Bound to love you

BTLY |06

HALOS magiisang buwan nang nakasunod sa akin si Boo. I am lying if I say that I don't like it. I love how he cared for me after what happened to me at the prom, hindi ako magpapaka-ipokrita para sabihin na hindi ko gusto ang natatanggap na atensyon mula sa kanya. Pero halos magiisang buwan ko na ring tinitiis ang panaka-nakang pagsakit ng ulo ko.

Puro nakakamatay na tingin ang lagi kong natatanggap tuwing pumapasok ako nang skwela mula kay Agatha at sa mga malapit niyang kaibigan, ang iba pa sa kanila ay puro fanatics ni Boo. Binebelatan ko lang silang lahat sabayan pa nang irap.

"Ano'ng gusto mo'ng kainin?" Boo asked as he assisted me to sit down. Minsan gusto ko na lang tampalin sa mukha si Boo, todo alalay siya sa akin sa loob at labas ng bahay. Hindi naman ako imbalido o may malalalang sakit, kahit pa nga ang paglabas pasok ko sa C. R. Binabantayan niya pa!

Kulang na lang igapos niya ako sa katawan niya. He's being overprotective and I love it. I giggled and that made him look at me raising his eyebrow.

"Ikaw, lang naman lagi ang sagot ko sa tanong na 'yan ah. D ka pa na sanay," he face palmed himself before rolling his eyes. I feel the stares of everyone here at the cafeteria but it seems that Boo didn't mind them at all.

"Vegetable salad then," he said.

"Lasagna! You should know that. I love lasagna the same way I love you, " I protested and he just laughed at my remarks. As usual, he won't mind my confessions at all. I am aware of that. By the look of the string attached from his finger seems it become more brighter than the usual red.

The more Boo neglects Agatha the more it constrict and pulls them closer.

And also, I couldn't contact with Nicolai since the time I last saw him at sportfest event. He has a swelling cut beside his lips.

"Hindi ko alam na nakikipag-basag ulo ka pala. Wala pa naman sa itsura mo," I joke at him.

" I'm glad you're okay, I was worried of you Love, " I heard a 'tsk' from behind. It was Boo. He won't take his eyes off from the man I talks with. "Asked your Boo, he's the one who've done that on my face" he added.

" Asus! Joker ka talaga. My Boo would never resort to violence, right? " I glanced at my back with a smile on my face.

Boo nodded while smiling back at me.

" See?" I saw how Nicolai laugh humorlessly at Boo. Ayan na naman ang eerie atmosphere na nararamdaman ko tuwing nagkakaharap silang dalawa.

Pagkatapos n'on ay hindi na ulit nagkrus ang mga landas namin. Bumalik si Boo habang dala ang tray ng pagkain pero hindi siya nagiisa. A gorgeous woman walking alongside with him nagtatawanan sila habang pabalik sa pwesto kung nasaan ako.

Akala ko hindi ko na ulit makakasama sa iisang mesa ang babaeng 'to. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at todo pigil sa pag tampal sa noo ko.

"I'll share a seat with you two, if you don't mind," Hindi pa man ako nakaka angal ay umupo na siya sa katabing bangko ni Boo.

'Kalmahan mo Psyche, she's fated with Boo. Wala kang magagawa d'on' I silently calmed myself and prayed to God to give me enough patience.

"Kamusta ka, psyche?" She started a conversation with a smile. Napatingin ako kay Boo and he was glancing at Agatha from time to time he was like savoring the moment. Halos isang buwan niya na ring iniiwasan ang babae para sa akin.

"I'm good." Tipid kong tugon at itinuon na lamang ang atensyon sa lasagna na nasa harap ko.

Kahit napakasarap nang nilalantakan ko, hindi ko parin magawang lunukin ito. My heart aches while looking at their eyes with full of longing.

Yes I am selfish, gustong-gusto ko ipagdamot si Boo sa lahat. I will love him even it will cost my life.

"--how 'bout psyche?" I spaced out kaya naman nagulat ako nang ibaling nila sa akin ang atensyon

"Ha? I'm....I wasn't listening," I uttered. Agatha looked at me with smug look plastered on her face.

What's with this woman? Ano'ng scheme na naman kaya meron ang babaeng 'to?

"Oh, Jaeden's describing us," She answered.

"Ahhh, ok" tamad kong sagot sa kanya. Kita ko kung paano niya palihim na nilamukos ang tissue sa lamesa, nagpipigil ng galit ang bruhilda.

I feel suffocated whenever she's around.

