AUTHOR'S NOTE: Para sa mga hindi pa nakakabili ng book version. Ganito yung laman. Yung mga binago ganern. :3

Merry Christmas! LOL

CHAPTER 11

LANCE

“Nakakainis! Tama bang pagkaisahan nila tayo?” She crossed her arms and sighed exasperatedly. She didn’t change that much. She’s still beautiful and perfect with her thick long hair, brown eyes, and thin lips. But still, I can’t believe that she’s here, in front of me.

“Gisingin mo na lang ako kapag tapos ka nang magsalita.” Hindi ko talaga alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya kaya iyan na lang ang nasabi ko. Humiga na lang din ako pagkatapos.

“Seriously? Tutulugan mo nga ako? Hoy!” Should I thank my friends later? I would be lying if I’ll say I didn’t like this. I’m drunk but I can still think clearly.

“Ang sama ng ugali nila! Tama bang ikulong tayo? Christmas na, Christmas!” Huminga lang ako nang malalim dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. What am I supposed to answer? I like the fact that we’re in the same room—that we are locked in this small room.

The room fell silent. Should I say something?

“Lance.” Siopao. Hearing her say my name makes me want to hug her. “Ibibigay mo rin ba ito sa iba kung sakaling sila ang nabunot mo?” Umupo siya sa dulo ng kama kung saan ako nakahiga.

Wala akong balak na ibigay sa ibaang singsing na naiwan o iniwan niya sa ospital noon. Sa kanya iyon. Ibinigay ko sa kanya ‘yon kaya kung gusto man niyang ibalik iyon sa akin, siya mismo dapat ang magbalik.

“Hindi ko alam. Malay ko.” I lied. I sat straight but didn’t bother opening my eyes.

I felt it when she sat beside me. “Ayusin ko ah,” she was reffering to the ponytail she gave me.

Pilit ang ngiti niya pero hindi ko na rin iyon pinansin pa. Alam ko naman na hindi talaga siya kumportable na kasama ako. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at pinapakiramdaman ko siya. She’s a complicated one. She’s comfortable around me and then seconds later, she’s not. I can’t even read her now.

“Hey Lance, have you ever thought of—uhm…wala pala.” Bawi rin niya. Naglakad na rin siya pabalik sa pinto at muli na namang sumigaw.

“HOY! Maawa naman kayo saamin dito! Buksan niyo na kasi!” I hate the fact that she’s too eager to get the fck out!

“Bakit ba gustong-gusto mong lumabas? Ayaw mo ba talaga akong kasama?” Siopao! Why am i even asking?

“Hindi naman sa ayaw. Alam mo kasi Lance, medyo hindi pa rin ako kumportableng kasama ka,” she said without having a second thought. Ang sakit lang na marinig ‘yun mula sa kanya mismo.

“I see.”

Dinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga ni Sharlot at lumapit siya sa kinauupuan ko. I can sense that she has a lot of questions for me, and I mentally prepared myself for the incoming interrogation.

“Lance, ‘yung about sa kanina—.“

“Okay lang, naiintindihan ko.” I cut her off.

“Teka lang naman! Patapusin mo naman ako. Kasi ‘diba, sinabi mo na mahal mo pa ako?” Nilingon ko siya pero hindi ako nagsalita.

“Kasi ang totoo niyan—.“

“I was hurt. Kahit papaano pala, masakit ang thank you. Pero hindi kita masisisi, ang gago rin kasi ng ginawa ko sayo. Kaya okay lang.” Humiga ako at mariin na ipinikit ang aking mga mata. I let the pain course through my whole being, I let myself feel the consequences of my decision.

“HOY! Huwag mo naman akong tulugan! Asar naman ‘to. Pwede naman siguro tayong maging magkaibigan kahit papaano, diba? Please? Kasi ayoko lang ng ganito. I mean wala tayong maayos na closure dati, at isa pa, ang dami kong gustong itanong.”

We were both a little drunk and its giving us courage to let ourselves be vulnerable and honest.

“Magtanong ka. Sasagutin ko,” I said with an assurance. 

“Umupo ka! Huwag kang mahiga! Paano ako makakapagtanong nang maayos kung hindi ko naman pala namamalayan kung tulog na o hindi pa ang kasama ko?!” Utos niya.

“Oo na.” Bumangon ako’t dumiretso ng upo. I still feel a bit dizzy but if Sharlot says so, then it shall be done. “Ano na?”

She stood infront of me, wondering where to start.

“Marami pa akong hindi naitanong kanina, Lance. K-kung totoo nga ‘yung mga sinabi mo kanina, b-bakit hindi ka pumunta sa airport noong araw ng pag-alis ko?”

“Sinubukan kong humabol.” Mariin kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko pa bang sabihin sa kanya ang  totoo. It’s fcking lame. It sounds like an excuse.

“Ano na? Sinubukan mong humabol? Tapos?” Iritable niyang tanong sa akin. Siopao talaga. Should i tell her?

“Nothing, it’s lame.”

“So? Kahit pa lame iyan, sabihin mo pa rin!”

“Fck.” I hissed. “I tried to make it on time, I wanted to see you. I wanted to be the last person you’ll see before you go. But....”

