One Shots Anthology

Maling Akala

My last piece before the year ends! As promised!

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I have a girlfriend. Sheʼs Alyssa. She's the ideal girlfriend na hahanapin ng lahat ng lalaki sa isang babae. She's that type of girlfriend na simple, street foods lang, okay na sa kaniya. Hindi mo na kailangang gumastos ng malaki kasi makasama ka lang niya, atensyon at pag-aalaga mo lang, sobra-sobra na sa kaniya.

But our relationship isn't perfect. And that's because of me. Hindi ko siya nabibigyan nang sapat na oras na gusto niya. Iʼm always focusing on my career in Arts, and of course, playing mobile games.

Para sa akin, walang kaso iyon. Kasi alam kong naiintindihan naman niya ako, mahal na mahal kaya ako nʼon, hinding-hindi ako iiwan nʼon kahit wala akong oras para sa kaniya.

Today is our fourth monthsary and three days before New Yearʼs Eve. I've decided na huwag magparamdam sa kaniya from this day to surprise her on 31. Alam kong sanay na siya rito dahil araw-araw ko lang naman siyang siniseen at para bang hindi ko siya girlfriend. And I promise to myself that I'm gonna change next year.

Those three days came and nagtataka ako dahil hindi niya ako binati gaya ng usual niyang ginagawa. Hindi niya ako pinuntahan sa bahay gaya ng palagi niyang ginagawa para yayain ako mag-mall at manood ng sine. She didn't call nor text me, too. I find it unusual because she's the one na palaging nangungulit sa aming dalawa.

December 31, 10:00 PM when I decided to go to their house for my surprise. I've already talked to her family about this and they helped me, a lot. 10:30 nang umakyat ang pinsan ni Aly sa kwarto niya para gisingin ito, kanina pa raw kasi ito tulog dahil gusto niya raw mag-countdown mamaya.

Bumaba si Chacha nang may paga-alangang ngiti sa kaniyang labi, I asked her why and what she answered made me nervous.

"Kuya, wala po si ate Alyssa sa kwarto niya. It's just a teddy bear covered with a blanket to make it look like a person,"

Tinanong ko ang mga kaibigan niya kung magkasama ba sila. Muntik na ako mawalan ng pag-asa when one of her friends texted me that made me frozen.

"Hey Jom, I saw Aly and Allen on the mall, earlier. Actually, lately palagi silang magkasama. Are they together?" Damn. Why are they together? And why don't I know this?! I'm her fucking boyfriend for pete's sake!

I called her and told her to come with me. You'll regret this day, Alyssa.

—

Nakalingkis ang kamay ni Patricia sa akin pero hindi ko ito tinatanggal. I even told her not to remove her hands on mine. Inikot namin ang buong mall para mahanap sila and we found them on a high class restaurant. They are facing each other and eating happily. Fuck you, Allen, that should be me, eating with her happily.

I looked at ny wristwatch and saw that it's already 11:55 PM. Malapit nang mag-alas dose at palabas na rin sila. What hurts me the most? 'Yong nagyakapan pa sila nang mahigpit na para bang wala kayong pinagtataksilan.

Nang tuluyan silang makalabas, I made sure na makikita kami ni Alyssa. When it was already 11:59 and there are only 10 seconds left before midnight, I pulled Patricia closer to my body and kissed her passionately. She kissed me back so I smirked and looked at Alyssaʼs reaction. She's crying, though it hurts to see her crying because of me, she broke my heart, so it's a tie.

Baby, that should be me, hugging you before the year ends. But damn, you did it with my bestfriend.

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