Reaching Star (S)

Chapter 28

"My family." I simply said.

"Why?" he probed. I bit my lower lip because I need to tell him the whole story so that he will understand my situation.

"Our business is failing and they're willing to help in one condition..." I said. 

"And that is..." he paused.

"Yeah."

After that, a long silence enveloped between us.

"I'm willing to help." he said. My eyes widened and then I looked at him. "Sana sinabi mo sa akin ang problema mo para makatulong ako."

"H-hindi naman na kailangan at... labas ka na sa problema namin."

"But I am willing. Hindi ka na sana nagigipit sa sitwasyon mo ngayon." aniya. Hindi ako makapagsalita.

"Nahihirapan ka ba?" tanong niya. "May iba pang paraan, Yna, p'wede ka pa namang makawala eh."

"K-kasi..."

"You shouldn't sacrifice your own freedom just like that, Yna." he faced me. "Ikaw ang nahihirapan at nasasaktan eh. Let's just say that you still like him, and you still want him, but that doesn't mean you will sacrifice your own freedom just like that!" he is frustrated, somehow I know that this will turn out this way because after all he is my friend and he is just concerned.

"But it's my own decision too, Josh."

"Kahit na..." he hissed. "Hindi ka sana nagpadalos-dalos ng desisyon, Yna! Masyado ka pang bata para magipit sa ganitong sitwasyon!" namumula siya habang direktang nakatingin lang sa akin. Ni hindi ako makapagsalita at hindi ko rin alam ang isasagot.

Nakatitig pa rin ako sa kanya at nakaawang ang labi. Alam kong galit siya. Ilang saglit pa, naramdaman ko ang bigla niyang pagkalma. Napakurap-kurap siya na parang nahimasmasan sa mga naging salita niya.

"I'm sorry..." he said.

"I-it's okay." I said.

"N-nabigla lang ako at... n-nagalit." aniya.