Love, Sakura

Chapter XXIII

He stopped and turned to looked at me with his usual stony expression.

"Why did you take me here?"

Hindi pa siya kaagad sumagot, pero sa huli ay bumuntong hininga ito. "Bacause I saw you. I’m sorry if I had to dragged you all the way." he paused and continued, "I bet you’re not alone. Where’s your friends? For sure they’re looking for you now. If you want to leave, it’s fine."

I can't help but to frowned, "Pagkatapos mo ‘kong dalhin dito paalisin mo ako?"

"I wasn’t thinking that much when I dragged you."

"More importantly, why did you leave that girl behind?" Tanong ko agad.

"That was my plan."

"Why are you with---" Natigil ako sa pagsasalita. Ano bang gusto kong sabihin? My feelings here doesn't count.

He disclosed that topic already, Sakura. Enough. Don't make him mad again.

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay nito sa 'kin, "It doesn’t matter if I’m with her, she’s not important so quit it." malamig niyang saad kahit hindi ko naman kinompleto ang salita ko.

Sa totoo lang, gusto kong mainis kay Sage. Sabi niya may tiwala siya sa akin, pero bukod sa problema niya, hindi niya masabi sa akin kung sino at anong mayro'n sa kanila ng babaeng 'yun. Pero... ayoko nang palakihin 'to. Kaya kung nasasaktan man ako, nagseselos o naiinggit, hindi ko na dapat 'yun ipahalata sa kan'ya.

What's important is... we're good and all right. I don't want him to get mad at me again.

I heaved a deep and heavy sigh. I nodded in concede, "I understand, Sage." Inipon ko ang lakas ko para ngumiti, "N-Now that we’re here inside, what are you planning to do? Do you want me to accompany you until you’re tired?"

"Yes, please." he answered back.

Silence begun to enveloped us as we stared into each other's eyes. Hindi ko alam kung nakikita niya ba ang sakit sa mata ko o pinapantayan lang nito ang titig na ginagawa ko sa kan'ya.

But... he just kept staring deeper and deeper.

I cleared my throat in an attempt to break the awkward silence. I smiled at him, "So... shall we?"

Kagaya ng gusto niyang mangyari, sinamahan ko siya sa paglalakad-lakad. Umakyat kami sa 2nd floor at doon namin nalaman na may gaganapin palang theater play rito habang ang nasa 1st floor ay isang malaking exhibition. Kung 'di ako nagkakamali, nabanggit ko sa letter ang tungkol sa exhibition.

Pinilit kong itaas ang mood ko kahit na deep inside, maraming katanungan na bumabagabag sa 'kin. Sinasaksak ko sa kukote ko na, 'hindi na ako pwedeng lumagpas sa ganitong lebel namin. Hindi por que minahal niya ako noon, e mamahalin din niya ako ngayon.' I only came back to change his fate, to save his life from death-- nothing more, nothing less.

I have to be contented with our relationship. Basta 'wag lang niya akong palayuin sa kan'ya-- dahil kailangan ko siyang subaybayan hanggang sa makita ko siya sa future... kahit makita na lang.

Nang makuntento kami ro'n ay napagpasyahan naming bumaba na ulit. Kapansin-pansin ang bahagyang pagdilim ng paligid, hindi gaya kanina na puno pa ng liwanag. The green specks of light flickering in the darkness grabbed my whole attention.