It as Always Been You: Chapter 9- Pretending

                James is driving, heading to Devon’s apartment. Devon is on a state of rationalizing things. “Devon, don’t misunderstand. He’s only being nice, you’ve been hurt right? It’s better to learn to forget your feelings for him. Kung hindi, hindi siya magiging masaya sa piling ng babaeng mahal niya. Totohanin mo nalang din yung relasyon niyo ni Ivan. Learn to love him, hindi naman siguro mahirap ‘yon. Mabait siya, maasikaso, maalaga, at lagi lang siyang nandyan sa tabi  mo. Erase James. Erase James. Erase James.”

James: Are you okay?

Devon: Yeah, may iniisip lang.

James: What about?

Devon: Me and Ivan.

James: What’s your decision anyway?

Devon: I’ll try to fix this. Hindi na ako magdududa sa kanya. Kailangan mahalin ko din siya gaya ng pagmamahal niya sa akin.

James: Why? Don’t you love him? (looked suspiciously at her)

Devon: I do, hindi nga lang ganon kalaki.

James: What?! Are you serious? (shock talaga si lolo sa naring)

Devon: Yeah, I admit, I love someone else, but unfortunately, he loves somebody else.

James: What?! Devon, you’re making me crazy?! Who’s that guy? (he parked the car, he wants to

clear things with her first) “What?! She loves someone else?! Darn it! May karibal pa pala ako besides Ivan. This can’t be.”

Devon: Of course you don’t have to know. Akin nalang ‘yon. Tara na. Ihatid mo na ‘ko.

James: NO. Hindi ka makaka-uwi until you tell me who is he.

Devon: What?! Edi maglalakad nalang ako.

                Lumabas si Devon ng kotse, sinundan siya ni James.

James: Hey, get in the car. Promise, hindi na kita kukulitin.

                Bumalik nga siya sa kotse at nagmaneho na ulit si James.

James: Devon, clue.

Devon: Okay, you know him very well. “Gago! Ikaw yun!”

James: What else? “Sino kaya ang gago’ng yun at na-in love si Devon sa kanya?”

Devon: Ay wala na. Only one clue.

James: What?! Ang daya mo naman!

Devon: Ako? Madaya?  Di nga? Eh ikaw nga dyan eh, hindi mo rin sinabi sa’kin sino yung mahal mo.

James: It’s different in my case. I could ruin a relationship if I tell all of you who she is.

Devon: Well, we’re just the same. I could ruin a relationship too if I told you who he is.

James: Really? Why? May girlfriend na siya? “Pwede ako nalang?, wala akong girlfriend, ikaw lang naman ang hinihintay ko eh.”

Devon: Nope. But he loves someone else. I’m sure he’ll court her any time soon.

James: I see. Do you really love that someone?

Devon: Yeah. “Yeah, I love you very very much!”

James: We’re here.  (parked the car outside her apartment)

Devon: Thank you James ha. I really appreciate your companionship. (smiled)

James: No problem. Take a rest, okay? If I were you, forget that other guy. “Para wala na akong ibang karibal.”

Devon: Yeah sure. I will really forget y-- him. (nag-bungisngis smile)“Shocks! Muntik na’ko dun ah!”

James: Good, sleep tight. (smiled)

Devon: Goodnight! (hugged James)

                Nabigla si James but he still managed to hug her back. Unang bumitiw si Devon. Lumabas na siya ng kotse. James drove off and went home. After hearing what Devon said, he doesn’t know what to feel. He didn’t expect to hear those words from her. “Sino kaya ang lalaking ‘yon? Buti naman at sabi niya na kakalimutan na niya ang lalaking ‘yon.”

                Devon still can’t sleep. Iniisip pa rin niya ang mga nangyari. “Ang dami’ng nangyari sa araw na’to. I should love Ivan. I love you James, if you only knew. But I should forget my feelings for you. Especially now that you love someone else. I don’t want to ruin what’s ahead for the both of you.”

                She closed her eyes and tried to sleep when her phone beeped. 1 message received.

Yen: Devs, I knew wat happened between u and Ivan. I hope you’ll giv him a chance. J

After the class, Ivan texted Devon.

Ivan: Devon, can we tok? L

Devon: Ok, let’s mit at d canteen.

                At the canteen, Devon saw Ivan sitting alone. She walked towards him and sat across him. Ivan held her hands.

Ivan: Thank you babe. I really thought you won’t talk to me now.

Devon: I just thought you owe me an explanation.

Ivan: Yes, I know. April and Shey set me up. It was her plan to kiss me in front of you. She said she still loves me but I don’t love her anymore. Ikaw na ang mahal ko ngayon Devon. Please believe me, I really didn’t mean to do it. (pleading eyes, sad face)

Devon: Okay, I forgive you. I want to save this relationship Ivan. I just hope you’ll be careful next time. I don’t want to get hurt too. Can you promise me that? (smiled timidly)

Ivan: Babe, I promise. I promise to take care of you, of our relationship. Thank you for hearing me out. I love you so much Devon. (smiled at her)

Devon: I love you too. (smiled back at him)

                Out of nowhere, nagsulputan ang mga kaibigan nila. Nagtago lang pala ang mga ito at narinig ang usapan nila.

Yen: Good thing you’re back in each other’s arms now. (smiled at them sweetly)

Fretzie: Yeah, I’m glad naayos niyo ito.

Devon: Thank you din guys. Hey babe, you should thank Yen, she convinced me to listen to you. (hinampas si Ivan, pero mahina lang) “Haay salamat, nasabi ko na rin sa wakas ang ‘babe’ “

Ivan: Salamat Yen huh, I really owe you a lot. (smiled) “Wow! Ngayon lang niya ako tinawag na ‘babe’! Yes!”

Yen: Of course, all for my friends. (smiled)

Ivan: Where’s James?

Devon: Yeah, where is he? “Ba’t naman hinanap mo pa ‘babe’?”

Bret: He needs to research on something important daw, so he can’t join us for lunch.

Devon: Oh, I see. “Okay na rin ‘yong hindi kita masyado makikita.”

Ivan: Okay, let’s have our lunch now.

                James needs to do some research for his term paper to be submitted on the Final Term. He texted Bret he couldn’t join them for lunch. He was reading a book when someone sat beside him.

Writer;s Mind: Hmmm..sino kaya'ng tumabi kay James sa library? Hay..kelan kaya malalaman ni James na siya ang other love ni Devon? :)