Chapter 25: NOPI Chapter 23: Don't want to hurt him
Charles' POV
Magsasalita na sana ako ulit pero agad din naman akong natigilan dahil tumunog ang phone ko, indicating that there was someone calling me.
Agad na akong tumayo at kinuha ang phone ko at sinagot na ang tawag.
"Ed? What is it?" tanong ko
"Bro, where are you? The fireworks display's just finished. Nasa parking lot na kami at kayo nalang ang hinihintay. Nawawala ba kayo?" patanong niyang sagot kaya naman tinignan ko na si Sephine na nagtatakang tumingin sa akin pero agad ko lang siyang nginitian
"No, we're fine. Don't worry, we'll be right there," sagot ko saka ko na tinago ang phone ko
Timing nama'y nakarating na kami sa ibaba kaya naman inalalayan ko si Sephine na bumaba sa Ferris Wheel.
"Nasa parking lot na raw sila, dumating na ang service nating van at babalik na raw tayo sa resort. Tayo nalang ang hinihintay," sabi ko kaya naman tumango nalang siya
"Hey, actually, when we were separated earlier, I bought this at the gift shop," sabi ko saka ko binuksan ang bag ko't binigay na sakanya 'yung box
"Uhh, this is?" tanong niya kaya naman sinenyasan ko siyang buksan niya ang box kaya naman sumunod siya't binuksan niya nga ito
Nang mailabas niya 'yung binili kong kwintas ay nakita ko ang amazed niyang ekspresyon kaya nama'y nakahinga na ako ng maluwag at agad na napangiti dahil halatang nagustuhan niya ang regalong binili ko para sakanya.
Come to think of it, ito ang pinakauna kong regalo sakanya.
"It's a guitar with a microphone key-changed necklace. I love guitars and singing as well. I gave you this because I wanted to share to you the two most important aspects in my life," sabi ko saka ko kinuha 'yung necklace at pumunta sa likuran niya
She was obedient and immediately pulled her ink colored uncooked noodle-like hair which was why her soft and fair neck was exposed to me.
I immediately coughed and gently put the necklace on her.
Pagkatapos kong mai-suot sa kanya ang kwintas ay agad siyang humarap sa akin saka ako nginitian.
"You shouldn't have bought me anything. Mahal ba 'to?" tanong niya kaya naman pinat ko na ang ulo niya
"The cost doesn't matter. It's the thought that counts," sagot ko dahilan kung bakit siya napangiti at hinawakan na 'yung kwintas
"Then I should buy you a gift too," sagot niya at aalis na sana pero agad ko na siyang hinila para pigilan
"It's fine," sagot ko
"I insist, Charles. Ayokong wala akong ibinibigay pabalik sa mga taong binibigyan ako ng pagmamahal nila," sagot niya kaya naman napakamot ako ng batok ko
Pagmamahal raw oo.
"It's getting late now. How about you buy it next?" tanong ko kaya naman napaisip siya at agad nang tumango
"Thank you, Charles. Thank you so much for tonight,"
*
Sephine's POV
Tahimik ang van sa byahe namin pauwi. It seems like ako nalang, si Violet, Venus at ang driver ang hindi natutulog.
Sinilip ko si Charles na nasa may tabi ng pintuan ng van. Nasa harapan parin kami, sa pagitan ng driver. He was sleeping like a baby. He was even smiling.
Just what on earth is he dreaming of?
"Seph, matutunaw 'yan" nagulat ako nang marinig ko 'yung sinabi ni Violet kaya naman sinilip ko sila through the rear mirror saka sila nginitian
Magkatabi na sila ni Venus.
Nang makita ko ang masasaya nilang mga mukha at mga ekspresyon ay agad nang nawala ang mga ngiti sa labi ko.
Agad na akong pumikit nang maramdaman kong humapdi nanaman ang mga mata ko. Oh god, why am I such a crybaby!?
"Hey, what's wrong?" tanong agad ni Violet pero hindi ako sumagot
"Just text it," bulong naman ni Venus kaya naman minulat ko na ang mga mata ko't tumulo na ang luha ko pero syempre, pinigilan kong mag-ingay in case na makagising si Charles na mahimbing na natutulog sa tabi ko
Kinuha ko na ang phone ko't nagsimulang mag type.
[Charles confessed to me]
[Bayolet: OMG! Really?! Really?! I knew it! This guy's been fawning over you these past few days!]
[Venus: You should be happy but what's wrong? Why are you crying?]
[After his confession, Ed called him and I caught a glimpse of his wallpaper]
[Bayolet: ......]
[Venus: Anong nakita mo? It's not a different girl or something, isn't it?]
[It's.. Josephine]
After ng last message ko ay hindi na nila nagawang makapagreply pa at sinilip nalang ako sa rear view mirror.
It's ironic really. I think it's because I'm jealous of my powerful self, Josephine who Charles held so much importance off for may years or I was just so insecure from the start.
Is it because I seemed familiar to him and was comparable to Josephine, is that why he liked me, Sephine, who was just some plain nerd?
I mean, why would he even like me? Out of all the girls in the world who's more normal, beautiful, rich and smarter than me. Why did it have to be me?
But wait, his expressions earlier and his words.. he meant it.
Napaluha na ako lalo. I was even beginning to doubt him and his feelings. I can't take it. My heart's aching. I'm so despicable.
How am I supposed to tell him my secret? That I - Sephine is Josephine and that Josephine is Sephine?
I.. I don't want to hurt him
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