CHAPTER 15
1547 Words
CHAPTER 15
Mabigat ang bawat hakbang ko habang papunta sa unit. Jaxon and I parted ways without addressing what happened earlier. Should I make it a big deal? I know there's already a mutual understanding between us, but we’re not official yet. The whole fake relationship thing is still in play, so technically, there’s nothing wrong with seeing someone else besides him, right? But why do I feel so guilty? Of course, you should feel that, Sophia! Especially after what happened with Laica earlier… Ugh, my head hurts!
Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when things get more complicated than you expected. Micah’s words echoed in my mind. Paano ba ‘to?
As I entered the condo I received a text from Micah.
Micah:
Insan, naka uwi ka na? May ulam na diyan in case ‘di ka pa nag-dinner. Kumain na rin si Milo. Ikaw na muna bahala sa condo, hindi ako makaka-uwi ng ilang araw dahil may event na ako ang mag-ha-handle. VIP kasi, sayang naman ang datung! Ingat ka diyan!
Huminga ako ng malalim, at nang maisara ko ang pinto ay isinandal ko ang likod ko doon. I wonder if Jaxon is already home? I checked my phone; it’s almost nine in the evening. Should I text him? Pero para saan pa? Hindi naman ako girlfriend.
My phone suddenly rang, causing me to get goosebumps. I looked at the screen and saw that Aldrich was calling.
“Aldrich, bakit ka tumawag?” I asked, trying to mask my concern.
“Nasa baba ako, Sky. Pwede ka bang bumaba kahit saglit? Ayoko nang hintayin hanggang bukas para sabihin sa’yo ito.” he said, his voice tinged with urgency.
Napaisip ako. But still answered him, “S-sige, I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Nagmadali akong bumaba. Naguguluhan man ako sa nais iparating ni Aldrich, nag-aalala rin ako sa kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin.
“Sophia,” agad niya akong nilapitan at niyakap. Ramdam ko ang kanyang malalim na paghinga.
I tap his back and slowly hold his shoulders. I pull away and look at him concernedly, “Ano bang nangyari, Drich?”
Hinaplos niya ang aking pisngi, na ikinagulat ko. “I’m taking the risk, Sophia. I’m willing to face the consequences for my actions.”
Nalilito talaga ako; kumunot ang noo ko. “T-teka, ano bang—”
“I like you, Sophia. Hindi nawala ang nararamdaman ko para sa’yo simula pa noong high school tayo. Nagsinungaling ako noong sinabi kong may gusto akong iba noong pinakilala kita sa kaibigan ko, pero ang totoo, ikaw lang ang gusto ko. At kung bibigyan mo ako ng pagkakataon, gagawin ko ang lahat para mag-work ang relationship natin. Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko sa mga pwedeng mangyari, lalo na’t bawal ang office relationship sa opisina natin."
Kitang-kita ko ang determinasyon sa mukha niya. Huminga ako ng malalim at kumuha ng lakas ng loob para magsalita. “I’m sorry, Drich. But this is not right—”
“No!” matigas niyang putol, with a sharpness in his tone that caught me off guard. His expression softened slightly, but his eyes still held a firm resolve. “S-sorry, but this isn’t wrong, Sophia. I’m willing to compromise, we can work it out. To be honest, mahirap na sakripisyo ito para sa akin, but I need you to see that this is worth the risk. I hope you’ll take the risk too because I’m not backing down on this.”
Marahan akong tumango, “I understand, Drich, but that doesn’t change what I feel. We may both want understanding, but it has to be mutual.”
He grabbed both of my hands, his grip tightening slightly as his face lit up with renewed determination. “Then you have to see this my way. We can make it work, Sophia. It has to be give and take, but I’m not backing down on this. We will make it work.”
Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko at umatras ng ilang hakbang. “No, Drich,” I said firmly. “Hindi tama ang ginagawa mo. You’re demanding things that aren’t right in the first place. And besides, I’m currently seeing someone, and I already have feelings for him.”
He scoffed, “Sino? Yung lalaking sumundo sa’yo nung isang gabi? Sigurado ka na ba doon? Maibibigay ba niya ang kailangan mo?”
“Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo, Drich?” Napapa-iling ako, hindi makapaniwala na may tinatago pala siyang ganitong ugali. “Umuwi ka na, kailangan ko nang magpahinga.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond. Tinalikuran ko na siya at bumalik na sa unit ko. Pagkasara ko ng pinto, sinalubong ako ni Milo, agad na hinagod ang katawan niya sa paanan ko. I picked him up and placed him on his small bed. I decided to take a shower first, ngunit napapitlag ako nang may kumatok sa pinto, at lalo akong kinabahan nang mag-beep ang alarm ng pinto. Naghanap ako ng kahit anong bagay na magagamit ipambatok sa sinumang nagtatangkang pumasok. Nang pumihit ang door knob at bumukas ang pinto, nakita ko kung sino ang nasa likod nito—lalo akong nasorpresa.
“Jaxon?” Nabitiwan ko ang throw pillow at hinayaan itong mahulog sa sahig. Nakalimutan ko, may susi pala siya sa unit namin ni Micah. Sa halip na ipaliwanag kung bakit siya narito, lumapit siya sa akin at hinila ako upang ikulong sa kanyang mga bisig.
Ilang segundo rin akong nakatayo lang at nagtataka sa ginagawa niya. Ngunit unti-unti kong dinadama ang yakap niya, sinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa may leeg niya at langhap ang amoy ng alak na nahahalo sa kanyang pabango. Taliwas sa naramdaman kong pagka-ilang sa yakap ni Aldrich kanina, this feeling is different. It brought chills to my body, but at the same time, his embrace warmed me. Nabubuhayan ang puso ko.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I muster the courage to speak and gently caress his back. We slowly broke the embrace, and his right hand found its way to my cheek, where he gently stroked it. As I looked into his eyes, I saw a mix of puzzlement and deep thought. “What brings you here, Jaxon?”
“Sophia…” he started, his voice trembling slightly. “I don’t think I can still stop myself.”
Kumunot ang noo ko, “W-what do you mean?”
“Hindi ko na kayang pigilan ang nararamdaman ko sa’yo. I respect your decision not to rush things—ngunit kapag hinayaan ko pa itong pagpapanggap natin, baka mawalan ako ng pagkakataon sa’yo.” I was stunned by what he said. Subalit kahit nalilito ako, itinikom ko ang aking bibig at nakinig sa kanyang sasabihin. “I trust you completely, but I just—I can’t contain my feelings anymore, Sophia. Parang sasabog na ang puso ko, mahal na mahal kita.”
A confession after a confession… Pero parang lasing si Jaxon ngayon. Totoo kaya ang sinasabi niya?
“You’re drunk, Jaxon.”
“No,” he said softly. “I admit, uminom ako ng konti para magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na magpahayag sa’yo. Pero hindi ako lasing, Sophia. Promise.”
“To be fair to you, I have something to say, too,” I began, still feeling the warmth of his hand on my cheek. “Aldrich came earlier and confessed his feelings. He told me that he likes me.” I watched closely for his reaction, trying to gauge how he would respond to this new piece of information.
Jaxon’s expression shifted as he processed what I said. He seemed momentarily taken aback, his grip on my cheek loosening. Then, gently, he placed both of his hands on my cheeks, his touch tender and reassuring.
“I see,” he said quietly, his voice soft as he looked into my eyes. “So, you’re telling me there’s someone else who’s also expressing his feelings for you.” He paused, his gaze steady and sincere. “Sophia, I don’t want to make this any harder for you. I just want you to know that no matter what’s happening with Aldrich, my feelings for you are real. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
The weight of his words hung in the air as he waited for my response, his touch and expression reflecting his deep emotional investment.
“I know,” I nodded slowly, a reassuring smile gracing my lips. I held both of his hands on my cheeks, feeling the warmth of his touch. As I looked into his eyes, I realized how much I had been holding back. Fate had indeed given me a long time to think and reevaluate myself. The constant pressure I faced was a part of life and a part of my growth. It reminded me that no matter how much we prepare, some things are beyond our control.
Huminga ako ng malalim, tumingkayad ako at hinalikan ang pisngi niya. He looked a bit surprised.
“What does that mean?” he said, almost a whisper.
I genuinely smiled and embraced him again, “I love you, too.” I felt that he wrapped me tightly into a hug and kissed the top of my head.
- Writer
