My Heartbreaker (Heartbreakers Series #5)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

I tried to contain my tears as I strutted my way towards the office of the student council, inaasahan na makikita ko si Yovan ngayong araw do'n. I want to talk to him. I want to confirm it. Sana hindi totoo. Sana mali lang ng sinabi si Mama.

Kahit na malinaw naman ang lahat, parang ayaw ko pa ring paniwalaan. And if it was true, I don't know how I'd face him after.

The sound of the rain filled the silence around the campus. But my mind was too noisy to even hear the pouring September rain. My heart was clenching painfully, paulit-ulit habang tumatakbo ang utak ko sa lahat ng iniisip.

How could I face him... kung ngayon pa lang naiisip ko na kung paano tumanggap si Mama sa kan'ya ng pera? No'ng panahong sinabi kong tumigil na s'ya? Napapikit ako nang maisip ang posibleng nangyari no'ng araw na 'yon. How did my mom accept his help? What did she say?

With blurry eyes, naglakad ako patungo sa kung saan nando'n ang offices. And when I saw Yovan standing and leaning against one of the pillars of the building, holding the strap of his crossbody bag across his chest, and smiling a little while he stared at his feet, with his reddened ears and cheeks, lalo lang gumuhit ang sakit sa puso ko... at galit para sa nangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba ako kay Yovan. Posible ba 'yon? Posible bang magalit ako sa kan'ya?

Siguro... because I hate how kind he is... that he'd compromise himself for everybody. I hate that he's willing to help right away. I hate that I feel so little... because of it. I don't want him to help me. This is my battle. Why does he have to help us? Bakit s'ya pa? Sa lahat ng tutulong, bakit si Yovan pa?

Yovan raised his gaze when he heard my footsteps. Nakangiti kaagad s'ya nang makita ako at napatayo nang maayos. Pero nang makita n'ya ang ekspresyon ko, his smile immediately faded away.

My eyes are stinging because of my tears. My heart is clenching because of pain. But I did not mind any of it because I focused on the question I want to ask Yovan.

"Frida..." he called worriedly.

I stopped right in front of him. Bumigat ang tahip ng puso ko at mas namuo ang mga luha. I clenched my jaw as I tried to contain my tears. Inawang ko ang mga labi ko at sinubukang huminga nang maayos. But as soon as I was able to exhale, my tears fell endlessly and my heart clenched in more pain.

"Frida," Yovan reached for my arm and I saw the worry in his eyes even though my sight is already blurry because of my tears. "Frida, what's wrong?"

Umiling ako, hindi pinakikinggan ang lambing sa boses n'ya. He's too kind. He's too kind to everyone. Hindi n'ya ba naisip... ang mararamdaman ko bago n'ya ginawa 'yon?

"Yov, did you-" my voice croaked and I bit my lip. I licked my lips and I tried to contain my tears. "Did you help... my mother back then? When... my father was hospitalized, Yovan?"

Nanginig ang mga labi ko habang unti-unting naramdaman ang takot para sa magiging sagot n'ya. My mind chanted a prayer. Please say no. Please say no.

Natahimik si Yovan at nakita ko ang takot sa mga mata n'ya habang nakatitig sa akin. Lumuwag ang hawak n'ya sa mga braso ko at napa-atras s'ya ng isang hakbang.

Lalong naipon ang mga luha sa mga mata ko at tinitigan ko s'ya nang may takot sa dibdib ko. I felt how lightly my tears fell. Napapikit ako at ibinaling ko sa iba ang ulo ko, ayaw tanggapin ang reaksyon n'ya. He's not answering yet, Frida. Don't conclude it yet.

"Hindi, 'di ba?" I smiled a little, trying to console myself. Nanginig ang ngiti ko. "Hindi naman, 'di ba? Yovan?"

"Frida," he called.