The Oleander Woman [Free Space Series #1]

EPILOGUE

"Kaori! Crush ka raw ni Adi!"

I was still a kid when I first encountered the feeling of disgust. Do you know the feeling when you want to vomit? 'Cause you feel like your stomach is being punched by someone?

"Nag truth or dare kami kanina! I asked him who his crush was, and then he said that it was you! Grabe, kinikilig ako. Ang pogi pogi kaya nun!"

Pinandidirihan ko siyang tinignan para ipakitang hindi ako natutuwa. "I'm not interested."

"Sus! Sinasabi mo lang 'yan! Sabi niya nga sa'kin, may plano raw siyang ligawan ka! Ayieee! Magkakaboyfriend na si-"

Before she could finish her sentence, I threw my book in her face.

"Aray ko naman! Para sa'n yun?!"

"Para manahimik ka na."

Boyfriend? Fuck you. Kahit na isang beses sa buhay ko, hindi ko nakita ang sarili kong papasok sa isang relasyon na lalaki ang kasama.

The reason? I don't really know. I hate men a lot. Sobrang baba ng tingin ko sa kanila. Probably because of my daddy issues? Wala kasi akong tatay na kasama habang lumalaki ako. Mag-isa nga lang ako sa bahay dahil palagi ring nasa trabaho si Mama. Stay-in siya ro'n kaya ako lang talaga ang mag-isang namumuhay sa bahay namin.

"A-Ah.. Kaori oh, pumitas ako ng mga bulaklak. Naisip kasi kita kanina habang naglalakad ako. Kasing ganda mo sila."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko.

Then there's this familiar feeling again building up inside of my stomach. As I look at his face, as I look at the flower he was holding, and as I hear the words he is saying, I can feel nothing but pure disgust and annoyance. 

Tinabig ko palayo ang bulaklak na hawak niya bago siya talikuran.

"Kaori! Bakit mo naman ginawa yun?!" Si Catrina na hinabol kaagad ako.

Mas lalo lang akong nainis sa pagsulpot niya. Don't tell me all this time, nandoon siya? Pinapanood lang ako?!

"Are you the one who put idea into his head to give me a flower?"

"H-Ha? Oh e ano naman ngayon? Tsaka, gusto lang namang manligaw nung tao, Kaori. Sana tinanggap mo nalang yung bulaklak. Napahiya pa tuloy siya-"

"Then go, comfort him. Naaawa ka pala? Edi Ikaw ang magpaligaw." I said harshly.

Is she even thinking? We're just elementary! Paanong crush crush na agad ang pokus at mga nasa isip nila?

"Bakit ba galit na galit ka? Pati ako, pinag-iinitan mo ng ulo!"

"Just.. just go away, will you?"

I always knew that there was something wrong with my sexuality 'cause I hate men—as in a LOT. And I think Tamg is my bi-awakening. The daughter of my mother's boss. 

I don't know.. she got the eyes.. these unique siren and hypnotizing eyes. She's beautiful—really breathtaking. Siya ang pinaka magandang babaeng nakita ko rito sa mundo. Whenever she's near me, I can feel myself panicking and being so damn nervous. Pero hindi ko ito ipinapahalata dahil galit ako sa kaniya.

I hate her attitude. She's annoying. Imagine? She has a lot of issues inside and outside the school. S'yempre bounce na agad ako. Yung mga katulad niyang tao, sisirain lang ang tahimik kong buhay.

I hate her so much that I never imagine myself entering a relationship with her.

But as the days went by, we ended up admitting our feelings for each other. It's confusing and surprising. I thought she was straight. Pero bakit.. bakit biglang crush niya rin pala ako? Bakit biglang naging kami?! Bahala na! Ang mahalaga, mahal namin ang isat-isa.