Chapter 17

Adorable

“It’s not really what I mean, Brii. Nasabi ko lang ’yon dahil—”

“Oh, come on Dave. I told you. Okay lang ’yon sa akin at wala ’yon sa akin.”

“Nasa ugali mo pa rin ’yang okay na okay ka pero ang totoo—”

“Ano ba naman, Dave. You know me, right? Hindi ako madramang tao, hindi ako maemosyonal at hindi ako mapagdamdam.”

“Yeah, you’re not. Because you might good from hiding your real emotions . . . Ever since you’re still the most beautiful liar that I’ve ever known.”

Tumawa ako nang bahagya rito. “Bakit, hawak mo ba ang nararamdaman ko at nasasabi mo ’yan ngayon?”

“Nararamdaman ko lang.”

“Walang patutunguhan ’tong usapan na ’to, Dave. Sige na at magpapahinga na ako.”

“Okay, good night.”

“Bye!” I said and I ended the call.

Maybe you are right, Dave. Magaling lang siguro akong magtago ng totoong nararamdaman ko kaya pati sarili ko ay nalilinlang ko. But, surely, hindi mo ako makikitaan ng kahinaan sa harap mo and I will never show you my other side. Never!

*****

“Good m