Hacker Vs. Hacker

Chapter 19

"Penelope, love, let me explain---"

"Explain what?! Ano pang ipapaliwanag mo? Please, tigilan mo na ako. Tama na," pinigilan ko ang paghikbi ko.

"Nasa labas ako, please, buksan mo ang pinto, mag-uusap tayo."

Hindi ako nagsalita.

"Please, just let me explain. Hindi na kita guguluhin pagkatapos," hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang mas lalo yata akong nasaktan sa sinabi niya.

Tumayo at pinahid ko yung luha ko bago ako pumunta sa pintuan at pinagbuksan siya.

****

Paul's POV

PINATAY niya yung tawag nang walang sinabi. Shit. Shit.

I fucked up. Damnit. I fucked up big time.

Pero nagulat ako nang bumukas ang pinto. Iniluwa nun si Penelope na nakapang-bahay lang. nandito lang ba siya mula kahapon?

Hindi siya nagsalita. She just stood there, staring at me blankly. Damn, this kind of stare shivers my spine. Fuck, ano bang sasabihin ko?

"Akala ko ba magi-explain ka?" sabi niya.

Napalunok ako sa lamig ng tono ng boses niya.

"I'm so sorry," shit.

Tumingala siya sa akin. Waiting for my continuation.

"It was never my intention na lokohin ka. Believe me, I tried to tell you. Ilang beses kong sinubukan. Pero ayokong magalit ka sa akin. Baka layuan mo ako," I explained.

"And you thought hiding it was the better idea? Making me look like I'm stupid?" God, how do I explain this?

"No. No, love, please---"

"Stop calling me love! I. AM. NOT. YOUR. LOVE."

Sa bawat salita niya, ramdam ko ang galit at sakit sa boses niya.

"I'm so so sorry," wala akong ibang masabi.

"Since when did you know who I am?" tanong niya. Andon parin yung galit at sakit sa boses niya.

"Ian's birthday," I replied, "But believe me; i liked you before we even met. There was something about you that fascinates me. At nung nakita kita sa birthday ni Ian, I thought what a small world at may magandang dulot din pala ang pagpunta ko doon. And it was you, Penelope."

"Akala ko guni-guni ko lang yung narinig ko nun. You really mentioned my name, didn't you?"

Tumango lang ako.

"Mahilig ka computers at Sa dinadami ng puwede mong laruin, damdamin ko pa talaga ang napili mong paglaruan," and again I felt her pain.

"No, please, listen. Lahat nang sinabi ko sa'yo, lahat ng ginawa ko, totoo lahat yun."

"What about that proposal?"

"It was true. I was serious. Though I might admit na ginawa ko yun para hindi mo ko pagdudahan. I was trying to find a good timing to tell you. Pero nahalata kong pinagdududahan mo na ako."

"So, pina-ikot mo nga ako?" she shot at me.

"No---"

"Then what?! Alam mo, hindi ko alam kung ano pang paniniwalaan pa kita. Napakasinungaling mo!"

And then I saw tears in her eyes. God, I never wanted this to happen. Is this the price I'm gonna pay for everything wrong that I did?

"God, don't cry. Please, don't cry," niyakap ko siya, "I may lied about my identity but I never lied about my feelings for you. Everything I did for you was real. I never did that to anyone. And I will never to it to anyone. It's just you. There's only you, Penelope. Believe it or not, I love you."

"No! Don't touch me! Don't come near me. Don't ever come near me again! You selfish criminal! Hindi mo ako mahal. Kasi kung mahal ko ako, hindi ka gagawa ng bagay na ikakasakit ng damdamin ko. And you hurt me big time. Sana hindi na lang kita nakilala! If I could go back to the day we met, I'm sorry but I wouldn't have gone to that party."

Criminal? Yeah, maybe I am. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang bigat sa mga salitang binitawan niya. Pinagsisisihan niyang nakilala niya ako?

Hindi na ako makapagsalita. Tinanggap ko lang lahat ng suntok at sampal niya bago niya ako tinulak palabas.

Aaaw, abangan ang nalalapit na pagtatapos. Hehe!

Happy New Year! Enjoy! :)