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A smile automatically appeared on my lips when I saw Cloud waiting for me. He was holding a bouquet of flowers while he was leaning on the wall.
Napansin ko rin ang mga tao na tumitingin dito. Napailing na lang ako nang mapansin ko na may mga natatawa pa rin kapag tinitignan si Cloud.
I actually don't have any idea what's funny.
I have accepted the fact that he's comfortable with what he's wearing. Ayoko naman din na i-convince si Cloud na magpalit ng wardrobe dahil lang pinatatawanan ito ng mga tao. I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable.
"Hey!" I stopped in front of him and I saw him smile at me. Hindi pa rin nito pinapaalis ang brace nito at wala naman ding kaso sa akin iyon dahil hindi naman kabawasan iyon sa nararamdaman ko para sa lalaki.
"Hey," inabot nito sa akin ang bouquet ng bulaklak at ang isang paper bag na naglalaman ng iba-ibang chocolates nang silipin ko iyon.
"Ang dami naman nito?" sabi ko sa kanya nang abutin ni Cloud ang bag ko para ito ang magbitbit noon.
"My mom went to Japan with her best friend. I asked her to buy me chocolates," he said while smiling at me.
"What? Huy, nakakahiya! Baka mamaya magalit ang mommy mo sa akin!" sabi ko rito at hindi ko mapigilan na mapasimangot. Baka mamaya iniisip ng mommy ni Cloud ay ginagamit ko lang si Cloud dahil mayaman ito.
He chuckled a little and reached for my hand. "My mom would definitely love you, Ashanti."
I looked at him and pouted my lips. "Kahit pa... kapag nalaman niya na nagpabili ka dahil sa akin, magagalit siya. Baka hindi niya ako magustuhan..."
"That'd be impossible. I am certain my mom would approve of you. So is my dad, and my sister," sabi naman nito sa akin na parang pinapalakas ang loob ko.
Napailing na lang ako rito bago sinulyapan ang flowers na bigay nito. I smiled at the sunflowers. Ilang beses na rin akong dinadalahan ni Cloud ng bulaklak at palagi na lang din kaming tinutudyo nila Ryn.
They know about us and I actually don't have plans to hide it.
Wala naman akong dapat na ikahiya rin dahil mabuting tao naman si Cloud. Of course, nasty people always have something to say. At palagi na lang na si Cloud ang pinupuntirya ng mga ito. Lagi na lang si Cloud ang sinasabihan ng mga ito ng kung ano-ano.
May mga panahon na gusto ko na lang silang patulan pero si Cloud na lang din ang umaawat sa akin at sinasabihan ako na huwag na lang intindihin ang mga ito.
I don't know how he managed to ignore all of them.
Hindi lang naman sila Nancy ang may sinasabi na kung ano-ano. Kahit sina Lester at ang grupo nito. Well, maybe he can't accept the fact that I rejected him and chose Cloud instead.
Why not, though?
Wala naman sa kalingkingan ni Cloud si Lester, sa totoo lang.
"Hey, lovebirds!" masiglang lumapit sa amin si Anj at tinignan ang hawak ko. "Grabe talaga! Wala na akong masabi, Cloud. Napaka galante mo!" sabi nito sa lalaki. Napangiti naman ako nang tila nahiya si Cloud sa kaibigan ko.
They're supportive of us, actually. Noong una ay kinukwestiyon nila Ryn ang desisyon ko dahil nga kahit naman sila ay nagtataka kung ano ba ang nagustuhan ko si Cloud, pero ngayon ay supportive na sila sa amin.
"Where's Ryn?" I asked Anj instead. Sinabi nito sa akin na kinakausap pa nito ang teacher namin para sa projects namin kaya tumango na lang ako.
Nagpaalam din muna ito sa amin na puntahan lang ulit si Ryn para sunduin na kaya hinayaan ko na lang ito.
"Why are you so quiet?" I asked Cloud. "Are you bored?" I added.
He looked at me and shook his head. "I'm not."
