The Boy in My Daydream

By dunkindeinut

682 39 7

A Novel. Brianna Elise Laurel from FEU MedTech has a stalker following her named Austin Balmaceda - the pink... More

Disclaimer
Chapter 01: Stalker
Chapter 02: The Squad
Chapter 04: Interruption
Chapter 05: Creep
Chapter 06: Sides
Chapter 07: I Like You
Chapter 08: Runaway
Chapter 09: FYD
Chapter 10: Venipuncture
Chapter 11: Sunset Café
Chapter 12: Bestfriend...
Chapter 13: Friendzoned
Chapter 14: Food Trip
Chapter 15: Ped Xing
Chapter 16: Colors
Chapter 17: Study Date
Chapter 18: Happy Together
Chapter 19: Hangover
Chapter 20: Promise
Chapter 21: Pain
Chapter 22: Paint
Chapter 23: Blame
Chapter 24: Street Food
Chapter 25: Letter
Chapter 26: Knowing
Chapter 27: Gifts and Presents
Chapter 28: In My Life
Chapter 29: Photobooth
Chapter 30: Tired
Chapter 31: Chances
Chapter 32: Mirrorball
Chapter 33: Into The Night
Chapter 34: Daydream
Chapter 35: Mourning Light
Chapter 36: Emergency
Chapter 37: Cuts
Chapter 38: Sleep Now, Brianna
Chapter 39: Three Months Later
Chapter 40: Necklace
Chapter 41: Flashback [Part 1]
Chapter 41.1: Flashback [Part 2]
Chapter 41.2: Flashback [Part 3]
Chapter 41.3: Flashback [Part 4]
Chapter 41.4: Flashback [Part 5]
Chapter 42: Healing Phase
Chapter 43: Progress
Chapter 44: Graveyard Shift
Chapter 45: One Year Later
Chapter 46: Wandering Places
Chapter 47: Haven't Seen You in Ages
Chapter 48: Come Back To Me
Chapter 49: Location Unknown
Chapter 50: Finding My Way Back Home
Author's Note

Chapter 03: Tag

9 1 0
By dunkindeinut

Chapter 3: Tag

Sumapit ang alas-otso at nagsi-uwian na rin kami. Nainis ako kay Billy dahil hindi pa siya nabusog at bumili pa ng piaya. Nakarating rin naman kami sa apartment namin. Pagpasok ng apartment ay agad kong hinanap ang charger at sinalpak iyon sa may outlet para I-charge ang phone ko. Inunahan ko pa si Billy na mag-charge ng phone dahil ako yung unang na-lowbat kaysa sa kanya. Kaisa-isang charger ay pinag-aagawan namin.

I finished my night routine and decided to have a long study for myself, I yawned for a bit, my eyes were heavy like there's a luggage on my eyelids. I begged myself to wake up. I splashed myself with water and flipped the pages again, after I dired up my hands and decided to digest again. May nakatambak na libro at yellow pad at ballpen at highlighters sa table ko. Nakabukas rin ang lampara ko para mas lumiwanag pa ang workspace ko.

Billy busied himself studying. Magkalayo ang table namin, may kaunting distansya sa isa't-isa. His eyes were fixes on staring at his tablet and writing notes on his index cards. I saw how he gently reads everything and how swift he reads the texts on the books and how he stares silently on the window, remembering every word he digested.

I went back to studying at my own pace. Kinuha ko ang phone ko na nagcha-charge pa rin hanggang ngayon. I opened it and the screen shined brightly. New notifications popped up on the lockscreen. Ang ibang notifications ay galing sa GC naming magka-kaibigan, habang yung iba naman ay message sa class group chat.

I unlock my phone and opened my messenger para mag-backread. Troy sent the pictures that he took a while ago and the other stuffs is all about Liv, Samantha and Troy chatting to each other. Ni-seenzone ko na lang iyon at binasa ang mga announcement mula sa profs at sa president. After scrolling and browsing through my social medias, an idea struck into my mind.

