Nagising ako sa tunog ng alarm ko sa phone. I was about to snooze it when someone grabbed it on my hand.
"Elmo gising na. May flight pa tayo oh?" Were the words she said. Oo nga pala, I slept with her. Not the slept you guys are thinking. Literal na natulog lang talaga ako kasama siya.
"Payb minits paaa." I pleaded. Julie chuckled at my actions then began to pull me out of the bed.
"Gising naaa sleepy head. Di tayo pwedeng ma-late sa flight natin."
Yep, kagabi lang namin nafigure out sa paguusap namin na same flight kami. Galing 'no? It's like the universe is on our side. I know it kind of sounds gay but whatever. No gay stuff for someone who's in love.
After preppin, and fixing all of my stuff, nagpunta na ako sa harap ng pinto ni Julie to call her. May van dapat na susundo sa akin but I wanted this moment to be exclusive for us so I talked to the person in charge of my tour and cancelled the booking.
We went out of the hotel and booked a ride going to the airport. Hindi kami masyadong naguusap and usually yes and no questions lang naitatanong namin during the ride. Wala namang problema sa akin. Hawak ko naman yung kamay niya so panatag ako sa katahimikang pinagsasaluhan namin.
When we finally reached the airport, agad kaming pumasok and went straight to our plane dahil malapit na rin yung time of departure namin. Of course we did the necessary airport things before boarding.
When finally we are inside the plane, we sat next to each other. Actually hindi kami dapat tabi but I talked the person beside her and asked if we could exchange our seats and she gladly agreed on my proposal, which made Julie smirk.
"Iba talaga yung dating ng isang Elmo."
"Ako pa ba? Hahamakin ang lahat, makapiling ka lamang." I said and winked at her which made her laugh.
"Loka ka." She just said and intertwined our hands. The whole ride was of complete silence, feeling each other's presence and thinking of what's going to happen next.
For the next few minutes, we'll be landing. I haven't even got her number yet, nor her full name. I do not know where she lives, not even her workplace.
Tatanungin ko na sana siya when the pilot announced that we're about to land at kailangan na naming magprepare. Mamaya na lang sa baba.
We got our things and quickly went out of the plane the sooner we're allowed to leave. Parang nagmamadali rin ata si Julie since nauuna siya sa akin. She didn't even let me carry one of her bags.
"Heyy...Julie wait!" I called her. Lumalayo na kasi siya sa akin. She didn't stop so I ran towards her.
"Hey...what's the matter. Nagmamadali ka ba? We can just both go to wherever you are headed."
"Elmo...listen I have to leave and we have to end this."
"What?!"
"It was nice meeting you. That one whole day I spent with you will be treasured." She said.
"Wait...di kita maintindihan."
"Please just...let me go."
"I can't let you go without you explaining what's going on." I am already trembling. Hindi ko na ata kayang marinig pa yung mga susunod na sasabihin niya.
Few minutes before our landing, we were fine. We even held each other's hand. Bakit? Bakit niya sinasabi lahat 'to ngayon?
"Elmo please. Spur of the moment lang 'to. You know it."
"No. This isn't just some spur of the moment Julie. Believe me you are special to me now kahit one day pa lang kitang kilala."
"Yun nga Elmo ee. One day pa lang. You know nothing about me."
"That's why I am not letting you go...because I want to know more about you Julie."
"Elmo please. Wag mo na akong pahirapan at huwag mo na ring pahirapan ang sarili mo. This thing is not for us Elmo." She's now crying. I am now also crying.
Bawat salita na binibitawan niya ay parang mga kutsilyong sumasaksak sa puso ko. I was never like this for a girl, especially for someone whom I met for just a day pero fuck!!!! Ito na ba yung ganti mo sa akin Lord? Sa lahat ng maling desisyon ko sa buhay? Sa lahat ng mga babaeng iniwan ko? Ha? Ganito ba yung gusto mong iparamdam sa akin?
Julie grabbed both of my hands and squeezed those tightly as if it's her last moment of feeling those. That made me cry even more. I do not want to lose this girl. Just when I thought I had found someone who would totally understand me sa lahat ng mga pinagdaan ko sa buhay, just when I thought I had found someone who will accept me and all my flaws and mistakes, tsaka pa ako iiwan?
"Bibilang ako ng tatlo Elmo. Tatalikod ako sa'yo...at tatalikod ka rin sa akin...hu-huwag kang...huwag kang magdada-ha-ya ha?" Hindi ko kayang marinig si Julie na umiiyak.
Hindi ko dapat siya susundin but my body didn't cooperate. Nang tumalikod siya, tumalikod rin ako.
"Isa..." I could feel how she keeps her voice as neutral as possible, not breaking any minute. Naramdaman ko rin siyang humakbang ng isa kaya humakbang din ako.
"Dalawa..." She's almost breaking. God I want to run towards her and hug her and never let her go but my body isn't fucking cooperating. Umiiyak akong humakbang ulit palayo sa kanya but keeping it silent dahil ayaw kong iparamdam sa kanya na mabigat ito para sa akin. If this is what she wants, fine.
I waited for about 5 minutes pero di ko na narinig yung boses niya so I continued her counting. I was too cautious not to break my voice.
"Tatlo..." And heaved a deep breath. Lumingon ako sa gawi niya pero wala na siya. In just two days, I found the person whom I wanted to be with forever, and lost her.