Tinaasan ko ito ng kilay kaya naman natawa ito ng mahina. "I'm not bored, I promise. I was just letting you talk to your friend," sabi nito sa akin.
"Maybe you're thinking of someone else."
Kumunot ang noo nito at tinitigan ako. "Are you serious?" he asked me, forehead still creased.
"Yeah. Maybe, you're thinking of someone else and you're thinking you should be with her instead of me and-"
"I don't want to be anywhere else aside from your side, Ashanti," he cut me off. "So, stop making up scenes in your head because I am in love with you. Only you."
Pinamulahan naman ako ng pisngi dahil sa sinabi nito bago marahang natawa. Sa tuwing inaasar ko si Cloud ng mga ganoon bagay, lagi lang nitong sinasabi sa akin na ako lang ang gusto nito at hindi ko kailangan na mag-isip ng kung ano-ano.
It feels good actually.
Whenever he's assuring me that I have nothing to worry about.
Hindi ko pa naipapakilala si Cloud sa mga magulang ko. I was thinking about doing it on my birthday. Hindi ko pa rin nasasabi kay Cloud na ito ang magiging escort ko sa debut ko pero naisip ko na obvious naman na iyon dahil boyfriend ko siya.
Sa hotel nila Ryn gaganapin ang birthday ko at matagal naman na kaming nakapagplano ni Mommy tungkol doon. We're both excited about it.
Ako rin ay naeexcite na ipakilala si Cloud sa mga ito.
Sigurado naman ako na magugustuhan nila Mommy at Daddy si Cloud dahil mabuti itong tao. Iyon naman din ang laging sinasabi sa akin ni Daddy kahit pa hindi niya pa talaga ako pinapayagan na magkaroon ng boyfriend.
Mas mahalaga pa rin na aalagaan ako ng magiging boyfriend ko kaysa puro lang porma ang alam. I am pretty sure my dad and Cloud will get along so well.
Days passed and everything was okay between Cloud and I. Sabay kaming kumakain ng almusal na laging si Cloud ang nagluluto. Sinubukan ko na magluto rin ng almusal para asarin lang si Cloud pero inubos lang nito ang niluto ko dahil na rin daw pinaghirapan ko iyon.
I thought he would be mad, though. Hindi pala.
Minsan nakakalimutan ko na matured nga pala mag-isip si Cloud kumpara sa akin.
I was walking towards the parking lot while sending a message to Cloud. Wala itong klase ngayon kaya naman wala ito sa school. Sinabi lang nito sa akin na pupunta ito sa mommy nito para dalawin ang mga ito.
"Hey, watch where you're going."
Napakunot ang noo ko nang may humawak sa bewang ko at makita si Lester na nakatingin sa akin at nakangiti. Agad naman akong lumayo sa lalaki at tinignan ito ng masama. "Hindi naman ako mabubunggo, sinadya mo lang na bungguin ako."
He chuckled and looked at me. "Alam mo, kakasama mo sa weirdo na 'yon, nahahawa ka na sa kapraningan niya," sabi nito na natatawa pa rin. I know who he is referring to.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and turned my back on him. Sa may parking ko na lang hihintayin ang driver ni Mommy para makauwi na rin ako ng bahay at makapagpahinga.
"Come on, Ashanti. Parang wala tayong pinagsamahan kung dedmahin mo ako, ah? The boys are teasing me already. Stop using that weirdo to make me jealous."
Natigilan ako sa sinabi nito bago ito hinarap. "What the heck are you talking about? You know what, I think you injured your head so bad. Grabe ka mag-imagine!" Muli ko itong inirapan bago naglakad pero hinigit ako nito sa braso upang mapalapit dito.
"What the? Let me go." I tried pulling my arm back.
"Sino bang pinagmamalaki mo? Iyong weird na lalaking 'yon? He's fucking weak, you know? Hindi ka maipagtatanggol 'non!" sabi nito sa akin habang hawak ang braso ko ng mahigpit.
I pulled my arm from him and pushed him away. "That weird guy you are referring to happens to be my boyfriend!" kumuyom ang palad ko habang nakatingin sa lalaki. "And you should stop talking shit about him because he's way way way better than you!" malakas na sabi ko rito. "Don't ever go near me again!"