Naaalala ko ang mga sinabi ni Troy kanina. He mentioned something that made me curious that's why I decided to search for it on Facebook. I browsed it up and searched for keywords that I can even think of. Maraming nag-pop up na pages na pink hood ang pangalan sa una.

PINK HOOD POLAROIDS ESPANA: 4,029 LIKES

PINK HOOD POLAROIDS PHOTOGRAPHS: 11.5K LIKES

I'm surprised on what I saw. Maybe, he was a photographer. I clicked on the FB page at in-stalk ang mga photos at feed niya. All of the photos were taken in a polaroid producing films and when it's blown by the wind, the picture will be seen. Sa bawat litrato ay makikita ang mga polaroid films na may picture ng tao o kaya lugar. It's organized on an album, so I decided to browse on it. I'm amazed on how he took pictures using his polaroid camera.

I'm swiping at every picture until I swiped right to the last picture on the gallery. It's a picture of the pink hood guy. He's standing alone and the background is little bit dark. Naka-ilaw yun at mukhang nag-flash ang camera nung kinuhanan siya ng litrato. Malapad ang kanyang ngiti at nakapamulsa ang kanyang kamay at nakatayo ng tuwid. I stared at it for a little while and pursed my lips.

I let out a deep sigh, then turned my phone off and looked up on the ceiling. I wondered so many things that is running inside my head. Full of thoughts. Iyong mga sinabi ni Troy kanina noong nasa Jollibee kami ay totoo.

Bumuntunghininga ako at sinara ang lampara at inayos ang gamit ko sa table. Tumayo ako at pumunta sa higaan ko at inihiga ang sarili ko sa kama at nagmuni-muni habang nakatingala sa kisame. What happened to this day was as horrible as it looks. I turned off my phone and started to close my eyes and went to sleep, hugging tight the soft pillow on my side.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising habang si Billy naman ay patulog pa lang. Nagtanong pa ako sa kanya kung anong oras ang klase niya. Pang-hapon ang class niya so may time pa siya para matulog habang ako naman ay gising na at mag-gagawa pa ng dapat kong gawin at kabisaduhin.

Alas Otso ng umaga ako nagising at nag-kape lang ako. I rarely eat my breakfast or cook something for both of us. Umupo na lang ako sa workspace ko at binuklat ulit ang mga libro at sinulat sa index card ang mga mahahalagang keywords at nag-highlight. I also printed the files na sinend sa amin na ngayon ko lang nakita dahil nakatulog ako kagabi. May quiz na naman daw kami so magre-review na naman ako about sa huling inaral ko kagabi. It's all about community health for Medtech lesson. Akala ko madali lang ang subject na ito, pero more on recit at quiz at focused kami sa community health at kung paano namin ma-assist ang mga tao based sa environment nila at sa clinical setting.

My mind was oggling on how wordy the file was in explaining every bits of the importance of community health. Importante naman kasi ito kasi kailangan ng mga tao maging malusog at malayo sa paligid kung saan ay pwede sila makakuha ng infection, which will affect people's lives due to the negligence of health officials and lack of public health organizations. I kinda thought of that while reading my textbooks.

I rested my arms against the table and bowed my head to sleep. I had digested everything and my mind is full that I need to take a break. A thirty-minute break is enough for me, atleast para mamaya ay may energy na ako. Mahimbing na sana ang tulog ko pero bigla na namang may nag-notif sa phone ko, dahilan para masira ang mahimbing kong tulog. Inangat ko ang aking ulo at sinunggab ang telepono na nakapatong sa table ko. I sighed in disappointment and frustration when I saw who texted me, it's the unknown number - which is the pink hood guy.

0945********: Accept my friend request.

