🐇27th Charm🐰

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“And if I have to experience same pain
to meet him again in then next life,
I am willing to be hurt over again
only if in the end I’ll end up with him.”

...🌻...

I am happily looking at my fake wedding ring while walking hand-in- hand with Vitto. We were going to the Sports Club booth where the famous sports elites are and that includes my noisy cousin Heaven. My smile faded when I looked at carrots and I saw him busy with something on his phone. I moved closer and jumped hoping to get a peek on it when he suddenly stopped and I bumped on his side. He glared at me.

“Sino ka- text mo?” I asked, not hiding my curiousity anymore.

“Someone you do not know.” Matipid niyang sagot na lalo kong ikinasimangot.

“Sino nga?” Pangungulit ko pa nang biglang  tumunog ang cellphone niya. Tumiklay ako upang silipin iyon ngunit mabilis niyang naiiwas ang phone. Kumislap ang singsing niya nang tamaan iyon ng sikat ng araw.

“I have to pick this up.” Sabi niya at nang akmang hilain ang kamay palayo ay agad akong nangunyapit sa braso niya.

“Sino nga ‘yan?” I nagged.

Pumalatak siya saka humiwalay sa akin. Nang sumimangot ako lalo ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko saka ako giniya sa isang ice cream booth kung saan may mga stools at mesa sa harapan. Pinaupo niya ako sa isang stool.

“Hintayin mo ako dito. Babalik ako.” Hindi na ako nakapagreklamo pa nang agad niya akong talikuran at lumayo upang sagutin ang tawag. Kagat ang ibabang labing sinundan ko siya ng irap. Sino ba iyong tumatawag at kailangan niya pa talagang lumayo para sagutin iyon?

Inis na inalis ko ang tingin sa kanya at inilipat sa ice cream stand. May carrots flavor kaya sila dito? Patayo na ako nang bigla na lang ay may lumapit sa aking dalawang babaeng maiikli ang mga buhok. Sa tindig at porma ng mga ito’y sigurado akong mula sila sa college ng Criminology.

“Pasensya na, miss. Pero kailangan mong sumama sa amin.” Anang isa na mas lalaki pang tumindig kaysa sa bestfriend kong si Ricci pero hindi maikakailang maganda. Nagulat na lang ako nang maglabas ng posas ang isa sa kanila. They immediately chained me.

Teka lang! Hindi ko naman pinalista ang pangalan namin ng carrots ko para sa jail booth!

Tinanaw ko si Vitto na nakatalikod mula sa kinaroroonan ko at may kausap pa rin sa cellphone nito. Hinintay kong may lumapit dito ngunit ginigiya na ako palayo ng dalawang babae’y naroon pa rin si Vitto at nakikipag-usap sa kung sinoman sa cellphone niya.

“Sandali lang! Bakit ako lang dadalhin niyo e nandoon ‘yong boyfriend ko?” Inginuso ko pa ang kinaroroonan ni Vitto ngunit patuloy lamang sila sa paglalakad palayo ng akay ako.

“Wait lang!” Nilingon kong muli si Vitto, “Carrots!” Tawag ko sa kanya ngunit nilamon lamang iyon ng ingay na nagmumula sa message booth at tugtog mula sa campus broadcast room. Just who the hell had listed my name for the freakin’ jailbooth and with whom?!

Inis na nagpatianod na lamang ako sa dalawang babae hanggang sa makarating kami sa unang palapag ng Criminology building kung nasaan ang booth nila. Nadatnan ko doon si Kross Yuna Ibarra na padabog na naglapag sa mesa ng limang libo kung saan nagpapalista ang mga nais magpa- kulong. Tila nahihintatakutan namang inabot agad ng isa ang isang susi at walang imik ngunit halata ang galit nitong pumasok sa isang silid doon na binuksan ng isang lalaki.

Nawala sa kanila ang atensyon ko nang kalasin ng babae ang pagkakaposas ko saka ipinasok sa isang silid na katabi ng silid na pinasok ni Kross. Halos hindi ako makagalaw ng makita sa loob si Giro kung ‘di lamang ako iginiya ng babae palapit dito upang igapos ang isang kamay sa posas na siyang nakagapos din sa isang kamay ng ex- boyfriend ko. Narinig ko ang pagsara ng pintuan palatandaang kaming dalawa na lamang ang naiwan doon.

