop making it hard for her and just ask me to hold her and demand the brutal truth.

But...

"You're crying again." I said. May nakita na naman kasi akong luhang pumatak sa pisngi niya. Umiiyak na naman siya.

Tumalikod siya. Palihim niyang pinunasan ang mukha niya pagkatapos ay humarap ulit sa akin.

"I am not." Sabi niya pero may nakita na naman akong luhang tumulo sa kanyang mga mata. Pinunasan niya ulit yun. Gusto kong pigilan ang mga kamay niya sa kakapunas at hayaan nalang na tumulo ito pero hindi ko yun ginawa.

"I'm not blind. You can't hide it from me."

"I'm not crying. There's totally something in my eye. Swear."

"Jennica." I said looking at her in the eye. Kahit ngayon na umiiyak siya ay hindi pa rin siya nagpapatalo sa akin.

She sighed and looked at the fountain again. I watched her closely, trying to get her to look at me.

"I know I know." Sabi niya na para bang sinasabi niyang talo na siya. She faced me again with a sorrowful face. She forced a smile, wiping the tears on her cheek.

Hindi ko alam na ganito na pala ang pinagdadaan niya sa kabila ng lahat ng tawa at ngiti niya. Hindi ko alam na ganito na pala siya nasasaktan. Wala man lang akong magawa. Nasa tabi nga niya ako pero parang ang layo layo niya pa rin sakin. Punasan ko man ang luha niya, hindi pa rin yun sapat para mapawi lahat ng paghihirap niya.