A notification rang again. Mas lalo akong napa-bangon mula sa pagkaka-yuko. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang kanyang pangalan na nag-pop up sa notification ko sa lockscreen ng phone ko. I unlocked my phone and started to open my FB, and browsed on my friends request list. I clicked on his profile and saw his name. He got a nice name and his profile picture is quite nice too. Nakangiti siya at lumabas sa pisngi niya ang malalim na dimple at naka-close up siya sa camera. Suot niya ang pink polo shirt at naka-bucket cap siya. Ma-araw ang paligid sa background niya. I began to scroll on his feed, it's full of photography pictures with amazing sceneries. Umabot sa 500 ang kanyang facebook friends at kasama na sa mutual friends niya si Samantha. Unknowingly, I found myself stalking him. Pinindot ko agad ang back button pabalik sa friends request list.

There, I found his name on top of the list.

Austin Balmaceda sent you a friend request.

Confirm [Decline]

I clicked decline after investigating his profile. It still makes me uncomfortable. Nananig pa rin yung takot ko sa kanya kahit gaano siya kabait sa ibang tao o 'di kaya'y kilala siya ng mga tao na nasa paligid niya. He doesn't even care on how he approaches the people near him. Basta sa akin, para siyang ibang tao kumpara sa ibang pictures na kasama niya ang ibang mga tao. He's a creep, for me.

"Austin Balmaceda," I whispered his name, while staring at my phone. Out of spacing myself in oblivion, my heart jumped because of the buzzing notification I received.

I unlocked my phone at nakita kong siya ulit ang nag-friend request sa akin. Seconds passed, he spammed me a lot of text messages. I clicked my tongue and sighed because of how annoying he was.

0945********: I'm not going to stop if you accept my request. Stalk me if you want...

0945******** : I'm not a stalker hehe. Nakita ko lang talaga ID mo sa post nung Troy na yun at naka-tag ka sa picture na yun. Chat mo yung Troy na kaibigan mo, bago mo 'ko murahin ha. Peace!

What the hell?

My throat became dry after reading his recent texts messages. I almost crushed my phone and fumed mad over his recent text. How dare these two boys ruin my morning? Si Austin na pinipilit akong i-accept ang friend request niya at si Troy na nag-post ng picture at naka-tag pa ako kaya nalaman ni Austin ang pangalan ko. I grunted out of frustration. This can't be happening.

I quickly texted him and thanked him for being honest. I waited for his short reply but nothing came so I didn't hope for it afterwards. Agad ko hinanap ang pangalan ni Troy sa active list sa Messenger at tinawagan agad siya. Thank God he picked up his phone and answer my phone call. He was about to greet me but I cut him off. I hear the sounds of gushing water from the background.

"Troy, un-tag me on your recent fb post, please!" I politely pleaded, trying not to raise my voice at him. Nasa loob ang kulo ko ngayon kay Troy at ayoko siyang pag-salitaan ng masama ngayong umaga.

Bigla na lang binato ni Billy sa gilid ko ang unan at pinagsabihan ako na manahimik ako at hinaan ang boses ko. I lowered the volume of my phone at nilapit sa tenga ang phone ko para marinig ang boses ni Troy.

"sa labas ka nga, kitang natutulog ako dito, e." inis na reklamo ni Billy sa akin at kinamot ang ulo. His eyes were still half closed, he's still wants to sleep.

I let out a sigh and just followed his command. Lumabas ako at naghanap ng signal dito sa labas para lang magka-linawan kami ni Troy sa pag-tawag. Magsasalita na sana ulit ako pero binabaan niya ako. I decided to call him again for a second time.

"Ano na naman ba?" Inis niyang bungad sa akin nang sinagot niya ulit ang tawag ko. Naririnig ko pa rin yung pag-agos ng tubig sa background habang tinatawag ko siya. I press the loud speaker para marinig ko ang kanyang mga sinasabi.

"Ang sabi ko bakit mo 'ko tinag sa post mo," I fanned out a heavy sigh because of frustration and anger towards him. Nahanap at alam na tuloy ni Austin - the pink hood guy,ang pangalan ko. "Paki-un-tag ako, please?" pabor ko sa kanya.

"Why? Whyoming?" Pagbibiro niyang tanong sa akin at mahinang tumawa.