Tila nagising ako nang maalala si Vitto. Kailangan ko siyang tawagan! But where is my damned bag?! Napapikit ako sa frustration. Malamang ay kinuha nila iyon sa akin kanina!

Hindi ako maaaring lumayo kay Giro dahil iisa lang ang posas naming kaya inis na naupo na lamang ako  tabi nito ngunit sinigurong may sapat na distansyang pagitan. Bago pa nito ako komprontahin at akusahan kung bakit narito kaming dalawa ay inunahan ko na ito.

“I swear, I’m not the reason why we’re here.” I said, annoyed.

“I know.” Tipid nitong sagot. Napalingon ako rito. Kung hindi siya ay sino?! Kahit hindi ako marunong ng martial arts ay masisipa ko talaga kung sinoman ang may gawa nito! Paano ako hahanapin ni carrots rito?

“Then why are we here?” I asked, clueless, ‘til I realized one thing that made me stared at him suspiciously, “did you?” I blurted accusingly.

His face flustered as he looked away and cleared his throat. He did? But this isn’t like him at all!

“What do you want? You’re supposed to be busy.” Naliitong wika ko. I didn’t expect him to do something like this. Sa tagal ng naging relasyon namin ay hindi ko ito napilit ni minsan na sumali sa mga ganitong bagay. Paano ay lagi itong busy dahil nga nasa Supreme Council na ito maski noong unang taon pa lamang namin sa college kaya hindi siya nawawalan ng gagawin tuwing may events dito sa university. Sa naisip ay nakuha kong kaawaan ng kaunti si Rosenda. Naeenjoy kaya niya ang festival ngayon kung sobrang busy naman ng boyfriend niya? Kasi, ako ay nageenjoy kung hindi lamang nangyari ito!

“I just want to talk to you, Oreo.” Sagot nito sa mahinang tinig.

“In here?” I blurted incredulously as I stood up. Bahagyang nahila ang kamay niyang nakaposas. “What for?”

He heaved a tired sigh and I suddenly felt guilty for treating him coldly. I noticed that he looked so pale and seemed like he had lost some weight. Nang tumingin ito sa akin ay hindi nakatakas sa akin ang lambong ng mga mata nito.

I felt myself calming down so I silently sat down beside him again, making sure I am not touching him in any way. Nilingon ko siya at nahuli kong nakatingin siya sa akin, “What happened?” Mahinang tanong ko.

“Nothing.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, a habit he makes whenever he’s tired and stressed.

“Where’s your girlfriend?”

“I will be meeting her later.” Tila hindi interesadong anito.

“What if she learns that we were here?” I asked and he closed his eyes and sighed like my question made him more stressed.

When he opened his eyes, he looked at me and asked, “What if your boyfriend learns that we are here?” He threw me back my question.

Napatingin ako sa pintuang hanggang ngayon ay naka- lock pa rin, “That’s why I have to get out of here. Sasabihin na naman n’on na ang likot- likot ko kasi bigla akong nawawala.” Nakasimangot na wika ko. Isa pa, hindi ko din naman alam kung marunong bang magselos si Vitto o hindi. At hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o maiinis sa ugali niyang iyon.

“Do you still remember when you used to accompany me everytime I check the booths? Or everytime I have to go out to buy some stuffs for the Supreme Student Council office. You used to help me buy coffee for the council whenever there was a meeting. You hated very moment of those because you felt that it’s stealing my attention from you. “He said with a longing smile on his face while looking at nowhere, “And I used to get mad at you because I thought you’re not supportive to me at all…” He paused, and looked at me with a sad smile,  “But I’d realized that no matter how much you hated those, you stayed. You were still there for me. You were there when I started what I have now.”

It’s not be not to say anything but this time, I am speechless.

I heard him heaved another deep breath, “I’ve been thinking… what if we never broke up… what could we have been doing right now?”

“Why are you suddenly saying this to me? Why now that we’ve already moved on?” I asked him in utter confusion. His making my heart confused and I hate it. Hindi biro ang dalawang taong relasyon namin upang hindi ako maapektuhan sa mga sinasabi niya ngayon. Bakit kailangan niya ngayong ipakita sa aking may panghihinayang siya? Bakit ngayon pa?