Inis na naglakad ako papalayo rito pero ganoon na lang ang gulat ko nang marahas akong hilahin ni Lester at halikan ang mga labi ko.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at mabilis na itinulak itong papalayo sa akin.
"What the hell?" I wiped my lips using my hand. I looked at Lester who was smirking while looking at me. I walked towards him and slapped his face hard.
"I freaking hate you!" I turned around and ran towards the gate of the school. Hindi ko na nagawang hintayin ang driver ni Mommy at mabilis akong pumara ng taxi at sinabi ko sa driver ang building kung saan nakatira si Cloud.
Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagpatak ng luha sa mga mata ko dahil sa galit na nararamdaman ko. Halos maubos ko na rin ang baon kong wipes sa kakapunas sa mga labi ko. I could feel that I wounded myself already.
Pero hindi bale ng may sugat ang mga labi ko, ang mahalaga sa akin ay mawala ang bakas ng labi ni Lester sa mga labi ko.
How dare he do that?!
I was crying while I was walking towards Cloud's door. I hit the doorbell but no one is answering me. Maybe he's still with his mom...
Naupo na lang ako sa labas ng unit nito habang yakap ko ang tuhod ko. I rested my head on my knee while still crying.
I know that Cloud will be mad at me if he found out what happened. Magagalit ito sa akin na hinayaan ko na gawin iyon ni Lester.
I didn't want that to happen... hindi ko rin naman akalain na gagawin iyon ng lalaki.
I stayed there for almost two hours. I tried calling Cloud but he's not answering his phone. Tinatawagan na rin ako ni Mommy kaya naman wala na akong nagawa kundi ang umuwi na lang ng bahay namin.
Nagkulong na lang ako sa kwarto ko matapos akong makapaglinis ng katawan. I don't have the appetite to eat, either. Nagsabi na lang ako kina Mommy na kumain kami sa labas ng mga kaibigan ko upang hindi ito magpumilit pa.
It was almost 9 pm when Cloud called me.
I smiled a little when I answered his call. I tried my best not to cry when I speak.
"Hey..." I said, almost a whisper.
"Hey... I'm sorry, I wasn't able to answer your call earlier," he said. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. Kapag narinig nito na umiiyak ako, alam ko na mag-aalala ito sa akin.
"It's okay... I just missed you, you know?" I hugged my pillow while talking to him.
"I missed you, too..."
A tear escaped my eyes while trying not to sob.
"I... I won't be able to go to school tomorrow, babe," Cloud said that made me crease my forehead.
"What? Why? What happened?" tanong ko sa kanya. Madalas naman na kapag dinadalaw nito ang mga magulang ay bumabalik din si Cloud kaagad.
He cleared his throat before answering. "Caryl's asking me to help her with something."
"Oh... I see..."
"I miss you," masuyong sabi ni Cloud sa akin. Napangiti naman ako ng maliit kahit pa hindi naman niya ako nakikita.
"I miss you, too. I can't wait to see you again..." I heaved a sigh and hugged the pillow tight.
"You should go to sleep now. I will just call you again tomorrow, okay? I love you, Ashanti. Always remember that," sabi nito sa akin.
"I love you, too..."
Muli akong huminga ng malalim bago niyakap ng mahigpit ang unan at tahimik na umiyak dahil sa nangyari. What happened really pained me. I'm mad, disappointed and scared. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba sasabihin kay Cloud ang bagay na iyon.
I know that it's not my fault, but I am scared...
Ang sinabi ni Cloud na isang araw ay naging isang linggo. Hindi ito pumapasok pero tumatawag naman ito sa akin. Sa tuwing tinatanong ko ito kung bakit hindi pa makakapasok ay laging sinasabi nito sa akin na may kailangan itong gawin. Wala naman akong ibang magawa kung hindi ang unawain na lang ito.
"Is Cloud okay?" tanong ni Nancy sa akin nang maupo ako sa silya ko. I looked at her and raised my brow. "Why do you care?" I asked her.