"Ang sabi ko, paki-un-tag ako sa post mo." Pag-uulit ko pa at idiniin ang pagka-sabi ng un-tag para malinaw sa kanya ang pagkaka-intindi sa sinabi ko.

"E, bakit nga." Usisa niya.

"E, baka ma-issue ako kay Austin." I said worryingly. I leaned my back against the railing and let out a deep breath.

"Austin? Sinong Austin?"

"Edi si Austin, the pink hooded guy," I paused. He hummed like he was guessing it. "The polaroid boy." I continued.

"Ah, siya? Oh, bakit naman mai-issue ka sa kanya. Crush mo ba siya, ha?" He exchanged questions. "Non-issuable naman pic natin as a squad kasama siya, ha. Kilala naman siya sa facebook as a public figure." paliwanag niya.

"Oo, alam ko. I don't care about it or whatever you may call him. But kindly un-tag me, please? Bigla niya kasi ako chinat, e." pagra-rason ko para maintindihan niya ang request ko sa kanya.

He went silent for a while, then answered at me again, "Chill, Brianna, Chill lang aba! Ito na ide-delete. Kita nang naliligo ako tapos mumurahin mo pa ako!" Pasinghal niyang sabi sa akin upang pa-kalmahin ako.

I asked him again after not hearing him for a minute. "Huy? Na-un-tag mo na?"

"Yuppity yup!" simpleng sagot niya. Nakikita ko tuloy sa mukha niya na naka-ngisi pa siya sa akin pagkatapos niya akong gantihan ng mura.

Napangiti naman ako ng kaunti sa narinig ko. "Thanks!"

I-end ko na sana yung call pero nagsalita ulit siya. "Bakit mo nga pala pinapa-delete?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Nag-friend request si Austin tapos in-add ako. Nakita niya sa post na naka-tag ako kaya nag-friend request sa akin." I explained.

"So.. Austin, the pink hooded guy ay nag-friend request sa'yo dahil nakita post ko?" Pag-lilinaw niya.

"Yup!" Then I realized how I am terrible on telling a story on him.

"Eh ano naman? Sikat nga yun, e. Nakakaabot dito sa España yung Morayta Pink Hooded Guy na Austin na yun." Pagku-kwento niya na may pagyayabang pa.

I just smirked and shook my head, "Creepy kaya niya," panimula ko. "Lagi ako hinihintay sa paglabas sa campus doon sa may main gate at isa siyang stalker. Nakuha niya nga pa nga phone number ko, e."

"Sure ka bang stalker siya o baka binigay mo number mo sa kanya ka? Mukhang mabait naman at approachable, e. Hindi naman siya gano'n na napaka-creepy tulad ng sinasabi mo, ah." He judged me and corrected on what I'd said earlier.

"He is a complete stranger for me, Troy. Hindi madali sa akin para mag-tiwala, noh Baka kidnappin ako no'n!" Sabi ko.

Mahina siyang tumawa. "Edi sana na-kidnap tayong lahat sa Jollibee kung may intensyon siya sa'yo o sa 'ting lahat. Malamang sa malamang ay hindi tayo buhay ngayon. Nakapagpa-picture na nga tayo kagabi sa kanya tapos mukha pa siyang kidnapper sa image mo." He pointed out.

"You know what, you're creating Him an image in which only yourself can see. If he's stalking you or when he comes near you, catch him." Paliwanag niya pa ulit sa akin. I swallowed the lump on my throat, after I listen to every bit of words he said. He's like this, giving plentiful of advices to a person, to me, again. I looked down on feet, and the cold wind touches my skin. I pursed my lips and thought about it.

May point siya, ngunit hindi ako nagtitiwala agad sa mga tao na kagaya ni Austin. It's just... he's making me uncomfortable.

"E, basta ako, hindi ako makikipag-friends do'n or whatever," Pagtataray ko na lang dahil wala na akong ibang masabi. "Ang uncomfy kasi sa tuwing nakikita ko siya, tapos text nang text sa akin."

