Unbind the Strings

Twenty Seven

"Cali, antayin mo ako, ha? I think I'm gonna be busy pagdating ko sa Manila but I'll come back and babawi ako I promise. If ever we meet again, I hope you still feel the same way. Good luck on your last year of being a high school! Please wait for me, my love. I love you so much." 

Hindi ko na mabilang kung pang-ilang bases ko na 'tong paulit-ulit na binabasa. It's been exactly  10 months since Jay left and up until now ay wala akong balita sakanya. Nag-iwan siya ng note na pinadala rito ni Kai before he went to Manila. He's not active in his social media accounts nor I haven't seen any tagged photos na kasama siya. I was thinking kung pupuntahan ko siya sa Manila kasi may hint naman ako kung saan siya nag se-stay but I guess that would just ruin his life. Hindi narin naman siya nagpaparamdam so baka ayaw na niya talaga.

"Cali, are you free this weekend?"

"Busy ako, maraming aasikasuhin sa school council. Tsaka sinabi ko na sa'yo Liam na hindi ako nagpapaligaw. I am waiting for someone, sana maintindihan mo 'yun." I told him as soon as I grabbed my backpack to go down the principal's office.

"Waiting? Sino ba inaantay mo? 'Yung ex mong iniwan ka? He left you here Cali, may narinig ka ba sakanya simula noong umalis siya papuntang Manila?" pagtatanong niya habang patuloy akong naglalakad pababa ng hagdan.

"Waiting for him is my choice and he told me to wait. At isa pa, ako 'yung unang nang-iwan kaya it's my turn to wait for him. Please stop meddling with other people's lives, go away." I said, while rolling my eyes at him.

"Hindi naman kita nililigawan para sumuko lang basta. I am here to prove that I am sincere at hindi kita kayang iwan."

"Sinabi niya na rin 'yan. Saka anong nililigawan, pumayag na ba ako? Kapal mo." I told him and walked away, but he's still following me.

"Hindi ko naman kailangan humingi pa ng permission para ligawan ka. Ginagawa ko 'to dahil gusto ko sa ayaw at gusto mo, okay?" he said, looking straight at me.

"Bahala ka, basta hindi kita gusto." I said and I left him there. Liam was a transferee and ever since he got here hindi na niya ako tinigilan. He was very consistent in making sure that I'm okay. He's a good guy kaya lang Jay parin number one.

"Siz! Anong plans mo for the sports week?" Amielle said while eating her hotdog sandwich. 

"Marami akong hinandang activities pero ipapa-approve ko pa sa adviser natin. Anong sabi nila Kai? May suggestions ba raw sila?" I asked her habang chinecheck ang papers na ipapasa sa adviser namin.

"Hindi ko alam sa mga 'yun. Mukhang inaantay ka na ni Liam sa labas, bhie. Uwi ka na raw hehe." biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha ko. Napaka kulit talaga, sinabi ko na ayaw kong nagpapahatid pauwi eh, kaya ko naman mag-isa.

"Cali! Halika na, sakay na." He said while opening the door for me. 

"Ayoko talaga, Liam. Kaya ko naman umuwi mag-isa, baka pag-sakay ko dyan akalain mo na may gusto ako sa'yo." I said, refusing his offer.

"Ang kulit mo rin eh, 'no? Hindi ako naghahanap ng kapalit tanga ka ba? Pasok ka na, anong oras na patay ka sa Mommy mo anong oras ka na naman umuwi." he said, giving me a persuading look.

"Parang baliktad, ah? Siya ata 'yung patay?" 

"Alam ko pero kahit na isipin mo kung andyan pa siya, matutuwa ba 'yun na nagpapabaya ka na? Buti pinadala ako rito para alagaan ka." he said, smirking.