Nigel
"Hi Seiren." Nahinto ako sa ginagawa ko nang lumapit ang isang lalaki sa table namin habang nakatambay kami sa Library.
Sino naman 'to?
Kita and pagtataka sa mata ni Ren, si Kai naman na kanina ay natutulog ngayon ay matalim na nakatingin dito. The guy was smiling from ear to ear, mukha siyang aning. He is familiar I think I've seen him a few times before. Nanatili lamang itong nakatayo roon tila may gustong sabihin ngunit di nito nagawa tsaka mabilis na umalis.
"Kilala mo?" Tanong ko kay Ren.
"Aba malay." Nagkibit balikat siya.
"May bago atang magkakagusto kay Ren, anong masasabi mo Insan," tanong ko kay Kai.
"What should I say? I couldn't stop people liking her. She is not mine anyways," kunwari'y walang pake na sabi ni Kai. Pero kanina kung makatingin parang mangangain ng tao.
Ren made a face, tila di nagustuhan ang isinagot ni Kai.
"O ano may mababasted ka na naman," sarkastikong tukoy ko kay Ren.
"Basted agad? nag-hi lang yung tao. Ang malisosyo mo Nigel." She retorted.
"Trust me Ren, that guy likes you," sabi ko sa kanya.
"Siya na ba ang susi sa pag mo-move-on ko?" Pagpaparinig niya kay Kai.
"Tsk!" 'yun lang ang reaction ni Kai at muling bumalik sa pagtulog. Sinimangutan lang siya ni Ren.
...
"Anong meron?" Naka kunot noong tanong ko kay Ren habang naglalakad kahapon.
"Are you wearing lipgloss?" iritang tanong ni Kai.
"Yup! Bagay ba?" She sounded giddy as she said it. Nakakapagtaka anong nakain ni Ren at bila na lamang nag-ayos.
"You look hideous," kumento ni Kai. The way Kai said it is kind of insulting. Ren just rolled her eyes at him.
"Hi Ren, Goodmorning." Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Ren sa may ari ng boses. It was the guy from the other day. What's his name again? I saw Ren give him a smile. Napakamot naman ito sa batok na tila nahihiya.
Nagpapa-cute ba 'to kay Ren? Parang gusto ko masuka.
Napalingon ako sa direksyon ni Kai ngunit wala na siya roon. Ilang metro na pala ang layo niya sa amin.
"Kai!" tawag ko sa kanya at binilisan ang paglalakad.
"Ren, dalian mo mali-late na tayo," tawag ko kay Ren.
"Bye!" paalam niya sa lalaking iyon tsaka tumakbo sunod sa amin.
...
" What's going on?" Takang tanong ko nang tawagin ako ni sa sulok ng library kung saan walang tao.
"I'm planning to leave Ketsueki on its foundation day." umpisa niya.
"Ano?" patawa-tawang sabi ko. Nahinto ako sa pagtawa nang mapagtantong di siya nagbibiro.
"Bakit? Everything is fine, Ren still can't remember anything." Kunot noong protesta ko.
"I just realized that you're right."He said as if he experienced an epiphany.
"Anong idadahilan? Mo sa kanya?" kunot noong tanong ko.
"I will come up with something, maybe fake my death." Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya.
"Are you for real?" medyo napalakas ang pagkakasabi ko noon.
"Let's talk somewhere else," sabi ko sa kanya. Nakarating kami sa minipark ng campus.
"How would you fake your death? Ano 'to lolokohin natin si Ren. Do you know how heartbroken she will be?" inis na sabi ko.
"If she thinks I'm dead then it will be faster for her to move on." Di makatingin na sabi niya sa akin.
"I'm not asking for your approval. I just don't want you to interfere with my plan." Sabi niya saka ako tinalikuran. I was left dumbfounded, he's unbelievable.
...
We are doing our usual routine, labis ang pagtataka ko nang makasalubong ko si Ren na umiiyak. Susundan ko sana siya ngunit nakita ko si Kai na palabas ng infirmary kung saan lumabas si Ren.
What did he do this time?
Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya trying to contain my anger.
"Why is Ren crying?" Tanong ko habang kinukwelyuhan siya.
"Is she?" tila walang kaalam alam na sagot niya sa akin.
"What did you do?"Inis na tanong ko kay Kai.
"I told her about my plan on transferring next school. She was fine with it."
"You told her—what? what the fuck! Did you really believe that she's fine," Inis na sabi at marahas siyang binitawan.