She chuckled and shrugged. "I mean, if the basketball team will beat me up, I think I will need months to recover..."
Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nito. I looked at her and immediately got up on my feet and walked towards her.
"What did you say?" I asked her.
Nancy smirked at me. "You didn't know? I thought you're his girlfriend?" she chuckled and looked at her friends who were laughing with her as well.
"I am asking you what happened." Hinawakan ko ang kamay nito at hinila iyon.
"Ashanti." I heard Ryn's voice.
"Hey!" hinila naman ni Nancy ang kamay nito bago tumingin sa akin. "What? Hindi mo alam? Well, news flash, bitch! Pinagtulungan lang naman ng mga varsity ang weirdo mong boyfriend dahil napaka landi mo!" ani Nancy habang nakatingin sa akin.
"What are you talking about?" I asked her again. Wala akong ideya sa sinasabi nito tungkol kay Cloud.
"That's what you get from playing with Lester. Ang kawawang weirdo ang nagsa-suffer dahil sa kalandian mo!"
"Nancy, that's enough! Sumosobra ka na!" sabi naman ni Anj sa babae na tinawanan lang ni Nancy.
"Why? What's wrong? Are we going to pretend that it was not her fault? E, totoo naman, ah! Kitang-kita naming lahat na hinalikan niya si Lester pero nilalandi niya si rin si Cloud!" sabi nito sabay kuha ng cellphone nito at ipinakita ang picture kung saan hinalikan ako ni Lester.
"Where did you get that?" I asked her and tried getting her phone but she just pushed me away.
"None of your business, slut!" natatawang sabi nito bago naupo na muli sa upuan nito. Hinawakan naman ako nila Anj at sinusubukan na pakalmahin.
Kumuyom ang mga kamay ko at mabilis na lumabas ng classroom para puntahan ang taong alam kong sasagot sa tanong ko.
Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa gym kung saan naroon si Lester. Hindi nga ako nagkamali at nakita ko ang lalaki na naroon at nag-eensayo.
"Lester!" I called his name and I saw him turn his head to me. He smiled at me and walked towards me.
"To what do I owe-" I slapped his face while looking at him. Ramdam ko ang sakit sa palad ko dahil sa lakas ng puwesa sa pagsampal ko sa kanya.
"What did you do to Cloud?" I asked him while clenching my fist.
He smirked and touched his jaw before looking at me. "So, you know what happened? You're so late, Ashanti," he chuckled.
"What did you do to him?" I asked him again.
"I put him in the place where he should be!" malakas na sabi nito sa akin. Napapitlag ako nang sigawan ako nito.
"You wanna see what happened?" he asked me. Bumibigat ang tibok ng puso ko habang nakatingin sa lalaki. I watched him get his phone and played a video.
I gasped when I saw them punching Cloud.
"No..."
I looked at Lester and he smiled devilishly.
"Why did you do that?" I asked him while crying. "He didn't do anything to you!" Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang mukha ni Cloud na puno ng dugo habang nakatingin sa lalaki.
"It's because of you!" he replied. "You're the one who did that to him, Ashanti. It was because of you!"
I bit my lip and tried to stop myself from crying.
"You're an asshole..." I clenched my fist while looking at him. "I fucking hate you!" I was about to hit him when he held my hand tight. I grunted when he squeezed it.
"Break up with him and it won't happen again. Choose him and I will make sure to do this again... and again... and again." sabi ni Lester sa akin bago ngumiti sa akin.
"Remember, it's you who did that to him, and it's on you if it will happen to him again." He chuckled before letting me go.
I walked out of the gym while I was crying. Halo-halo ang nasa isip ko.
Cloud's face.
Lester's words.
Yes... it was my fault.
I was the one who talked to him first... I was the one who made things difficult for him.
Mabigat ang loob na umuwi ako ng bahay at nagkulong sa kwarto. Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang mga salitang sinabi ni Lester.
If I keep being with him, they will just hurt him again. They've done it countless times! At ngayon, si Cloud ang biktima nila...
