Daisy His Remedy 2 "Hope"

“Daisy.” 

I can’t help but smile, nang marinig ang boses ni Sir Onse, but instead of turning around to meet his gaze, I looked down at his hand resting on my arm. His touch was gentle, but my heart raced at the contact. Slowly, I pulled my arm away, as if the warmth between our skins was too much to bear. Saka ako naglakas loob na salubungin ang titig niya.

Muli siyang humakbang palapit sa akin at inabot ang payong. "Why did you follow me, sir?" I asked softly, keeping my voice calm despite the chaotic beat of my heart. His brown eyes stared back at me, filled with questions, but I couldn't afford to let myself drown in them. 

Katulad ko, paminsan-minsan niya rin na tinitingnan si Vincent sa loob ng kotse. 

With a light push, I nudged him backward, creating space between us. A space that felt wider than the years of waiting for him to like me. I glanced toward the entrance of the building, hoping he'd understand where he needed to be.

"Go back to your condo," I said, wearing a fake smile. A smile that hid so much. "Hindi mo na po dapat ako sinundan, sir. Baka magalit pa lalo si Ms. Althea.” 

Hindi siya sumagot. Para siyang tuod na nakatayo sa harap ko bibit ang payong na in-offer niya sa akin, pero hindi ko tinanggap. “Sige na, bumalik ka na.” Taboy ko pa sa kanya. “Baka kung magtagal ka pa rito, lalala lang ang away niyo." The concern in my voice was genuine. I worried for him, for them, but my heart... my heart was heavy with its own silent suffering. It barely beat anymore, numb from the pain I had buried deep inside.

I watched as his lips parted, as if he wanted to talk. Pero hindi alam kung ano ang sasabihin. For that, nadagdagan ang sakit, hindi lang sa puso ko, pati na rin ng ulo ko na parang mabibiyak na. Ano ba ang gusto niyang sabihin? Ano ang gusto niyang gawin? Bakit parang hirap na hirap siya?”

“Ihahatid na kita—”

Napangiti ako. “Hindi na po kailangan, sir.” Nilingon ko si Vincent.

Without hesitation, Vincent stepped out of the car, patakbo na lumapit sa akin at pinayungan ako. I hadn’t noticed how drenched I was until he sheltered me from the rain. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close and offering warmth and protection. It was a simple gesture, but I could feel the shift in the air.

Humigpit ang paghawak ni Sir Onse sa payong na dala niya. I saw the tension ripple through him—his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed slightly as he focused on Vincent's hand on my waist. 

I knew what he was thinking. Binabastos ako ni Vincent sa ginagawa nito. 

Oo, sa ilang buwan na lagi kaming magkasama, ramdam ko naman na concern din siya sa akin. Best friend ko nga kasi ang kapatid niya, kaya parang kapatid na rin ang tingin niya sa akin. For him, I’m just the annoying girl who had shamelessly flaunted my feelings for him for years, always hopeful, always waiting. 

"Sino siya?" Sir Onse’s voice was calm, but there was a tension that I hadn’t heard before.

Vincent didn’t flinch. "Manliligaw po ako ni Daisy," he replied, his tone steady and confident. "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her, sir. You don’t have to concern yourself with her safety." His words hung in the air, laced with a possessiveness that sent a ripple of unease through me. 

It wasn’t the first time I had seen Vincent act like this—protective, assertive—but right now, it felt different. Parang ginagalit niya si Sir Onse.

I could feel Sir Onse’s eyes on me, burning with intensity. Noon, he had always seen me as the annoying girl na nagpapa-cute sa kanya sa tuwing nakikita siya, the one who made things complicated by liking him. He never looked at me the way he was looking now—angry. Yes, galit siya, but also confused.

"Sir Onse, okay lang po ako. Hindi mo na kailangan mag-alala," I said softly. "'‘Wag mo na alalahanin ang nangyari kanina, naiintindihan ko po.” Imbes na sumagot tumiim ang panga niya.

"Sir Onse, ako na po ang bahala kay, Daisy," Vincent said firmly, his arm tightening around my waist. "I can take care of her," dagdag nito, pero ang tingin ay nasa akin.

My stomach churned at the implication of Vincent’s words, but I couldn’t move. I stayed rooted where I was, torn between the two men who, in different ways, meant something to me.

Onse stepped forward, his frustration clearly bubbling to the surface now. "Daisy, come with me. If you want to go home, ako ang maghahatid sa’yo. Not him." He stopped himself, his jaw tightening. Siguro, pati siya ay naguguluhan sa ginagawa niya.

Ako rin kasi gulong-gulo. What was he trying to do? Protect me from Vincent? Or was this just his pride talking? Nasanay kasi siya na isang salita niya lang, susunod agad ako. Parang tanga lang! 

I could feel my heart clenching painfully as I looked between them. "Please, Sir Onse..." I sighed, stepping back slightly from Vincent’s protective hold. "Go back to Ms. Althea. Relasyon n’yo po ang ayusin mo. Siya dapat ang kinakausap mo, hindi ako."

Nanliit ang mga mata niya, and I could see the internal struggle within him. Hindi yata siya makapaniwala na tinutulak ko siya papunta kay Ms. Althea.

Hindi ko kasi maintindihan ang sarili ko. Dahil yata sa sakit, sumuko na lang ng kusa. 

For years, I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, he’d see me differently. Maybe he’d realize that the girl who always stood by his side was the one he needed. But life had other plans, and I had learned that sometimes love wasn’t enough to change a person’s heart.

"Daisy, gabi na. Baka," he began, but I cut him off, shaking my head.

"Sir Onse naman ‘e! Ayaw ko po ng gulo. Alam mo naman kung gaano siya kagalit. Kaya ‘wag na matigas ang ulo. Ayaw kong mag-isip pa siya ng masama, please. Ang sakit na ng sinabi niya kanina, ‘ayaw ko nang madagdagan pa 'yon," I said, my voice cracking slightly despite my best efforts to stay strong. "Ms. Althea is waiting for you. And I’m..." I glanced at Vincent, who was watching me carefully, his hand still resting on my waist. "Kasama ko naman si Vincent."

The silence that followed was heavy; the rain was the only sound filling the space between us. Sir Onse looked like he wanted to say more—to protest, but he held back. And in that moment, I saw the truth reflected in his eyes—he didn’t know what to do. 

Without another word, Sir Onse turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the rain-soaked night. I watched him go, my chest aching in ways I couldn’t even begin to describe. It wasn’t just the loss of him—it was the loss of the dream I had held onto for so long.

Vincent gently squeezed my waist, offering me silent comfort. "Let’s go, Daisy," he said softly, leading me to the car.