“Have we?” He asked and my jaw dropped, feeling utterly incredulous with his statement. I bitterly let out a breath and threw him a mocking smile.

“Are you playing with me again?” I asked, hurt.

“I never played with your feelings.” He defended himself and I hated him more for that.

“And tell me, when you cheated on me with Rosenda, do you call that not playing?” I threw at him. I spoke again just before he could open his mouth for another lie again, “And you’re here with me,saying all of those when you have your girlfriend outside probably looking for you, is that not playing?”

“Oreo—”

“I get it.” I cut him off, “I know that I am amazing and I am pretty, and I am smart, and you can’t move on with me.” His jaw dropped and I flipped my hair as I threw him a sharp look. “Well, it’s your loss, Giro. Now I have found someone who does not lie to me and lets me learn things. I have someone who tells me straightforwardly what I’m doing wrong so I won’t look stupid next time and do it again. I have someone who scolds me privately when I get him upset over my childish behaviors so I wouldn’t be humiliated in front other people. And I have someone who lets me do things I enjoy, tells me if I’m overdoing it, but let’s me enjoy it with him no matter how he hated it or thinks that it’s stupid. Now tell me, should I leave that person just because you’re saying you cannot move on?”

Giro was stoned, the rims of his eyes swollen, his lips slightly open. I’ve known him for so long that I know his expressions when he’s happy or not. And I can clearly tell that this time, I am the one who hurt him. But how dare he show that expression to me when he was the one who had first let go? When he was the one who toyed with my feelings and cheated with another girl? How dare he say all of these to me right now? Did he even know how desperate I was before to get him back? What stupid things I was willing to do so he can love me again? 

My throat scorched and I felt tears pooling the sides of my eyes not because I’m hurt for him, not because I can still feel the same love for him, but because the feeling of being cheated, of being abandoned, had came back to me again.

But at the same time I am thankful. I am thankful that all of those happened because it lead to the person who had taught me me to stop when I’m overdoing it, to keep quiet when it’s not needed to talk, to work hard for something and not just rely with someone you know could help. And the greatest part is that, even when most of the time I overdo it, even when most of the time I talk a lot, even when most of the time I ask for his help, he is still there for me. That man with cold appearance yet gentle soul is there for me and I would be stupid enough if I ever I let him go. And if I have to experience same pain to meet him again in then next life, I am willing to be hurt over again only if in the end I’ll end up with him.

Yeah, he is my carrots. The person I am in love with now.

Nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto ay agad akong napatayo. I need to talk to Vitto. I need to tell him this. I’m so happy. I’m so happy because I love him.

“The keys! Get me out of here fast!” I snapped at the man who was approaching us.

“Oreo, please—”

Inis na bumaling ako kay Giro, “Wala nang dapat pakinggan pa, Giro, kaya tumigil ka na. Ikaw ang tumapos nito kaya panindigan mo.”

Nang makalas ang pagkakaposas ko’y mabilis akong tumakbo sa labas. Agad kong nilapitan ang lalaking nagbabantay sa mesa.

“Give me my bag!” Galit na utos ko ditto at tila nahihintatakutan naman itong sumunod. Tumayo ito saka kinuha sa locker na naroon ang bag ko. Mabilis ko iyong hinablot sa kanya matapos magpasalamat at tatakbo na paalis nang harangan ako ni Giro. Napapikit ako sa inis.

“Let me through.” Seryoso kong utos rito.

“I still haven’t said everything I wanted to say.” Nagmamatigas na anito at inis na napabuga ako ng hangin.

“Kahit ano pa ‘yang sabihin mo, hindi na ako makikinig sa’yo. We’re through, Giro! Suck that in your genius brain!”

“Pero Oreo—”

“Giro!”

Sabay kaming napatingin sa pinaggalingan ng tinig. At ngayon lamang ako nakahinga ng maluwag at nagpasalamat na makita si Rosenda. Nang lumapit ang babae’y hindi ko alam kung sindya ba nito ang pagbangga sa akin o hindi. Pero kinuha ko ang pagkakataong iyon upang umalis doon. Ngunit agad din akong napahinto nang matanaw si Vitto. Nilipat nito ang tingin sa likuran ko kung nasaan sina Giro at Rosenda saka muling tumingin sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya dahil gaya ng dati’y blangko ang ekpresyon ng gwapo niyang mukha.

