Somehow Alike

>Kreiss' POV<

"You'd understand soon," sabi ko na lang sa kanya at tinuloy ko yung paghahanap ko ng gamit.

Napatigil ako dahil binato niya yung match sa ulo ko at napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Kailangan nating bilisan. Baka may masamang nangyari sa kanila. Masasaktan si Sheloah," sabi niya at nilapitan ko siya. She backed away.

"Why are you so concerned about her," tanong ko at hindi niya rin sinagot.

"None of you business, Mr. Kidnapper, and we really need to move fast because they might really get hurt," sabi niya ulit and she walked past me pero pinigilan ko siya at hindi man lang siya lumingon para tingnan ako.

"It's just a simple question. Bakit hindi mo masagot," tanong ko sa kanya at pinipilit niyang makawala sa hawak ko sa kanyang braso.

"Wala kang pakealam. Bitawan mo nga ako! Nakakainis ka! May plano pa tayo rito!"

Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko. Pinilit ko siyang humarap sa akin pero nagulat ako nang makita ko siyang halos paiyak na.

I was stunned. There were tears rolling down from her eyes down to her cheeks. She was forcing herself to stop. She used her free hand to wipe it all off. Seeing her like this, I felt the urge to protect her. I don't want seeing anyone cry. Was I too harsh?

Binitawan ko siya. "I'm sorry," sabi ko na lang sa kanya at lumingon siya at hinawakan niya ang braso niya gamit ang isa niyang kamay.

"You want answers? I'll give you answers!" She wiped her tears completely and started to speak harshly. Lumingon siya at hindi niya ako tiningnan.

"I fell in love."

Her words had taken me aback. "Shannara, hindi mo na kailangan—" hindi niya ako pinatapos.

"I fell in love with this guy. I was close with him when we were kids. We parted from each other and did not see each other for years. It's a cliché and common story," sabi niya at napabuntong-hininga siya.

"I fell in love with my childhood friend. We parted. I saw him again, then he met another girl. They became close, too. Turned out that the girl and I are friends, too. The thing is, this guy likes her back but doesn't even realize it," kwento niya at lumingon siya para tingnan ako.

"Don't you see? Sheloah is the girl. Veon's the guy and I'm the main character," sabi niya and she added a sad smile.

She and I… are somehow alike.

"Hindi mo maiintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. Hindi mon a kailangan umintindi. Wala naman nakakaintindi sa nararamdaman ko," dagdag sabi pa niya at naglakad siya papunta sa akin at kinuha niya lahat ng gamit.

Pinigilan ko siya dahil sa sinabi niya. "I get you," sabi ko at napatigil siya sa paglalakad. "I exactly get what you are feeling but you just couldn't give up. Kahit sinabi mo sa sarili mo na suko ka na, hindi moa lam kung paano simulant kasi iniisip mo pa kung ano ang nararamdaman mo para sa kanya," dagdag sabi ko pa at tiningnan niya ako.

"Kreiss… who are you," tanong niya and I knew what she meant.

Sa sinabi ko, nararamdaman niya na naiintindihan ko siya. She wants to know my story but I couldn't tell her just yet.

I just can't.

I fell in love with Sheloah the moment she inspired me in choosing my career. I haven't seen her in years and now I did and right now I knew and realized that she loves someone else. I was planning to know if Veon felt the same way and it was obvious that he does, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it.

From Shannara's story, I knew from the start that they are happy with each other and Shannara's out of place. If I would be with them, too, maybe I would feel the same.

I also decided to give up on the feelings I have for her and move on but now that she's right in front of me, my heart's saying otherwise. I can't help how she influenced my choices so much. I can't help but think about the future and the what ifs I kept imagining in my head.

I can't forget that person… I can't forget that love.

"Kahit ilang beses kong sinasabi sa sarili ko na suko na ako, hindi ko naman kaya," sabi niya at nakuha niya nanaman ang pansin ko.

We understand each other completely.

Agad lumingon si Shannara at nagulat ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Kahit hindi ako nagsasalita, pareho kami ng iniisip.

"I can't forget that person… I can't forget that love," sabi ni Shannara at inayos niya ang buhok niya bago siya naglakad pababa.

Trying to forget a person is like trying to remember someone you've never met.