"I-I'm sorry, I didn't meant to heard your conversation with your boyfriend—"
"Ex," I cut him off. "Ex-boyfriend." I corrected him.
Hindi siya nakatingin sa'kin, nanatili lamang itong nakatungo.
I wiped my tears then laughed bitterly. "Hindi mo ba narinig? He ended our relationship."
"Yeah, I heard it."
I stared at him for a moment, examining every details of his figure.
Napasinghap ako nang muling tumulo ang luha ko.
"Can you please stop crying? He's not worth for your tears." He mumbled. "Sino ba namang matinong lalaki ang makikipaghiwalay dahil lang sa halik?"
My eyes grew bigger from what he mentioned.
"It's not about the kiss!" I exclaimed.
"Oh, I clearly heard it from him." He said in a monotone as if it's nothing. "Are you a bad kisser, perhaps?"
Biglang umurong ang luha ko dahil sa lalaking ito. He acts so calm as if wala lang ang mga binibitawan niyang salita.
"W-We never kiss!" I defended myself.
The side of his lips went up, forming an amused smile until a soft chuckle escaped from his mouth. "Okay, then."
"Uhh, I'm sorry if you saw me in this kind of shitty situation." I forced to laugh then slightly shook my head. "Agaw eksena sa gitna ng ulan."
"I didn't saw you,"
My eyes narrowed at him again with my forehead creased. "H-Huh?"
"I'm blind." He uttered shortly.
My lips partially parted.
Kaya pala kanina pa siyang nakaiwas ng tingin sa'kin.
"I-I'm sorry—"
"Sorry for what?" He asked. "Ikaw ba ang may kasalanan kung bakit bulag ako?"
I swallowed hard as I stare at him. He seems tough. There's no exact expression written on his face so I can't read what's on his mind. As I watched his every little moves, curiousity was building up deep inside my system.
"Would you mind if I ask your name?" I asked without thinking.
A small smile formed on his lips. "Wilhem."
I can't help it but to smile. He has a really nice name. I walked towards him and sat on the bench near him.
"Hindi ka ba nilalamig?" He asked.
After hearing his question, I started to feel the cold invading my skin.
"Hindi masyado," I answered when the truth is, my body was shaking already.
I heard him laugh a little.
"I'm Amariah," pagpapakilala ko.
"Wala namang nagtatanong,"
Umawang ang labi ko. This guy is too impossible.
"I'm kidding," he retorded immediately before I could even utter a word. "Nice name, by the way."
I forced a laugh, thinking that he's really something I can't figure out. Is he a sociopath? Seems like he never cares about other people's feelings, though.
The rain finally stopped. We stay still in our position. Silence takes between us and no one dared to talk. Pinagmamasdan ko lang siya habang may kung ano-anong bagay ang namumuo sa isip ko.
"D-Don't stare at me." He muttered when he felt my stares.
I swallowed hard out of embarrassment. Who would've thought na malalaman niyang tinititigan ko siya?
"Kuya!"
We both halted.
I quickly saw a young man approaching us. May bitbit itong dalawang payong at agad na lumapit kay Wilhem.
"Kuya, are you okay? Sorry ngayon lang ako nakasundo. Malakas kasi ang ulan and Mom won't let me go to you." Saad ng bata habang inaalalayan ang kaniyang kuya na tumayo.
"It's okay, Miguel. Mag-aalala rin ako kung magkakasakit ka." Wilhem said softly while holding his little brother's hand.
I smiled by the mere sight of them.
"Let's go, kuya. Mom cooked a nice lunch for us. I know you're hungry." Wika ng bata saka hinigit ang kamay ni Wilhem.
Pero nagpapigil ito mula sa paghigit ng kapatid. Sabay na kumunot ang noo namin ng bata dahil sa nangyari.
"Amariah,"
Napakislot ako nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko.
"H-Ha?" I stuttered.
I gulped when his little brother glowered at me.
"He's stupid for letting you go. You don't deserve him, anyway. You deserve much better than him." Wilhem sincerely uttered. Somehow, it gives me solace. "Continue living your life without him. Nakaya mo na noong hindi mo pa siya nakikilala 'diba? Kakayanin mo ulit ngayon."
I smiled. He's right.
"Kuya, is she your girlfriend?" Tanong ng bata habang naniningkit ang mga mata nang titigan ako. Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig rin ako sa kaniya.
"No, Miguel, she's my friend." Pabulong na ani Wilhem sa kapatid. "Sorry, Amariah, masyado lang talagang maraming nalalaman itong kapatid ko despite the fact na bata pa siya para malaman ang bagay na 'yon." He said shyly and then laughed a little.
"No, it's okay. He's cute. I like him." I said then smiled to his brother. But the young man just arched his eyebrow at me.
"Kuya, h'wag mo siyang liligawan. I don't like her. Her height was too short for you." Wika ng bata habang titig na titig parin sa'kin.
Mas lalong umawang ang labi ko dahil sa gulat. Agad na sinuway muli ni Wilhem ang kapatid. Namamanghang napatawa na lamang ako.
"Kailangan ko na talaga atang tumalon sa bagong taon." I joked. Wilhem slightly laughed at it. "Don't worry kid, I'm still taller than you."
Suddenly, his small face went grim as if I said something wrong.
"It is because I'm just five years old, when I get at your age, I'm sure I will probably taller than you." The kid said, annoyed. "Kuya, trust me. Don't you dare to court her. She's not sexy unlike ate Kimmy, and also she has no boobs. Is she even a girl? I bet she's a gay."