"Well. Love is clumsy, stubborn, and hard headed. She acts childish at sobrang masakit siya sa ulo since we were still kids, up until now," I frowned at him. " Did I already mentioned that she's stubborn and hard headed?" He teases me.

" Ahhh... Gusto mo describe din kita? You're dense and insensitive. Gwapo nga manhid naman hmp! "

" At least gwapo... " Ginulo niya ang buhok ko kaya humaba lalo ang nguso ko. "....Oh, pikon ka na naman, " He added and laughed.

" Hindi ba kayo mapapaghiwalay? Super close niyo sa isa't isa...." Agatha uttered with a smile.

I almost forgot that she was with us.

" Bakit? May plano ka'ng paghiwalayin kame?" Bara ko na dahilan para matahimik siya.

"Love careful with your words," Boo warned me and asked Agatha if she's okay.

"May masama ba sa sinabi ko? Wala naman ah," I reason out. He didn't bother to look at me at maraming tinanong sa babae kung na offend ko ba daw siya and such. Psh!

"Mauuna nako sa classroom," Sabi ko at tumayo na. Tapos na rin naman akong kumain, mahaba-haba pa naman ang break time kaya paniguradong mabo-bored lang ako sa classroom.

I didn't expect Boo to follow me. For two years of staying here at metropolis with Boo specially him being with Agatha, alam ko nang he won't choose me over her.

Nasanay na rin ako sa mga strings sa paligid ko, I accepted this gift because I know I don't have a choice. Ang hindi ko lang matanggap ay 'yung kapalaran na naghihintay sa akin.

Death...

I badly want to change my fate pero kapalit n'on ang paglayo ko kay Boo. I would barely become alive if I separated with him. Katulad lang din naman ang resulta.

"Ambilis mo naman maglakad!" I was stunned when Boo chased me. Ehh?

" Saan si Agatha?" How come he left her?

Kinurot ko ang sarili, baka sakaling panaginip na naman ito.... I feel pain. This is real.

"Nasa cafeteria. Nagpaalam akong babalikan ko na lang siya pagkatapos kitang ihatid, " He honestly said.

" At ba't mo naman siya babalikan? Hindi naman siya imbalido ah!" I asked while pouting. Salubong ang kilay ko siyang tinignan.

"You're being childish again. Why are you so rude to her?" I stopped on what he said.

"Kanino ka ba kampi?" Yes I'm childish and immature, because I am insecure of Agatha!

Ba't sa dinami-dami ng babaeng para sa kanya... Bakit hindi ako?

From the past to the present time... Bakit hindi ako?

"Wala akong kinakampihan," he massage his temple and tried to calmed down. "Bakit ba ang laki ng galit mo kay Agatha? "

" Tinatanong pa ba 'yan? I know you're not dumb to realize that I am jealous!" My eyes watered and I encourage myself not to cry in front of him.

He looked away and took a deep sigh..

"Kaya nga I take consideration.... I didn't court her because I know that it might hurt you. I am holding back my feelings for Agatha, for you! " He blurted out. It was too late to take back what he said.

Silent engulfed us. Hindi ako makatingin sa kanya nang diretso. How did we end up like this.

"I'm sorry, forget what I said. Nadala lang ako nang emosyon," Mahinahon niyang saad.

At that moment I was pinned on the ground. Flashbacks from the province exploded before my eyes. We were happy back then. No one can separate us.

Then, Agatha came like a wild poison ivy. She was the stormed after the calmness.

Tahimik akong sumunod sa kanya pabalik sa classroom.

"WHAT are your plans for college?" Maria asked. Kasama kong nagcutting si Maria para na rin matakasan si Boo.

True to his words binalikan niya si Agatha, maybe to spend more time with her kaya naman I took that chance para makatakas kay Boo, alam ko naman na hindi niya ako payagan gumala mag isa.

"Business management kukinin ni Boo," hinigop ko pa ang nangangalahi ko nang milktea bago nagsalita ulit. "Kaya yun din kukunin ko,"

"What the fvcking fvck? Parang kanina lang minumura mo siya sa'kin!" Singhal niya. Hindi ko siya masisisi, kailangan kong may mapagsabihan sa sama nang loob ko kay Boo eh.

"Seriously? Wala ka ba'ng pangarap?" She added na ikinatawa ko lang.

Wala na akong ibang pangarap bukod sa makasama si Boo kahit man lang sa madaling panahon na meron ako.

