Common, Make me

The challenge

Common, Make me

* * *

The chasing

HURT.

That's what Arden feels right now. Matapos ang tagpong iyon sa harap ng pinagtratrabahuhan ng dalaga ay basta na lang siya iniwan nitong nakatulala at hindi makapaniwala sa nangyari. He admit that he wasn't expecting that, akala niya kasi na magiging malambot na ito sa kaniya dahil nakuha na niya ito but no . . . she was still hard to pursue just like before.

Wala pa ring pinagbago. Matigas pa rin ang puso nito.

Marahas siyang napasipa sa kaniyang kotse dahil sa pagkadismayang naramdaman. Pakiramdam niya ay dinurog iyong puso niya nang maraming beses.

"Damn it!" he shouted as he keeps on bangging on his car.

"Why? Why she's still heartless as f**k?! I-I t-thought that . . ."

Kusa na lang bumagsak iyong luha niya at napasandal sa kotse. Durog at wasak iyong puso niya. Ganoon talaga minsan, mayroong mga bagay na inaakala mong magbabago o mapapasaiyo pagkatapos mong paghirapang makuha pero hindi pala talaga magiging iyo. There are things that aren't meant to be yours, it's a fact. Kaya nga ay kapag hindi mo makuha sa isa, pangalawa, pangatlong subok ay huminto ka na.

Stop wasting your time.

Try and try until you suceed word isn't for us all the time. We better open ourselves for possibility na hindi talaga iyon ang nakatadhana para sa atin. We should also look for another opportunities, options and such.

Don't settle for less.

When he got home, he was totally devastated. Gulat na sumalubong si Reon sa kaniya at napatulala na lang.

"Boss, what happened?" He asked in a worried tone. Tamad lang na nag-angat si Arden ng tingin sa kaniya at ngumiti ng pilit. Pilit pinapakita na kahit ganoon ang ginawa ni Via ay okay pa rin siya. Trying to conceal the pain he feels.

"She rejected me again," he said in a raspy tone. "But, it's fine. I know it from the start, she's like that before. I understand."

Naawa na lang si Reon sa sinabi ng boss niya at hindi nakapagsalita. Alam kasi niya ang paghihirap at pagtitiis na naranasan ng boss niya noon pa lang. He saw him cry, he saw him broke and he saw him being devastated because of her.

I really hate the guts of that woman. He said in his mind.

Alam niyang wala siya sa lugar upang magsalita patungkol sa opinyon niya, pero, ayaw niya talaga sa dalaga. He dislike her for being insensitive—for letting Arden chase her like a sick puppy, he dislike her attitude towards him and everything. Kung wala nga siyang utang na loob sa amo ay baka napagsalitaan na talaga niya ito nang hindi maganda.

"Inom tayo," naisaad na lang ni Reon. Arden nod at him. Pumunta na lang sila sa kitchen at kumuha ng imported na alak sa lalagyan.

He instantly poured him a drink in a glass.

"Dapat naba akong tumigil?" Arden's question stilled him, napalingon siya rito. Naramdaman niya ang sakit sa tanong nito at alam niyang hindi madali iyon. His boss is inlove with her for years and asking about giving up on her is surely painful.

Reon let a problematic sigh and sit in the chair in front of him. Binigay niya ang baso sa amo. "Kaya mo bang huminto? Are you willing to move on and heal?" Tanong din niya pabalik.

Hindi nakapagsalita ro'n ang binata.

Instead, he cried. He cried with much pain, he broke down. "H-Hindi ko kaya . . ." umiling ito.

Minasasahe na lang ni Reon iyong ulo niya. Compared to his relationship with his girlfriend, he can clearly say that his boss is being martyr and stupid. Halata naman na walang gusto iyong babae pero habol pa rin siya nang habol.

Nakakatanga talaga ang pag-ibig. Iyan iyong totoo.

May girlfriend din siyang long distance at nandito rin sa Cebu pero hindi naman iyong turing nito sa kaniya. Even though him and her girlfriend is far from each other, hindi naman nila nakakalimutan na magkamustahan. They also didn't treat each other like that.

One sided love really sucks. He said again in his mind.