“But what ,Lance? Bakit hindi ka dumating? Bakit hindi ka nagpakita? I waited for you. I fcking waited for you, Lance! What could’ve gone so wrong at kahit anino mo ay hindi ko nakita?! WHAT, LANCE!?”

I didn’t move, I didn’t say a word. I just sat there keeping my mouth shut as she kept pointing her fingers at me. She’s mad, she’s frustrated, and I deserved it. I deserved all the accusations she’s throwing at me, all the curses, all her anger.

“What, Lance? WHAT!?” sigaw niya. Tumigil siya sandali, she was trying to catch her breath. Then she smirked. “Oh wait, it’s JL isn’t it? I’m right, aren’t I?”

And the last string of my patience snapped.

“FCK, MIYUKI!” sigaw ko kaya natigilan siya. Anger washed over me as I found myself pinning her against the bed, my hands grasping bothside of her shoulders. “How many times do I have to tell you that you’re the only one I love?! It’s just you Miyuki! No one else! And no one can ever compare to you! GET THAT?!”

Nangingilid na ang luha sa kanyang mga mata pero bakas pa rin ang galit dito.Lumuwag ang hawak ko sa kanya at hinayaan kong bumagsak ang sarili ko para yakapin siya. Sinubukan niya akong itulak pero hindi ko siya hinayaan at mas lalo ko pang hinigpitan ang yakap ko sa kanya.

“Sinubukan kong humabol,” bulong ko. “But on the way there, I was ambushed by some motherfcking bastards who got no balls to fight me.”

“Lance,” she whispered and pushed me gently. She looked me straight in the eyes with an unreadable expression.

Now I’m nervous. Siopao talaga. I gulped an invisible lump in my throat.

“Kalma, tagalog, please? At pwede volume up? Hindi ko marinig eh.”

Seriously?

“Pft,” I rolled beside her trying so hard to suppress a laugh. But I failed miserably. I kept lauging my ass off until it actually hurts. Seriously, this girl.

“Oh ano? Tatawa na lang tayo, wala nang explain?” sarkastiko niyang tanong.

I took my time to compose myself before I faced her. “For your benefit, sinubukan kong humabol pero hinarang nila ako.”

“Yun na ‘yon? Ang haba ng sinabi mo kanina, ‘yun lang ‘yon? May motherfcking bastard ka pang nalalaman at no balls, kaya mo naman palang isalin sa tagalog.” Pagkasabi niya noon ay bigla siyang tumayo.

I sat up and stared at her. Damn, I love this girl.

“What?” she asked with her hands on either side of her waist.

“Can I hug you?” I asked. Pero tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay bilang sagot. “Sabi ko nga, hindi pa pwede,” bulong ko.

Sarkastiko na tumawa si Sharlot at sinabing. “Walang ‘pa’, Lance.“

Bumuntong hininga ako at pinagbigkis ang mga kamay ko. I don’t know if this is worth saying but I gave it a shot. “Pinuntuhan kita sa Japan pero may kasama ka.”

Napalingon siya sa sinabi ko. Mababakas sa kanyang mukha ang pagkagulat.

“I saw you there and you seemed so happy and I couldn’t just ruin that. Your smile means everything to me.”

I felt her tensed up with what I said. Neither of us uttered a word until she walked to the door. “HOY, JL! NANDYAN KA BA? BUKSAN MO NGA ‘TO!”

Sht, I did it again. I made her uncomfortable. I stood up, feeling desperate. Desperate to get her back, desperate to have my girl again.

“Okay na akong nakikita ka. Kaya nga ayos lang sakin kung wala ka nang nararamdaman. Tanga kasi ako...ang dami kong pinalagpas. Pumunta nga, natakot naman. Sinubukan ko nga, may pumigil naman. Siguro nga hindi lang talaga tayo para sa isa’t isa. But Sharlot, even if you said you don’t love me, I don’t care because—.“Natigilan ako nang biglang binuksan ni JL ang pinto.

“I will never move on! I refuse to do so. This time, I'll make sure you will fall for me deeper, even deeper than before. I've done it once. I can do it again. So get ready miss, 'cause you'll be mine once more. You'll say you love me once again and that's a promise.” They were both dumbfounded by what I said. I gave them a smirk.

“Merry Christmas, BAH."And as I walked out of the room, I was welcomed by the surprised look written on Ales and Gail’s face.

“Imagine, I’m drunk and locked in a room with the girl I love.” I said smugly in a sing-song manner.

Kahit sa malayo, rinig ko pa rin ang usapan ng mga babae patungkol sa sinabi ko. I can’t help but feel smug about it. Nai-imagine ko na si Sharlot na humahabol sa’kin at hindi nga ako nagkamali.

“RANSU MATTE!” sigaw niya.

See?

“Don’t just simply say it, Lance. Kasi hindi naman laging tama iyang mga sinasabi mo. In fact, maling-mali! Lance naman, kasasabi ko lang na friends na lang tayo di ba? Huwag na kasi. Tapos na nga, 'di ba?”

I faced her looking victorious and all. “I never said that I’m always correct, it’s just that I’m rarely wrong, Sharlot.” I made sure she’d seen my smirk before Ieave.

“H-hey, you heard that? Yieee, ngiting tagumpay pa bestfriend ko!” sabi ni Ales

Be ready Sharlot, because you’ll never see me coming.