I'm Here Again

Chapter 29

'Yung last chorus.. it hits.. right in the kokoro 😢 

Para sa mga taong nagmamahal ng tapat sa taong may ibang mahal.. 💔

- Bun

------------------------------x

A face suddenly blocked my view. "Pa-es! Sorry fo -- who the fυck made you cry?"

I had to blink a couple of times to focus on him. "Cry?" My hands touched my cheeks and they are wet! "I-I.."

"Who?" Abriel almost growled that made me snap my head back to him. 

"Kalma lang, Abri.. Walang nagpaiyak sa'kin."

His frown deepened. "Hindi ka iiyak ng ganyan habang nakatulala sa kawalan kung walang nagpa-iyak sa'yo."

"H-Hindi ba pwedeng napuwing lang ako?"

"With the expression that you had? No. Hindi mo ito malulusutan with that simple 'napuwing lang ako' line."

"Its..." Dang. What do I say?

"What?"

I bit my lip before looking away, peeking if she was still there. She's not. She's gone. My lips could still feel how that familiar stranger name rolled off my tongue.

"May... nakita ako.. na parang pamilyar sa'kin.. pero hindi ko maalala kung sino siya.. but my body reacted involuntarily and I.."

Abriel's face softened then reached out to touched my cheek. "You cried.. your feelings were that strong at what you saw huh?"

I nodded as a respond. "Maybe.. but I still don't remember anything, you know? Unconsciously siguro, yes, given that I cried without any reason."

He stopped caressing my face but still holds it. "Ano ba ang nakita mo?"

"A... couple of children playing. Siguro ganun ako noon? May kalaro? Tapos parang.. may nag-flashback sa isip ko.." Abriel's eyes studied me more but I had to change the subject. "Gutom na ko.."

The corner of his lips twitched. "Leave it to her to prioritize food more than her own memories." He shook his head before holding up the food he's carrying with the other hand. "I didn't get us drinks yet. Hindi ako nakakita ng palamig na gusto mo eh."

I couldn't help but smile. "Kapag ikaw talaga nagka-jowa, swerte niya sa'yo. Alagang-alaga mo, to the point that you'd be spoiling her." I snorted. "Okay lang, tubig na lang tayo. Bili tayo dun kay manong."

Maybe because of my height that Jace had been doing it, but Abriel did it as well. He patted me and messed my hair a bit as we headed to manong. "I would love to.. but I know I won't be able to."

"Bakit naman?"

A small, sad smile plastered on his lips. "I already accepted the fact that she's happy with someone else, that someone already has a hold of her heart."

Since I stepped a bit ahead of him, I turned around in time to catch him looking at me with such expression. "Abri.."

He walked towards me then softly bumped his head on mine, and stayed there. "Tanggap ko nang hindi ka magiging akin, Pa-es. Tanggap ko nang hanggang dito na lang ang pwede kong gawin para sa'yo -- mahalin at alagaan ka nang walang hinihinging kapalit, walang inaantay na pagbabalik."

As I looked up, I saw how his eyes are closed, yet, the pain is written all over his face. Even his shoulders are slack down, as if he gave up and finally letting it out.