" Chase your dreams nga diba? Paano ba 'yan. Si Boo ang pangarap ko, " I proudly say with a smile. Umakto pa itong naduwal dahil sa sinabi ko at tila diring-diri ang tingin na ipinupukol sa akin.

Palibhasa talaga hindi pa nakakaranas ma Inlove, little did she know kitang-kita ko naman sa daliri niya ang mga pulang sinulid.

"Baliw kana," she uttered at tinapos na ang kinakain. Tinawanan ko siya dahil konting-konti na lang ipapamental niya na ako.

"Maghintay ka lang na ma-inlove ka. Pustahan pa tayo mas malala ka pa sakin," I said while wiggling my eyebrows. This is my first time na mag cut class dahil mas gusto ko pa na panoorin si Boo hanggang sa matapos ang klase but today is an exemption!

Nagpapalamig lang ako nang ulo, buti na lang talaga at niyaya ako ni Maria mag cutting dito sa cafe malapit lang sa labas ng school.

"Kilabutan ka nga sa mga sinasabi mo, masasapak kita pag lumabas pa ulit 'yan sa bunganga mo. The word 'love' can't define me sinusuka ako nang salitang 'yan," Usal niya. Lakas makapag salita ng tapos.

" You'll eat your word. Paniguradong mabubusog ka," Pananakot ko. Kaya ayun nakatanggap ako ng sapok sa kanya. Hinimas ko ang nasaktan na parte ng batok at tinawanan lamang siya.

Ngayon pa lang naaawa na ako sa nakatakda sa kanya. Malamang bugbog sarado siya hindi lang sa kama huehue.

Nagpaalam saglit si Maria para mag C. R. Kaya naman kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na umob-ob sa lamesa dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagpitik ng sentido ko. Ayaw kong ipahalata sa babae ang nararamdaman, hindi sa ayaw kong pagalalahin siya kasi malay ko ba kung magaalala ba talaga ang babaeng 'yun.

I wait until the pain disappeared, at hindi ko man lang namalayan na may iba nang nakaupo sa harap ko kung saan nakaupo si Maria.

"I apologize for my manners. Nagpaalam ako 'kung pwede ba akong umupo dito and I thought you were asleep so I just sit here for a while. I hope you didn't mind, " halos hirap na niyang usal. May katandaan na ang ginang kaya naman nginitian ko ito bago sinabing, okay lang.

Natahimik kami saglit bago nagsalita ulit ang ginang.

" Akala ko ka look- alike mo lang si Paige pero ngayon sa malapitan kamukhang-kamukha mo nga siya noong kabataan pa namin." She uttered. Tila may tumubong question mark sa ulo ko at ipinagdasal na sana bumalik na si Maria nang sa ganun ay makaalis na kami.

Madilim na din sa labas ng cafe paniguradong mas lalong madagdagan ang galit sakin ni Boo.

"I'm sorry?" I asked in confusion. Sinong Paige?

" Oh, Paige's my best friend. For ninety-eight years of my existence ngayon ko lang ulit nasilayan ang malapit kong kaibigan. She died at the age of twenty five, and I am too sure that she was reincarnated at this time. " Pagkukwento niya. My eyes widened at what she said. Hindi ko inaakala na magiging konektado ako sa malalapit na tao sa dati kong buhay

She chuckled " By the look of your reaction, it looks like you already know about the ending you're about to face, " she continued when I didn't uttered any word.

"N-nagkakamali lang po yata kayo, hindi po ako ang tinutukoy niyo. " I curse myself because I stuttered. Ano naman ngayon kung alam ko ang tadhana na para sa akin.

She doesn't have to slap it right to my face. Ilang beses kong pilit tinatanggap ang kapalaran ko...... But deep inside I can't.

I want to change my fate.... So badly.

"There's still a way to stop that from happening," I looked at her with full of hope. "You must forget the man you love. Hindi ko man nailigtas si Paige but I hope I could save you," Her eyes watered. She was burdened with guilt.

"Can I still change my fate without unloving the man I love?" She shook his head and weakly smiled at me. " If that's the case. Then, I am willing to put my life on the line just to be with my Boo." She laughed at me.

Nagdadrama na nga ako, tinawanan pa. Mas better pa yatang mag monologue ah.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to laugh. Kaugali mo talaga si Paige. Matigas ang ulo," She explained na mas lalong nagpa busangot sa mukha ko.

"I am still willing to help. I want to lift the burden I have inside my heart," She added before reached out her calling card to me.

"Call me when you need a hand," She almost whispered. She was like pertaining to Paige.

TBC~