"Matt! Where are we going?" nerbiyos na tanong niya pero hindi siya nito sinasagot. His eyes are focused on the road.
She just prayed silently that he will not do anything bad. She looked out the window. Ano ba kasi ang nangyayari? Her life seems to have turned upside down nung bumalik si Alex.Iniisip tuloy niya na parang mas okay pa na hindi na sila ulit nagkita.
Malcon: Hay naku girl! Ano ba yan bayan? Kung maka-emote ka naman? Sige nga, tanungin kita! Ano ba ang mali sa nangyayari? Mali ba na mahalin niyo ang isa't-isa? Di ba yan ang dati mo pang inaasam? Ito na nga yun 'te eh! Kayo na nga o! You are both single. You love each other. May mali ba dun?
Pero nasasaktan ko si Matt. He has been my closest friend since Shelly got married, Pat thought.
Malcon: Hindi mo boyfriend si Matt nung sinagot mo si Alex. Platonic ang relasyon niyo dati. It's his fault na nagpa-tumpik-tumpik pa siya. Kung tutuusin nga, mas nauna pa si Alex magparamdam sayo. Unang kita niyo pa lang after almost a year, napansin mo na that he wants you. Kung hindi ka lang nagpakipot malamang naging kayo agad-agad.
When Matt stopped the car, he turned off the engine. He is looking straight ahead. Pat saw that they are on top of a hill. May white fence a few meters away from the front of the car. Sa baba makikita ang ilaw ng mga bahay. He then got off. Sumandal ito sa nakasaradong pintuan ng sasakyan. She on the other hand counted one to ten before getting out. Umikot siya to go to where he is. He has a pensive expression. Nakakunot ang noo nito. His arms are across his chest.
"Matt..."she began.
"How could you do this to me angel?" sumbat nito. "Akala ko magiging tayo. Why didn't you give me a chance? Hindi mo ba naramdaman dati pa that I care for you and you are special?"
Kitang-kita niya ang panghihinayang sa mga mata nito. Sana nung mga panahong hindi pa bumabalik si Alex sinabi na nito sa kanya ang nararamdaman. If ever naman na naging sila before Alex came back, kahit mahal niya ang huli, she will never break her relationship with Matt just to be with him. Kaya nga kahit madami ang nagkakagusto sa kanya hindi siya agad nagdecide na mag-bf. Gusto niya yung sure na siya. Ayaw niyang paiba-iba ng nobyo. Stick to one lang siya. Gusto niya na ma-realize yun ni Alex para mabawasan naman ang pagiging masyadong seloso nito.
"You should have told me earlier Matt." malungkot na sabi niya.
"If I did, may possibility ba naman na sasagutin mo ako?" his eyes seem to penetrate her inner feelings.
"Yes." walang kurap na sabi niya.
As much as she wanted to fight and deny it, it has always been Alex but she never expected na magiging sila. Yes, she dreamed and hoped that he'll love her too. Sabi nga nila, libre naman ang mangarap but they were thousands of miles apart. Ni hindi ito nagparamdam sa kanya ng mahigit isang taon. Si Matt ang naging pinaka-malapit na lalake sa kanya ng mga panahon na yun. There was even a time na she also wished na sana nalampasan nila ang friend zone.
Nagbaba ng tingin si Matt for a few seconds then tinignan siya ulit nito, "But I'm too late.." tila sabi nito sa sarili. "Am I really too late, angel?" he asked while his eyes look hopeful.
Tumalikod si Pat then walked near the fence to look down the lighted houses and streets. "Bakit kasi kailangang maging complicated lahat?" She felt Matt's presence behind her. "Why can't things stay the same? I miss you Matt. I miss what we used to have." she said sadly, more to herself than to him.
She felt his hand on her shoulder before he gently turned her to him then enveloped her in his arms. Alex is taller than him. Hanggang baba lang siya nito samantalang hanggang ilong siya ni Matt.
He kissed her forehead. "People change angel." bulong nito. "Maybe your feelings for me haven't changed but mine did. I'm afraid I can't go back to the old me. My love for you is no longer platonic."