"You know what, Brianna. Para mawala 'yang problema mo, e, subukan mong iwasan na lang! Tsaka may BLOCK option naman kasi sa contacts at pwede mo naman gawin yun. Para mas hindi ka niya kulitin ay accept mo na lang friend request niya, tapos block mo sa messenger kapag nag-chat sa'yo. Kung wala kang kaunting tiwala do'n ay gan'on ang gawin mo." He advised me to do what he instructed to me, so that I can protect myself and my privacy.

I felt relieved when he adviced me for avoiding him, kahit maloko si Troy at hindi mawawala ang friendly advice niya. It's his nature and I admire him for being a caring friend, yet I am easily het annoyed when he does something stupid.

"Ano? Wala ka na bang sasabihin? Kanina pa ako dito sa shower, tangina nanlalamig na ako dito. Wrong timing ka lagi tumawag." Natauhan ako dahil bigla siyang nagsalita sa linya ng telepono.

"Geh, bye na! Tuloy mo na pagsho-shower mo," paamama-alam ko.

"And thank you for your advice, and for un-tagging me in your post." I sincerely acknowledged him.

"Welcome." He replied.

"By the way... naka-300 reacts pala yung groupfie natin tsaka 10 comments kanina kasi naka-tag si Austin," he boasted. "Check mo sa facebook." sabay tawa niya.

"Ito na talaga, goodbye na." he bade goodbye, the he hung up on the call.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga, bago patayin ang phone ko at binulsa ito. Humarap ako sa may railing at pinatong ang dalawa kong braso sa railing habang tinatanaw ang langit at ang araw na tirik na tirik ngayon sa kalangitan. The scorching sun touches my skin as I feel the wind blows gently. I can hear the sounds of the open road and the horns and engines of the cars from the street. The street is always busy and I'm used to it.

Dumaan sa isip ko si Austin habang nakatingala sa langit. I blew out heavy sigh and I can't keep myself thinking of him.That Morayta Prince is really storming the university belt. Famous siya sa UST, at ngayon ay naglilibot na siya dito sa university belt. Sa dinami-daming lugar ay napag-desisyunan niya pa talaga na sa tapat ng main gate ng FEU siya tatamabay at nakatayo lamang roon mula sa distansya malayo sa main gate.

I remember him leaning against the wall, quickly averting his gaze to look at me, whenever our eyes would meet. And after that, a smile forms on his lips and his face brightens when he would ever try to look at me, studying my face first, then he quickly disappears in solitude in a blink of an eye.

Natauhan ako nang maalala ko yun at kinurap-kurap ko ang mata ko dahil siya na naman ang nasa isip ko. I pulled myself together and blinked my eye many times before walking out and entered my room.

Pumasok na lang ako sa kwarto at naaubtan kong gising si Billy at naka-simangot siya at tinitignan ako ng masama. Gulo-gulo pa rin ang buhok niya at halatang bagong gising pa lang siya. He wears his serious face as he looked at me like I did something wrong.

"Ano?" I creased my forehead and my brows furrow and asked him, terribly confused.

"Makikipag-usap ka na nga lang kay Troy, ang lakas pa ng boses mo." Reklamo niya at kinamot ang ulo dahil inis. Tumayo na siya at kinuha ang tuwalya na naka-hang malapit sa doorway at lumingon sa akin.

"Hindi na nga ako nakatulog kagabi tapos, ugh, makaligo na nga lang." He grunts in annoyance. Pumasok na lang siya sa CR at nagsimula na siyang maligo roon.

Natawa na lang ako sa kanya at umiling-iling na lang. Naglakad ako papunta sa kama ko at umupo roon. Binalik ang atensyon sa phone ko. I clicked my messenger and muted Austin's messages. It's rude for him kung i-block ko siya matapos kong i-accept ang friend request niya for the second time. It's for the better na i-mute ko na lang muna, mukha namang hindi niya ginagamit messenger niya dahil inuubos niya ang oras niya kate-text sa SMS.