I was expecting him to turn around and leave, but I was already crossing our distance and he was still there, waiting for me. Kahit kinakabahan at hindi alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman ay inihanda ko ang isang ngiti para sa kanya.

“Thank God you found me.” I pretended to smile widely as I looked up at him. I stopped myself from tucking the soft strands if fringes falling off his  eyeglasses. I just watched them slightly move as if dancing with the wind.

“I saw them when they took you.” Sagot niya sa tonong hindi ko mawari kung walang pakialam o naiinip.

Bumagsak ang aking mga balikat. Nawala ang aking ngiti, “Bakit hindi mo sila pinigilan?”

Tinitigan niya ako ng matagal bago sumagot, “I thought it was something you wanted to do…” he trailed of, looking past my back, “just like in the marriage booth.” He looked at me again. Despite his eyeglasses, I can see the sharp contrast of his eyes from the impassive expression of his handsome face.

I felt a tinge of pain in my chest, like it was twisting, like it wanted to bleed.

I swallowed the painful scorch in my throat, “I’m not the same Oreo anymore who would stupidly do something to get him back.”

“I know.” Sagot niya at nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I bit my lower lip to suppress a smile. Tinawid ko ang maliit na espasyong humihiwalay sa amin at hinila ang laylayan ng damit niya.

“Carrots,” I smiled at him expectantly, “are you jealous?”

Matagal siyang nakatingin sa akin na para bang tinitimbang ang sinabi ko. Kapgkuwa’y sumagot, “No.”

“Bakit hindi?” Napalakas na pagmamaktol ko na agad nagpapalatak sa kanya. “Bakit hindi ka nagseselos?” Pinigilan kong huwag magpapadyak sa inis. Bato ba siya? Wala ba siyang pakiramdam? Bakit hindi siya marunong magselos!?

“Bakit naman ako magseselos?” Tanong pa niya, nakakunot ang noon a tila ba ay hindi maintindihan ang sinasabi ko.

“Kasi kasama ko kanina ‘yong ex ko!”

“Then?” Tanong niya na lalo ko pang ikinainis.

“Anong then?” Yamot kong tanong sa kanya. Siya lang ba ang lalaking hindi man lang gusto ang girlfriend niya? Doesn’t he find me attractive at all? Bago pa tuluyang maiyak sa frustration ay tinanong ko na siya, “Vitto, tell me honestly…” I stared at him not hiding the pain in my eyes, “do you even like me?”

Natahimik pa siya lalo kapagkuwa’y bahagyang iniiwas ang tingin sa akin at lalo pang kumirot ang lalamunan ko. Gustong- gusto ko ng maiyak. Bakit ba siya ganyan?

“C’mon, let’s get you some carrot cake.” Sa halip ay yaya niya na labis ko pang ikinayamot. Sa inis ay hindi ko na napigil pa ang pagtakas ng liha sa mga mata ko.

“Tch! Stop that.” Saway niya sa pagluha ko. Binato ko siya ng nakamamatay na tingin.

“I am asking you if you like me and you’re telling me to have some carrot cake? Are you bribing me so I’d sto asking?”

Bumuntong- hininga siya, tila ba’y kinakalma ang sarili, “Would I even offer you what you want if I don’t like you? Do I even like cakes?” Tanong niya sa akin. My heart beat loudly like it liked to come out my chest.

I inhaled, trying to stop my tears, “So… you like me?” I asked again hoping for a confirmation before I totally rejoiced.

“A carrot cake then.” Vitto replied and I smiled. I tugged at the edge of his shirt and tiptoed to give him a chaste kiss on the lips. I heard his breathing hitched as his body stiffened. He wasn’t recovered yet from the surprise when I wrapped my arms around his neck and tiptoed again to reach his ear.

“I love you, carrots.”

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Hi! I recently just revised Kross Yuna Ibarra's story, the first book in this series. I had already reposted 14 revised chapters and others will follow soon. Sana po ay basahin ninyo.

Kung may nagbabasa man po ng kwento ni Vitto ay salamat sa pagtyatyagang maghintay. Susubukan ko pong mag-update ng mas madalas mula ngayon. Maraming salamat!