My Neighbors kabanata 11-6

“Si Liza… p-parang kapatid na namin ni Kuya Dante.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Besides the ring, what do you want from her?”

Nasaktan agad siya. Parang sa tono ng pagsasalita ni Divie ay may iniisip itong hindi maganda tungkol sa intensiyon niya kay Liza. Pero naunawaan niya rin agad ito.

“I am in love with her,” aniya.

“Gano’n ba kadali ‘yon? In less than a month’s time… pagkatapos mong manligaw sa akin, sa kanya ka naman na-in-love? It doesn’t matter to me personally kung gano’n ka nga. Mas okey sa akin ‘yon. P-pero… ang sangkot kasi e si Liza.”

“Iniisip mo sigurong para akong hunyango na kaydaling magpalit ng kulay. A chameleon who can change colors so easily. ”

“I hate chameleons, Sammy.”

“But you yourself is in love with one. Nang iwan si Rado Vargas ng kanyang ka-live-in, wala pang dalawang buwan ay nagpalit na rin siya ng kulay.”

Hindi agad nakasagot si Divie.

“I don’t hate chameleons, Divie. People are all chameleons sometimes. They adapt to their surroundings for survival. We all change colors sometimes. And when we lose love, we change our heart and try to love again. Divina, ang hunyangong ito’y nagpalit ng kulay sapagkat gusto niyang mag-survive… muling makapag-tangka… at magwagi! Nobody loves a permanent loser! If the color of winning and survival is red, then that’s the color I’m gonna wear. Tulad din ni Rado… o ng kapatid mong si Dante.”

“Sammy, I j-just wanna be sure that —”

“I love her. I love Liza so much and I wanna love her for the rest of my life. Ano ba ang gusto mo — patuloy akong maging bitter sa pagkabigo ko sa ‘yo? No way. Can’t stay a loser for a minute!”

“All right,” pabuntunghiningang sabi ni Divina. “I now believe you. Thank you so much. I love her too. I don’t want Liza to get hurt again. That’s all that matters to me, Sam.”

“Yes, I know. Please don’t worry anymore. Goodnight.”

“Yes, Sammy, goodnight.”