Nang matapos mag-inom iyong boss niya at umiyak ay agad niya itong dinala sa kwarto upang makatulog ito nang komportable. He carried him and even on his state which he was fast asleep, he's still crying. He even mumbled her name a countless of times.

"Nakakagalit talaga iyang babaeng iyan, napaka walang puso." He said as he stare at his boss pathetic state. Naiinis siya na naaawa para kay Arden.

Hindi na rin kasi iba sa kaniya si Arden. For him, he treat him as his brother, not because he was the one who paid his bills — but because Arden is the one who's there when he needs someone to lean on. Hindi siya nito iniwan. Hindi kagaya ng iba na hinusgahan ang pagkatao niya, Arden choose to listen and help him genuinely. Kaya, ganoon din ang gagawin niya. As long ng as he's still breathing, he will not leave his side.

_

The next morning came and just like as usual, Via prepared for her work and organize her necessities needed. Mas inagahan din niya iyong pagpasok dahil alam niyang marami iyong magiging pasyente niya ngayon araw . . . maraming naka-schedule. As a psychiatrist, she should arrange her schedule and focus just like she always do.

Riding her mustang latest version Mach-E, she rode to her workplace. But, when she got there ay agad na lang siyang na irita dahil agad na bumungad sa kaniya ang taong inakala niyang hihinto na sa kakahabol sa kaniya.

"Good morning." She rolled her eyes as he handed her a bouquet of her favorite flower, sunflower.

She look at him flatly, "Walang maganda sa umaga ko, Arden. Please, stop pestering my day." walang prenong aniya pa.

"Nakaka-bwesit iyang pagmumukha mo."

Instead of feeling insulted, the man just smiled at her sweetly. Nainis siya ro'n dahil hindi manlang umepekto ang insulto niya.

Bwesit! She hissed herself.

Via knows that it was a disrespectful manner towards someone but she doesn't care, ayaw talaga niyang makita iyong pagmumukha ng binata dahil naiirita siya. She was aware too that there are many eyes on them, specifically those nurses but, she don't give a damn on them.

Hindi na lang niya ito pinansin, she stumped her feet and walk away. Busangot iyong mukha niya habang nagkalakad, mas lalong naging naka-agaw sila nang atensiyon dahil sumunod pala ang binata. He seemed to be determined to pester her all day.

Dagdag mo pang pinagtitinginan talaga sila sa mga nakakasalubong nila. Having those curious faces.

She lost her patience because of that, agad na hinarap niya ito.

"Can you please... please lang. Stop bugging me! Can't you see? I have a work kaya please lang, utang na loob lubayan mo na ako. Wala kang aasahan sa akin." She said as she tried to calm as possible even if she almost want to slap him in the face.

Arden just grin at her. Like telling her too that he will not listen, that she can't stop him. "Ayoko, love." That's it. She throw a deadly glare at him. Range on her system.

She step forward and look at him coldly, speaks with venom.

"You're hardheaded psychotic idiot. You really want to chase me huh? Then, embrace. Tingnan natin hanggang saan ang kaya mo." she said then turn her back at him. Leaving him having those worried expression. Takot na baka hindi siya talaga magtatagumpay.

He let out a breath, he suddenly feel the pressure. But, he choose to shrug it off. "Nandito na ako. I will do my best to prove you that I'm serious about what I said. I will chase you no matter what, Via. Hindi ako babalik sa Manila nang hindi ka nagiging akin..." he paused for a while, looking at the door of her office.

"Soon, you'll be mine. Mamahalin mo rin ako gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa'yo. I know you're just challenging me, hindi kita susukuan. Hanggang kaya ko pang tiisin iyong sakit, hanggang kaya ko pang lumaban . . . I will do everything to make you mine. Bahala na lang kung magmukha akong tanga. Hindi bale na magmukhang tanga, makuha ka lang. Maging akin ka lang sa huli." He said sadly and after that, he turn his back on that place with a heavy heart because of her venomous words.

Idiot? Yeah, this love made me.

***

Loving someone who doesn't care about your feelings really sucks. You should know your limits on liking or loving that someone to protect your heart from pain. Because the more you expect, the painful it is. The more you show your love, the pathetic look you will be.

-Dawndistinctmind