My eyes grew wider. Naitapat ko ang mga palad ko sa ibabaw ng aking dibdib dahil sa sinabi ng bata. Pinipigilan ko ang mainis pero nakakaasar na talaga ang batang ito.
"Shut up, Miguel. Watch your words. Who taught you to act that way?" Pilit na pinalumanay ni Wilhem ang kaniyang boses ngunit bumahid parin do'n ang bahagyang galit.
"Kuya Eros said I should find you a girl who look pretty, sexy, and a lady who had such a huge boobs. But ate Amariah, yes she's pretty but she's not that sexy and she has no boobs. She's not qualified for your girlfriend checklist." Giit pa ni Miguel na lalong kumanti sa pagtitimpi ko.
"Eros.., That bastard---" Nahihiya naring wika ni Wilhem. "I apologized on behalf of my brother's unappropriate manner, Amariah. Sorry."
I tried to calm myself. "It's okay. He's cute, I think." I forced myself to laugh.
Lumapit ako sa kanila at pinisil ang matambok na pisngi ng bata dahil sa panggigigil.
"Ouch! You're hurting me." Inis na hinawi ni Miguel ang kamay ko. He glared at me sharply.
I just smiled playfully at him.
"I really hate you!" Gigil na sigaw ni Miguel.
"Shut up Miguel. You're over, I'll tell this to mom." Wika ni Wilhem bagamat malamyos parin ang boses nito halata paring nagtitimpi narin ito sa kapatid.
The kid's expression melted in a sudden. "No kuya, please..."
Napangiti ako nang mapagtantong takot ang bata sa kanilang ina.
"Say sorry to your ate Amariah." Utos ni Wilhem dahilan para pilit na mapatingin si Miguel sa akin.
I arched my brow just like what he did to me earlier. I'm aware that Wilhem will never see it so I think, it's fine.
"Do I really need to do that kuya, she's smiling like an evil now. She's teasing me." Reklamo ni Miguel.
"Your words Miguel, just say sorry to Amariah." Utos muli ni Wilhem.
Wala nang nagawa ang bata. He lowered down his gaze, avoiding my stares. "Sorry..."
"What?" I teased him more.
Agad nanlisik ang mga mata nito nang muli niya akong tapunan ng tingin.
"I said sorry, are you deaf?" Inis na wika nito.
"Miguel, stop your bad attitude or else I'll cut your tounge." Banta ni Wilhem sa kaniyang kapatid. "Sorry Amariah, we need to go. Kailangang maturuan ng leksyon ang ginawang asal ni Miguel." Baling ni Wilhem sa'kin.
"Kuya!" Reklamo ni Miguel.
"Shut up Miguel. Let's go." Wala ng nagawa ang bata kundi sumunod sa kuya niya.
"Bye, Miguel. Don't worry, I'll try na italon ang ang dede ko sa bagong taon. Baka sakaling lumaki." I said jokingly.
Napailing na lang si Wilhem habang bahagyang tumatawa.
"I really don't like you kahit magkadede ka pa. Wag mong ika-crush ang kuya ko kundi---" Napatigil ito ng muli siyang sawayin ng kuya niya.
"Kundi ano? Wag kang mag-alala ikaw na lang ang ika-crush ko." Wika ko dahilan para mas lalong maasar ang bata.
"That's gross." Nandidiring sabi ng bata.
Napahagalpak ako ng tawa nang mabilis na hinigit ni Miguel ang kaniyang kuya papaalis.
"Uhm, we need to go," Wilhem said as he tried to pull his arms from his little brother. "Heal yourself as fast as you can."
I smiled widely as I nodded, as if he could see me doing it.
I heaved a deep sigh when they finally left. I looked up in the sky, muli nang sumisilip ang araw sa makapal na ulap. I will move on as fast as I can. I deserve more than Kiel could offer.
Nayakap ko ang sarili ko dahil sa panunuot ng lamig sa katawan ko. Marahan kong hinagod ng palad ko ang mga braso ko bago humakbang papaalis.
"Hey, Amariah."
I glanced at my friend beside me for a seconds. We're in the library and doing some school stuffs.
"Yes?" I whispered, trying not to make a loud noise.
"I saw your boyfriend." Fatima whispered back.
Napaangat ako ng tingin mula sa librong binabasa. Tatlong araw na ang nakalilipas simula ng hiwalayang naganap sa amin ni Kiel at hanggang ngayon ramdam ko parin ang sakit na dulot no'n.
"I saw him yesterday dun sa pinagtatrabahuhan kong coffee shop. He's with other girl and worst they acting like a couple. I bet he's really cheating on you." Fatima whispered again.
My heart sting from what I've heard. Humigpit ang kapit ko sa hawak kong ballpen.
"Hey, are you listening?"
I came back to my senses when she slightly hit me with her elbow.
"I'm serious okay, if you don't believe me then see it with your own eyes. I heard they will meet at that coffee shop again this day. Go, and let your eyes judge their relationship." Wika ni Fatima at muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa librong binabasa.
I remained silent. She's not aware about our break-up. I planned to tell her but she got busy this past few days.
So, hindi malabong hiniwalayan ako ni Kiel dahil sa ibang babae. My chest tightened. My heart was throbbing in so much pain. I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge of crying.
I shrugged that thought away and focus more on my paper works.