18

"What are you doing here, Andrew?" tanong niya sa lalaking kaharap. Ilang linggo lamang niya itong hindi nakita ngunit pakiramdam niya ay hindi na niya ito kilala. Mukha itong hindi natulog ng ilang araw sa panlalalim ng mga mata nito. Hindi rin maayos ang buhok nitong sa pagkakatanda niya ay mahal na mahal nito. He was a mess.

Ang buong pag-aakala niya ay makakaramdam siya ng sakit sa muli nilang pagkikita nito. May himala nga yata dahil ni katiting na damdamin ay wala siyang maramdaman para rito. It was like she was actually talking to a complete stranger.

"I came here to see you." Sagot nito.

"Obviously. What I want to know is why you wanted to see me."

"I love you, Anikka. Let's get back together, please." Walang anu-ano'y bulalas nito.

Ngali-ngaling paliparin niyang muli ang kamao sa mukha nito kung hindi lamang siya nakapagpigil. How could he even blurt that out when a few weeks ago he was pledging his love to her stepsister.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago muli itong binalingan.

"Look, kung nag-away man kayo ni Pia, wala akong pakialam. Just stop bothering me, already! Labas na ako sa problema ninyo pwede ba?" naiinis na sabi niya rito.

"I don't love your sister."madamdaming sabi nito. "It's you I love."

"Wow! Just, wow!" Looking at him right now makes her realize that this guy was a loser. And she was with this jerk for three years? She wanted cringe.

"Alam kong nagkamali ako. But we can still fix this, right? You still love me, right?"

Siya? Mahal ito? Ni hindi nga matanggap ng sistema niya ngayon na minahal nya ito noon. Or was she even in love with him before?

"Oo, kung mahal mo, which I doubt by the way. Because you wouldn't be fussing about some other guy if you really love that ex-fiance of yours."

Umalingawngaw sa isip niya ang sinabing iyon ni Rina. Sa buong panahong paglalagi niya sa Pilipinas, iisang beses lamang niyang naisip si Andrew at iyon ay noong unang araw ng pagbabalik niya. After that it has always been Menriz that was occupying her minda. Maging nitong mga nakaraang araw. Oo at naiisip niya naging relasyon niya sa manlolokong lalaking ito ngunit iyon ay dahil na rin sa pag-iisip niya sa kung anong maaaring nararamdaman na niya para kay Menriz. Her past relationship was just a factor on what she feels about Menriz.

And then it dawned on her. The erratic beating of her heart whenever Menriz was near. That certain jealousy she felt when she thought Menriz was with someone else. That confusing feeling she was experiencing the very moment she saw him again. She was in love with Menriz. Inaamin na niya iyon sa sarili niya.

Alam na rin niya kung bakit naiinis siya kay Menriz noong mga high school pa sila. Naiinis siyang maraming nagkakagustong babae rito noon. Maging sa mga babaeng umaaliid dito ay nabubuwisit siya. She was all because she was unintentionally liking him back then.

Nang muli niyang balingan si Andrew ay magaan na ang loob niya. Ang bigla lamang pala nitong pagpapakita sa kanya ang makakapagpa-realize sa kanya ng mga bagay-bagay sa buhay niya na dapat ay matagal na niyang tinanggap sa sarili niya.

"You know what, I want to thank you." Kalmadong sabi niya rito.

"H-ha?" tila napapantstikuhang tanong nito.

"You made me realize I was never in love with you. I was in love with some amazing man all along, at ikaw ang nagpa-realize sa akin niyon, so thank you."

"Anikka, I—"

"Go back to Pia and make up with her. Please stop bothering me anymore as I would be busy persuing my own happiness now. Bye." Tumayo na siya at magmamartsa na lamang palabas ng coffee shop na iyon nang bigla siya nitong pigilan sa braso. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang bigla na lamang siya nitong yakapin.

"Please, Anikka. Just give me another chance. I would never hurt you again. Please." Nagmamakaawang sabi nito.

Hinawakan niya ang braso nitong nakapulupot sa may balikat niya upang tanggalin iyon nang mapadako ang tingin niya sa bintanang salamin ng bintanang iyon. Natigilan siya nang mapagsino ang lalaking nakatayo di kalayuan sa labas ng establisimyentong iyon.

"M-menriz..."

She saw his pained expression even before he turned and walked away. He was walking away from her.

She panicked!