It's already nin

ng matagal sa buwan. Nilingon ko siya na naka

d na

inabi ko? Nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin. Amp, nakakailang

i ko hati

ng problema niya? Na-stroke na ba 'to? Lumapit ak

okay k

umiling-iling. Pagkatapos niyo

did yo

ba't ilang beses ko inulit yun, ah

id na kita.

amay para tignan ang oras. Tama nga siya

hy

uh

would you t

? Masa

ko siya sa bahay nila? Eh, sa nag-aalala ako, e

othi

ala, eh

ad. Nasa likod ko lang siya habang naglalakad. Ang pangit nam

na. Hindi ko alam

Umiling lang siya sa akin at lumakad na. Tinitiga

d niya. Ouch, ang tigas nun, ah. Napahawak ako sa ilong kong namumula ata sa sakit. Lumingon n

is my

fairness, maganda. Hindi siya malaki pero 'd

pasok

lumalaki ang mata. Ang kyut. Buti nalang hindi

Tanon

ng w

you doi

lit ko namang kumalma. Bumuntong-hininga ako, nag

ay mong ice cream kanina. Oo

kad nadaanan ko pa ang park na tinambayan namin.

niya doon. Shocks! May dala pala siyang kotse kanina! Babalikan niya naman 'to, dib

na. Pagkarating kila tita ay nagmano lang ako at nagpaalam na matutulog na. In

matuyo nung buhok ko. Naghilamos na rin at nagbihis. Pagkatapos ay humilata

hie. It's bet

a sarili at

-

orced myself earlier but my body and senses are still awak

an, the way she approached me at the store, the awkward silence she gave at the park, and her o

d take

ed to only go for a walk but I changed my mind when I was already on the stairs. I went back to my room and wore a snicker

ached the park we went to earlier. It was already late when I noticed that I was a

oped earlier that she still remembers me... That she did that because she knew me..

reasons I can t

ooked at the caller but caught my attention with the tears dripping on its screen. I did

llo

tanong– teka,

o.

ed. Azel remains silent on the other line. I just

an

want to lie to her but I doubt she would like that just

ed. I'

kalagayan mo. Ang t

ara ako dun, ah. She's really serious, right now

division

ukan mong umalis dyan Ku

ice but to wait for her. Grabe pa naman 'yun magtampo.

hindi ka

ed when I saw Azel walking towards me. How come she's a

minutes yet and yo

ad ako

rom the plastic bag she was carrying. I didn't notice that earlier. Then she handed me a grape juice. A

he thinks I need silence. Well, she is right. I need to gather my senses. I

because I didn't have the strength to tell her. I know she understands that. That they understand that. Because that's what my friends are, they don't force me to say what I can't do

na. Hatid n

lightly slap my cheek. I need to come to my senses. Azel wo

uya Ken? Bakit mo nama

just did that to w

g her hand on my arm and rested her head on it

ang magpapak

ow could she say that right a

uined my mo

Joke lang yun, Kuya siyempre. Pin

ss

were already here in front of our gate. She took away her han

laman ang problema mo pero nirerespeto ko ang desisyon mo

yo at buti nalang rin naisipan kong tawagan ka kundi hindi talaga namin mal

early earlier. I just noticed th

can wear those pajamas, huh

n she suddenly flashed a genuine smile. At first, I

Ganyan dapat, Kuya!" An

n if it means you have t

my emotions tha

e than lying, Kuya.

ether, I've been keeping it all to myself. I didn't even come up with the thought that I should tell my friends. To them, who's always there ready to listen to my rants, To them, who don't even

*