I looked at my phone when I saw it ringing. It was Cloud who's calling me. I hugged my pillow tight as I let myself cry. Maybe he's at the hospital...
I want to visit him but I am afraid I will just lead him to get hurt again...
Mabigat ang loob akong natulog nang gabing iyon. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko kakausapin si Cloud... hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya haharapin ngayong alam ko na ako ang dahilan kung bakit siya napahamak.
I know I should report them... but who will believe me?
A week passed and I avoided Cloud. I changed my number and didn't let him know. Sinabihan ko rin sina Anj at Ryn na huwag sabihin sa lalaki ang bagong number ko.
Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang ginagawa ko...
Naglakad na ako papunta sa sasakyan ni Mommy nang may tumawag sa akin na pamilyar na boses. Agad akong pinanlamigan at hindi ko magawang humarap sa kanya.
"Ashanti, baby..." he called my name again.
Maraming beses akong pumikit upang pigilan ang luha sa mga mata ko.
"Baby..." Cloud walked towards me and reached my hand but stepped back before I summoned all my courage to look at him. Bakas pa rin sa mukha nito ang nangyari. May pasa pa ito sa may pisngi at sa may mata at matinding pagpipigil sa sarili ang ginawa ko upang huwag hawakan ang lalaki.
"What's wrong...? What happened...?" he asked me as he walked towards me. Muli akong humakbang papalayo sa kanya.
Tila nag-e-echo sa isipan ko ang sinabi ni Lester na kasalanan ko kung may mangyayaring masama ulit kay Cloud.
"Ashanti..." Cloud's voice was sad.
"I..." I cleared my throat. "I have to go. My mom is looking for me." I told him as I turned around.
"Baby, what's wrong? I'm sorry that I was gone for a while, but... can you tell me what's happening and-"
"Let's break up." I cut him off. Pakiramdam ko ay tumigil ako sa paghinga nang sabihin ko ang mga salitang iyon sa kanya. Ilang beses kong inisip kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya upang maging handa ako pero mukhang hindi napapaghandaan ang bagay na ito.
"What? No. What are you talking about?" tanong ni Cloud sa akin. Hinawakan nito ang braso ko at pilit akong pinaharap sa kanya. I looked away. Hindi ko siya kayang tignan sa mga mata.
All I know is that... I'm doing this to make sure he won't get hurt again.
"Baby."
"Ayoko na..." mahinang sabi ko sa kanya.
"What? What do you mean?" he said. Naramdaman ko ang pagbasag ng tinig ni Cloud habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Ayoko na..." ulit ko habang pilit na nilalabanan ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. Marahas kong pinalis ang pumatak na luha at tumingin sa malayo. I saw Lester looking at us.
"Ashanti, no. Ayoko. Hindi tayo maghihiwalay..."
I pulled my hand from him and looked at him. "Ayoko na... I don't want to be with you anymore. I don't want to be with someone that I can't be proud of."
It was a lie...
"What...?"
But I have to do it... to protect him...
"I don't want to be with you anymore. Look at yourself! I can't be proud of you. Hindi kita mapagmalaki dahil lagi tayong pagtatawanan ng ibang tao. I don't want that! I don't want to be with you anymore!"
Sunod-sunod ang pagpatak ng luha sa mga mata ko. I saw pain on his eyes and I badly wanted to take back all the words I said. I didn't mean any of that... but I know... I have to do it so he will let me go.
"Is that... true?" he asked me. I saw his eyes clouding up with tears. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya at huminga ng malalim bago marahang tumango.
"Yes... so, let's... let's break up..." I told him before I walked towards Lester.
"So... you want someone like him?" he asked me.
I wanted to answer no... but I nodded my head instead.
I am so sorry, baby...
Parang paulit-ulit na may tumutusok sa dibdib ko nang makita ko si Cloud na umiiyak nang makalayo ako.
I looked down and I know... the moment he turned around and walked away... that's the moment I lost him too...
And I am hoping I made the right choice because I don't think I will love someone else as much as I love him.
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