Ilang oras ang lumipas at natapos na rin naman si Billy na maligo kaya ako naman ang sumunod. Mabilis lang ako naligo dahil alas onse na pala at ang pasok naming dalawa ni Billy ay alas dos at kakain pa kami ng lunch. Pagkatapos kong maligo ay nagbihis na ako ng uniform. Nag-blush on ako ng kaunti sa pisngi at tinali ang buhok ko. Tinignan ko naman ang sarili ko sa face mirror. All good. Ngumiti ako ng isang saglit at umalis na sa pagtingin sa repleksyon ko sa salamin at pumunta na sa labas dahil siya na lang ang hinihintay ko.

Sabay na rin kami ng Billy kumain ng lunch at wala rin naman akong natanggap na text mula kay Austin. Thank god I had freedom and peace nang wala akong natanggap na kahit ano sa kanya. Puro schoolworks lang ang pinag-usapan namin ni Billy dahil nakalimutan namin pag-usapan yung about sa project namin kagabi.

Pagkatapos naming mag-lunch ay pumasok na rin kami kaagad sa school at mabuti naman nakaabot kami sa classes namin.

Marami ring recits at kaunti naman ang quiz at focused na ulit ako sa classes ko ngayong hapon. I didn't hoped for Austin texting me nonsense and I'm now on a good mood. Atleast, walang distraction. Makakahinga ako nang maluwag ngayon.

Yung ibang babae ay lumapit sa akin ay pinipilit nila akong mag-kuwento tungkol sa groupfie kasama si Pink Hood guy na nakita nila kahapon sa Facebook. I told them everything at nakinig naman sila. Gusto lang chumika at dahil sa slight chismosa rin akong tao ay iniba ko yung kwento para hindi nila ako asarin.

As usual, naroon si BIlly sa likod at nakikisabay sa trip ng boys at kung anong kalokohan na naman ginagawa at malakas ang tawanan nila roon sa likod. Pagkatapos no'n ay bumalik ulit ang lahat sa sari-sariling upuan para sa sunod na klase. The class started and we started to pay attention over it.

********

"Mag-kwek kwek naman tayo! Sawa na ako sa fastfood tsaka trenta na lang yung natitira sa wallet ko," Reklamo ni Billy dahil nag-suggest ako na sa Shakeys kami kumain ngayon. I'm craving for pizza and I want it right now.

"Shakeys na lang, ataw ko ng kwek-kwek." Pag-iinarte ko habang naglalakad kami sa papalabas ng main gate

Nang makalabas kami ng Main Gate ay napa-atras ako ng kaunti at naapakan ko pa yung paa ni Billy. Napa-atras rin naman siya at tumabi sa akin. I held my breath for a while, because panic rushed through my veins. Lumingon ako kung sinong lalake ang nakatabi sa akin sa kanan ko. I looked at him at mulikong nakita ang mukha niya. It's him.

Why is he here again? Kanina ay wala siyang kibo noong may klase ako tapos ngayon eh bigla siyang susulpot ro'n at isusuot ang kanyang usual na mahiyaing ngiti sa kanyang labi, which is very uncomfortable for me. He even blushed when our eyes met, that's why avoided his gaze and stepped on my side to distance myself away from him.

He's wearing dark green hoodie and black sweatpants paired with black adidas shoes. He turned his head on me and smiled, which I caught it in my peripheral vision.

Umiwas agad ako ng tingin at naramdaman kong may lalake sa tabi ko nung humakbang pa ako nang isa pang beses. Lumingon ako at tumingala sa kanya at nagtagpo naman ang paningin namin sa isa't-isa. "Yakap mo 'ko, Billy."

"Ha?"

"Yakapin mo 'ko. I'll make this man beside me get jealous, maki-cooperate ka!" I favored to him. He jerked his head on my side and his eyes were fixed on looking at the man beisde me, which is distanced away from us.

He looked at me again and frowned, then he crossed his arms at humakbang ng isang beses papalayo sa akin at umiling. "Aba, manigas ka diyan."

"Bili na," I begged. "Libre kita piaya."

"Aba, ako na nga 'tong nagyayaya magkwek-kwek at piaya tayo, tapos papaboran mo 'ko na yakapin kita para ." Sabi niya na may pagtatampo pa sa akin.