I decided to come after Ren, buti naabutan ko siyang tumatakbo papunta sa Gymnasium.
"Ren," tawag ko sa kanya. Huminto naman siya sa pagtakbo at nagpunas ng luha niya bago ako harapin. She was biting her lip trying to control herself from crying.
"Alam mo ba na planong magtransfer si Kai next school year?" tanong niya sa akin.
"I thought he's just kidding," pagdadahilan ko.
"Alam mo ba ang dahilan?" usisa niya.
What should I say?
"It's about my health," napalingon ako kay Kai. Sumunod pala siya sa amin
Is he afraid that I might screw his plan?
"Anong health?" lalong naguluhan na tanong ni Ren. Ano namang kasinungalingan ang sinasabi niya.
"I'm terribly sick, something's going on with my body," he said it with sad tone.
If I don't know what he was planning I might actually believe his lies. Gusto kong sapakin si Kai sa pagsisinungaling niya kay Ren, but I couldn't do anything.
"Babalik ka naman kapag gumaling ka na diba?" tila nagsusumamo si Ren na sagutin siya ni Kai na gagaling ito.
"I will," Kai give her a smile of assurance.
Ren manage to smile again. I hate to see her get her hopes up because I know it will break her in the end. The reason I transferred here was to convince Kai. I should be glad now that he voluntarily offered to leave, but it's the other way around meeting Ren made me realize why it was hard him to do so.
I was the one who gave him the idea to leave in order to keep Ren safe but the circumstances now different. I don't know why we should do so.
...
It's been a week since Kai pulled his scheme. And Ren was being extra in attending to Kai since.
"Sa wakas bakasyon na!" she exclaimed as she stretched her arms. Tumayo si Kai at isusuot na ang bag niya nang agawin ito ni Ren sa kanya.
"Ako na," sabi ni Ren sa kanya.
"I'm not disabled Ren," tanggi ni Kai.
"But you're sick, at least man lang makatulong akong mabawasan ang pagod mo," nakangiting sabi ni Ren tsaka dumiretso palabas ng room. Kai looked down, tila nakokonsensya sa pagsisinungaling niya. Dapat lang niya maramdaman 'yun. Pa iling-iling na lamang ako habang nakasunod sa kanila ni Ren.
"Magkaaway na naman ba kayo?" biglang usisa ni Ren.
"No, normal namin 'to" paglilinaw ko.
How can I act friendly with Kai when I know he's working on something.
"Nung nakaraan ang sweet sweet niyo para kayong may LQ," sita niya sa amin.
Is it really obvious?
"Binasted ako nung pinopormahan ko sa school," pagdadahilan ko.
"Ay sus, akala ko nagbago ka na Nigel," dismayadong sabi niya.
"Some things never change." I answered.
"Tss, buti nabasted ka." Tila inaasahan na niya na ganun nga ng nangyayari.
"You started the curse," kunwaring bintang ko sa kanya.
"Ay wow naman Nigel." Mapanuyang sabi niya.
"H'wag mo akong sisihin kung nakita ng pinopormahan mo ang tunay mong kulay," pang-aasar niya sa akin.
"Naku Ren, kung di ako nagkakamali nagsisisi ka na binasted mo ako," sagot ko sa kanya tsaka ko tinaas baba ang mga kilay ko ng sabay.
"Naku, isa lang crush ko at di ikaw yun," pigil andg tawang sabi niya.
"I know," di na ako nagprotesta pa. Di naman nag-react si Kai sa sinabi ni Ren.
...
"Fiesta na ng Ketsueki nextweek," Bulalas ni Aizen habang kumakain kami. Isang linggo na nang nagsimula ang bakasyon namin.
"May mga rides sa plaza at perya," pagbibigay alam pa niya.
"Saka may pa fireworks display si Mayor," habol pa niya. Hearing about the fireworks caught Ren's attention. Saglit pa akong naghintay baka sabihin pa siya ngunit wala nang salita ang lumabasa sa bibig niya.
"Do you wanna see it Ren?" biglang tanong ni Kai.
Niyayaya niya ba si Ren na panoorin iyon ng kasama siya?
"Ayoko, matutulog na lang ako. Buti kong sasamahan mo ako Kai," Tila pagaparinig ni Kai. I don't understand what's gotten into her.
"Sure, let's have a date on that day." he said smoothly. Umubo-ubo si Aizen na tila nabilaukan sa narinig. Tito Felton was just grinning while he was just looking at them, as if he knew beforehand.