Inilayo siya nito ng bahagya to look into her eyes. "If he hurts you, andito lang ako angel. Even if you don't feel the same for me okay lang. Mahal kita." sabi nito.
"Matt, you deserve to love and be loved too .I am not the woman for you so please huwag mong sabihin yan. Find someone else. Mahal ako ni Alex. Though we have conflicts, alam ko na mahal na mahal niya ako. I do love him too. Kaya kung pwede lang ,huwag mo na akong hintayin. Someone is out there for you.I may not be your girlfriend but I will always be your bestfriend. Hindi man tayo pwedeng palaging magkasama now, I am just a phone call away." she said sincerely.
He is looking at her face as if he memorizing her pretty features before he spoke again, “Hindi ba natin pwedeng gawan ng paraan para magkita tayo?"
"Ewan ko Matt." she tried to break the stare.
He loves Matt as a dear friend but she is in-love with Alex. Matt wants to still see her but Alex will be furious pag ginawa niya ang gusto nito. Ang hirap! Kaya niya kayang mag ninja moves?
Malcon: 'Te, actually I feel you. Hindi naman ganun kadaling itapon ang pinagsamahan niyo ni Matt. Kaso lang nga,sorry na lang, no dice. Paalala ko lang ha? Si Alex Llamarez ang dyowa mo. Saksakan ng sarap magmahal pero nuknukan ng seloso. Ninja moves? Well kung makakalusot ayos pag hindi eh di lagot!
"Kahit ilang weeks lang angel, please.Hindi ko pa kayang makalimutan ang nararamdaman ko sayo .It's too soon." his eyes are pleading.
Nagbaba ng tingin si Pat.S he bit her lower lip ."I don't think I can Matt. Sorry." mahinang tugon niya.
He gently held the back of her head then pulled her to him. Her right cheek is resting on his neck .For Pat yakap kaibigan lang talaga. Only Alex can arouse her sexually kahit sa simpleng tingin at yakap lang.
"Wala ba akong pwedeng gawin para hindi ka mawala sa akin angel? I am so stupid kasi pinatagal ko pa bago ako nagtapat sayo." he whispered as he rubs her back gently. His other hand is holding the back of her head.
OMG! Sobrang hirap naman nito. Nasasaktan din ako knowing that Matt is badly hurting. Hindi naman siguro kami mahuhuli kung makikipagkita ako sa kanya kahit isang beses lang sa isang linggo. She thought.
Malcon: Hala! Ano yan? Are you sure brochure? Naku 'te! Parang ayaw ko ng mag-comment! Di naman ako nagkulang sa pag-papaalala sayo. Bahala ka! Kasi kahit pagsabihan naman kita, yung gusto mo pa din ang gagawin mo. Ano ako? Paulit-ulit? Paulit-ulit? Paulit-ulit?
"Angel please huwag kang magagalit.May hihilingin sana ako sayo."
She moved a little away from him." Ano yun?"
" Pwede ba kitang halikan?" tanong nito. His handsome face has a doleful expression.
Napakurap si Pat. Anong gagawin niya?Will she say yes?
"H-Haa?" she asked.
"I have wanted to kiss you...matagal na."
Hindi na nakapagsalita ulit si Pat dahil bigla siyang hinalikan ni Matt. Gusto niyang pumalag but he held the back of her head firmly. After a few more struggles, she just let him kiss her. Matt's kiss is very gentle. Hinalik-halikan nito ang mga labi niya. Mas madiin ng konti sa butterfly kisses and Pat finds it pleasant. They kissed and kissed and kissed. Pat has to admit na habang lumalalim ang halik nila, nararamdaman niya na she is kind of liking it. She has her hands on his shoulders as the kiss deepen. It's so unlike Alex's passionate and wild one but it's still nice....
OMG! Bigla niyang naalala si Alex.
Buong lakas niyang tinulak si Matt."Mmmmppp!!"
Nagulat si Matt so he released her. Medyo humihingal silang pareho. They are staring at each other.
His face is unreadable but his eyes are sparkling.
“Hindi natin dapat ginawa yun. Iuwi mo na ako.” Malamig na sabi niya.
Pat felt guilty. She shouldn't let him kiss her, but she did. And what's worst is, sh sort of enjoyed it.