No choice at ako ang nag-adjust. Ako yung yunakap sa kanya at nilakasan ko at kinapalan ko na ang loob ko para lang magkaroon ng lakas si BIlly na sundin ang plano ko. Bahala na ang mga taong pumapalibot sa akin at naglalakad dito sa sidewalk, magawa lang yung part ko na dapat mag-selos sa akin si Austin gawa kay Billy.

"Babe, tara sa McDo!" I toned my voice like a sweet girlfriend para lang marinig ni Austin ang lahat ng mga sinasabi ko. Billy looks at me and hugged me back, his arms wrapped around me.

"Ok, babe!" He answered with delight smile formed on his lips. We both walked away, leaving Austin behind our back. He carefully hangs his arms around my shoulders, while my arms still hugs his waist. We still continued our act hanggang sa makalayo kami. Mabagal lang naman paglakad namin dahil ayaw kong mapag-halataan ako ni Pink Hooded Guy sa ginagawa kong 'to

Naglakad na kami papalayo. ngunit hindi natanggal ang tingin ko kay Austin. He looked disappointed when he saw us hugging each other. He let out a small grin and pocketed his hands and stooped his head.

I let go of hugging Billy nang matapos kong makita ang reaksyon ni Austin. Tumaas kami sa hagdan dito sa Morayta footbridge. I take the first step, while my eyes were fixed on staring at himon where he was standing. Nasa tabi ko si Billy at kasabay ko rin siayng maglakad. Nakarating kami sa taas at nasa gilid lang kami, habang ang ibang tao ay lumalagpas lang sa amin at patuloy na naglalakad dito sa footbridge.

"Ano? Guilty ka noh?" I heard Billy asked, I turned my head to look at him.

Umiling ako. "Ha? Hindi ah," I denied.

"Sus! Selos na yun dahil sa akin. Mapilit ka kasi, e." Then he continued walking at ako na 'tong na-istatwa sa kinatatayuan ko habang naka-hawak ang dalawa kong kamay sa malamig na railing. I'm still watching on what he would do next.

Tumingin ako sa nagsisi-daanang mga bus at jeep at iba pang sasakyan. Napako lamang ang tingin ko sa may lugar kung saan nakatayo si Austin. Nahagilap naman ng paningin ko ang naka-green na hoodie - si Austin. Naglalakad na siya papalayo at hindi na niya nakuha pang lumingon para sa akin. Ramdam ko yung bigat ng dibdib ko habang nakikita ko siya papaalis. It's my first time seeing him like that.

I spent some time watching him walk away across the sidewalk. Nagpatuloy na ulit akong naglakad dito sa footbridge at isinawsaw ang sarili ko sa taong nagsisidaanan ngayon dito. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko naman si BIlly naroon sa may dulo at nakatayo roon sa may gilid, malapit sa hagdan, upang hintayin ako. Naglakad na lang ako nang mabilis para maabutan ko siya roon. Buti naman at nakapag-hintay pa siya ng matagal para sa 'kin.

"Nangyari sa 'yo?" usisa niya sa akin nang magtama ang paningin namin.

"Wala." I said.

"Alam mo, iwasan mo lang yun kung hate mo yun. Ginamit mo pa talaga ako para lang magselos siya. It's bad, you know. Bestfriend mo pa naman ako." He adviced. He sighed, then turned his head on the stairs.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad pababa sa hagdan. I felt a sting in my heart because of what I heard. Pinalipas ko na lang yun at bumuntunghininga na lang at sumunod na lang kay Billy sa pagbaba. And just as that, we were talking about the things at school and other topics, while eating piaya.

We took a ride and we went home to our apartment. And I'm still thinking of what I did earlier. I can't get it off inside my head. The words Billy said to me. - bestfriend mo pa naman ako. Ang paglakad ni Austin papalayo habang nakayuko. Ano ba nagawa kong mali? And then I went to sleep, hugging the pillow beside me.

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