"Sigurado ka?" nanlalaki ang matang tanong ni Ren.
" Yes," Kai answered.
"Ren, nagbunga na ata ang panliligaw mo kay Kai," pang aasar ni Aizen.
"Date lang, dipa ako sinasagot," patawa-tawang sakay ni Ren sa biro ng kanyang kuya. Napailing na lamang ako sa sinabi niya.
"Let me be your boyfriend then." Di ko inasahan ang sinabi ni Kai.
He is insane, why does he keep on leading her on. Nabitawan ni Aizen ang hawak nag kutsara at tinidor.
"May sakit ka nga talaga Kai." bulalas nito.
"Aizen, bibig mo." Suway ni Uncle Felton sa kanya.
"Ewan ko sa'yo Kai," kuno't ang noong sabi ni Ren habang umiiling. She didn't believe what Kai said. She was trying to hide her smile by stuffing her mouth with food.
"I'm serious, I want to be your boyfriend."
She was astounded, napalunok siya at inabot ang baso ng tubig saka ininom dito. Habang si Aizen naman ay nakatingin lang sa kanilang dalawa na tila di makapaniwala sa nangyari.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"tanong ni Kai sa kanya.
Tumango naman si Ren bilang tugon. She can't help but smile.
"Pwede ba pakainin niyo muna kami nang maayos bago kayo magpaka-korni diyan. Nakakwalang-gana ehh." reklamo ni Aizen. We all just continued eating peacefully, Ren was glancing at Kai.
I wanted to be happy for her but I can't, knowing that she'll be left in pain.
...
"What's on your mind now?" iyan ang tanong na sumalubong kay Kai pagpasok niya sa kwarto. We are sharing the same room everytime we stay at Ren's place. Di niya ako sinagot at nilagpasan lamang ako. Humarap ako sa direksyon niya.
"Why are you playing with Ren's feelings?" I accused him. He then turned to face me.
"I'm not," tipid niyang sagot, it seems like he doesn't want to explain himself.
"Then why did you ask her on a date and be his boyfriend?" I want to clear everything.
"Because I want to have a date with her, I want to be his boyfriend. I want to make her happy. For once, I want to do what I should've done a long time ago. I want to show her what I really feel. I want to tell her I love her even in it's going to be our last day together," I was taken aback by what he said.
I couldn't utter any words. It's the first time he said what he really feels.
"I liked her from the moment I met her. The first time she confessed that she had a crush on me, it made me really happy. I wanted to tell her that I feel the same but I can't. I love her but I know I can't be with her. I chose to love her in secret and it hurts everytime I tell her we should be just friends because I know it hurts her more."
"You don't know how lucky are you, you could choose to live in both worlds."
All I think about is how Ren would feel when Kai leaves. I didn't think about Kai's feelings it is hard for him too.
I wish they were born without these circumstances. I wish we lived normal lives.
...
Seeing Ren getting excited for tomorrow made my heartache knowing it will be the last time we'll able to see her.
"Di ka ba talaga pupunta sa Plaza?" tanong niya sa akin.
"Hindi na, abot naman dito ang fireworks," dahilan ko, but the truth is I'm going to pack our things for tomorrow.
"Be happy, alam ko naman tagal mo nang pinangarap maka date si Kai, galingan mo ha." Biro sabay bigay ng nakakalokong ngiti.
She smiled at me, but I saw sa glimpse of sadness in her eyes.
"Bakit ganyan ka makatingin? nagbago na ba ang isip mo at ako na ang gusto mong makadate?"
"Ewan ko sayo Nigel!" sinimangutan niya lamang ako.
"You're going on a date why don't you wear a dress," suhestiyon ko.
"Sigurado ka?" Alangan na tanong niya.
"Kai will like it," I assured her.
"He'll like you even more," dagdag ko pa. Lumapit siya sa akin at bigla akong niyakap.
"Thank you Nigel, thank you for everything."
It felt strange, thanking me all of a sudden when I did nothing. Kumalas din siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin, walk towards her room. I just watched her until I could no longer see her.
Pumasok na ako sa kwarto, Kai was there just staring at the window.
"Hindi na ba talaga magbabago ang isip mo?" I asked. Umiling siya bilang tugon.
He will still do what he had planned. I just tapped his shoulders at dumiretso patungo sa kama ko.
"I just hope you won't regret anything," I told him before lying on bed.
< End of Chapter 18 >