Chapter 16-I
"Kanina ka pa patingin-tingin sa labas, nakapagtext ka na sa Papa mo? Sorry sa abala ha, gusto lang kita makasama ngayon." After the three of us had dinner we all went ot the rooftop to get somefresh air. Saka lang naalala ni Percival ang plano niyang stargazing kaya bumababa muna siya para kunin ang telescope sa attic. Thus I was left all alone with Ronald." If you're worried about the police I'll talk to them again. Pero magsabi ka rin sa parents mo ha? Kami na bahala sayo."
"Hindi ko naman iniisip..."
"I see. Mas umiwas ka na lang sa sunod ha?
"Yung kanina..."
"Yeah? What about earlier?"
"Bakit ganun ang tanong tungkol sa boyfriend? May dahilan ba kaya di ko dapat siya makita?" Tanong ni Ronald habang nakasanday siya sa railings habang abala sa pagtingin gallery ng camera niya. " Nag-away ba kayo kanina bago niyo ako puntahan? Nagpapakampi ka ba sa kung saan?"
I held my tongue."...Nag-ooverthink lang ako."
Ronald scoff." Nung linggo yung unang balik niya?"
"Ah, yeah. Nung unang nakita mo siya. Pero bago nun, kahit papano may contact pa rin kami. Hindi ko lang nakwento ng maayos. This embrassing, I remember the time I told you all about him. He's not a bad person you see?" I narrated as I try sneak glances on Ronald's photos, when he notice that he handed me his camera. Point shoot camera ito, luma ng model at halata na ang katandaan; may engrave intials to na D.E.V. " Introverted lang kami pareho. At hindi lang showy sa mga bagay-bagay. We just don't look like how othere are."
He blink his eyes."Parang may tinatago kayo."
I poke his cheeks." "Di ba kami mukang magboyfriend at girlfriend?"
Parang napangisi siya." Ang tagal niya bumalik."
I didn't catch his real expression, kaya namumuo sakin ang kaba." B-baka natatagalan sa paghahanap, matagal na kasi yung huling gamit namin ng telescope."
"Huling kwento mo sakanya, parang hindi naman kayo magkaayos." Ronald started, he ask for his camera back and shove it back to his bag. But instead of giving all of his attention to me he look at the moon." Aligaga kang maghintay sa kanya mula pa dati pero mas nawiwirduhan ako sa inyo, may iba sa inyo na hindi ko maintihdan."
"T-That not true. Awkward ba kami?"
"Ate...Hindi ka naman napipilitan lang sa kanya?"
Ronald completed calling me Ate for the first time, my heart jump in joy because of that. Dahil dun mas gusto ko depensahan at linisin ang image ko sa kanya." Nakwento ko nga pala sayo na nakilala ko siya dahil sa family business, pero walang pumilit na maging maging kami. We're not in that sort of situation or whatever! Unless that's what you're thinking?"
Ronald eyes were cautious." Paano kayo niyan aarte pag wala yung iba?"
I gasped."We're not acting---we're just different."
I was about to reach for his arms, but he distance himself. Ever since he saw me with my boyfriend he became wary, but his sharp tongue remain. "Baka sunod-sunuran ka lang sa mga tao sa paligid mo. Kaya aligaga ka pag wala si Percival kahit hindi naman kayo mag-kaayos? Hindi ka ba marunong mamuhay na base kung sino ka lang?"
" I am who I am. Even without him! "
Ronald started to walk away, did I make him get used to talking to me like that? Na bastusin ako? O umasa akong may tama sa panig niya?" Aalis na ako, parang madadamay lang ako sa drama niyo. Pero salamat pa rin sa tulong, hanggang dun na lang yun."
I ran after him." "Dito ka lang. Hindi ka aalis!"
He grimace." Ang drama mo."
"Wag ka magsalita ng ganyan, akala ko ba naiintidihan mo ko? B-back then I'm glad you help me and I'm trying to do that too now!" Hindi ako nagd-drama, my struggles are not nonsense. Is Ronald turning like the people around me? He's just kid but he views me like this! He's too young to look at me as if I'm a lost cause! Ako dapat yung mas may alam kaysa sa kanya." Inintindi ko na iba ka lang sa karamihan, pero ang totoo ayos lang sayo manakit ng tao gamit ang salita mo, diba?"
"Ganto ako magsalita sa taong sarili lang ang inii------"
I raised my hands in anger, but just in time I stop myself from slapping him. Hindi ako bayalonte. He's already hurt. He realized that." I thought you were my friend!"
He cursed under his breath, tinabig niya ang kamay ko nang tinangka ko siyang abutin." Hindi mo ako kilala Sheena, gagawin ko na lang mas madali ang lahat para sayo. Nakadiri kayo, naririndi ako kung pano kayo makitungo sa isa't-isa. Kung hindi mo kayang gawin, ako na lang ang lalayo."
Ralph have forsaken me. Percival is just a fucking puppet. And even Ronald just view me this lowly? Hindi pwede! Pasigaw kong inilabas ang nararamdaman ko." Dapat hindi ka ganto sakin! I don't want you this way!"
He was startled,he paled." Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?!"
"Ronald, why are doing this to me?"
"Dahil hindi tayo magkai---------"
Acting and pitying me as if I were a broken angel and that he's the devil that pierce me the truth---halos maitulak ko siya....If Percival wasn't behind him----he'd fall in the stairs for sure. I'd hurt him and forget guilt.Hindi ko napansin na ang biglang pagdating ni Percival, marahil narinig niya ang pag-aaway namin. "Everything alright, Hon? Ronald?"
I sobbed, I ask Ronald again." Bakit ka naghananap ng mali?"
I saw Ronald's face of astonishment when tears trickled from my eyes, he almost fall from the stairs because of me but that's because he's hurting me! Mas lalong nagrehistro ng galit ang mukha niya. Inis na kumawala si Ronald sa pagkakahawak ni Percival at nagmartsa pababa ng hagdan. But then Percival's voice stop him." Why did you need to make my girlfriend cry?"
"Don't chase him awa------" Percival cupped my cheeks, and pulled me closer to him. Tatawagin ko sana si Ronald, pipigilan ko dapat siya! His eyes on my lips all while Ronald is watching." Don't you dare ruin the relationship I ha----------"
He knows I don't want to be kissed, tinakip niya lang ang kamay niya sa mga pisngi namin. Pero sa anggulo ni Ronald, halik yun. Sa mata ng kaibigan ko hinalikan ako ng boyfriend ko. I glance at the boy, his wide eyes on us." I won't, I always listen to what you say, Hon."
Napaupo ako sa sahig ng umalis pa din si Ronald" He left..."
Percival sighed." Mag-s-stargazing pa sana tayo."
I can barely catch my breath, my tears is still falling from my eyes. Kada patak pinupusan ko agad, pero hindi siya matapos-tapos." I already told you to not interfere with my real relationship, Percival! Nagkaaway na nga kami ni Ronald makikiaalam ka pa! He left because you're making me look desperate crazy!"
"He'll come back." Kaswal na sabi ni Percival.
"At para saan pa?! Paano?!" Sigaw ko.
"You can make him come back. Sa kahit anong oras." Pahayag ni Percival at naupo sa tabi ko, he was smiling ear to ear as his chin was on his palms." That kiss would make him think we're a perfect couple...He wouldn't need to worry---that I am jealous of him... Sa kabilang panig pwede niyang isipin na hindi talaga maayos ang pagsasamahan natin at kailangan ka niyang protektahan."
I laugh as I cried." D-Did you scheme this, you devil?"