Girlfriend Perfect

30

"3... 2.... 1... Happy New Year!" We cheerfully exclaimed.

Sinindihan ni Daddy at Tito Michael ang mga fireworks habang sinindihan naman ni Tito Kalvin ang mga pasirit namin. Sila Mom naman ay hinihipan ang turotot nila ng dire-diretso upang mag ingay ngayong bagong taon.

We decided to rent a beach house para dito magcelebrate ng new year at para makapag-relax sila Dad at ang mga tito sa kanilang mga trabaho . Kasama rin naming nag celebrate ng bagong taon si Fourth at si Jenna. At dahil bagong taon ngayon, tradisyon na naming magdala ng mga bagay na nagdadala ng memories na gusto namin ilet go o kalimutan. 

Ng maubos na ang mga paputok namin ay sinindihan na ni Tito Kalvin ang bonfire habang kami naman ay kinuha ang mga bagay na gusto naming susunugin. Umupo kami papalibot sa bonfire at nagkwentuhan ng konti. It's like a retreat for us, it is our way of starting anew every new year. This tradition is like therapy for us in able to not live in our past, regrets, or anything that is stopping us from moving forward.

After we burned our things some of us went to their rooms to rest, mostly the elder ones. Kuya Sam and I strolled beside the beach. As we walked through the sand we saw a man sitting on a log which turned out to be Kuya Shawn. He was looking at a guitar pick,  perhaps it's the thing he was about to throw into the bonfire. We decided to walk closer to him and sit beside him when we saw the moon's reflection on his falling teardrops. I walked faster and hugged him tightly. 

"Hey," I said and cooed him.

"I didn't know it would hurt this much.." Kuya Shawn said softly.

Kuya Sam just sat beside him and listened. Kuya Shawn cried silently yet painfully while holding onto me so tightly.

When his tears stopped flowing down he wiped his eyes and started talking.

"She's going to be married by the end of the month," He said.

At first, I was confused kung sino yung tinutukoy niya but then I remembered a woman who he introduced to us numerous times, kaya hindi siya nagkakagirlfriend, kahit sinasabi niyang hanapin namin siya, hindi niya pa rin tatanggapin dahil may hinihintay siya. At ngayong wala na siyang hihintayin, he is really heartbroken; I mean, sino ba namang hindi?

"Wala akong alam. Wala akong alam na meron na pala, sana pinasabi niya nalang ng hindi ako naghihintay ng ganito." Mapait na bigkas nito. 

"Let me guess, you're invited." Kuya Sam said.

"B...I...N...GO" He said then heaved a breath. 

"Aba'y napamapanakit niya naman..." Sabi ko.

"She doesn't know." Kuya Sam said.

Binatukan ko si Kuya Shawn. 

"Stupeeeeed!" I said. 

"In my defense, mahirap naman kasi yung sitwasyon namin. I never got the chance to tell her how I feel." Sabi ni Kuya Shawn.

"Sayang, akala ko nga may gusto si Ate Siena sayo," Sabi ko at biglang napatakip ng bibig. OoOops!

"She who must not be named." Kuya Sam said. 

"Sorry," I said. 

"Her name's no taboo, it's not like one mention of her name will break me." Kuya Shawn said. 

"Aattend ka ba?" Tanong ko. 

"Oo," Sagot nito dahilan para mapasapo ako sa noo.

"Martyrdom at its finest," I said and rolled my eyes. 

"I just want to see her happiest smile one last time before I decide to move forward," Kuya Shawn said.

"What if it's not her happiest smile?" I asked.