Para kay Isla,

Collision

2013, December

Isang buwan mahigit na panliligaw. Hindi na tayo masyadong nag-uusap noong mga panahon na iyon. For me, it was painful having you, my best friend, be taken away from me so sudden but seeing you happy together sometimes helped ease the pain. But naa-appreciate ko rin naman iyong piling pagkakataon na hihiwalay ka kay Cedric pansamantala, at lalapit sa akin para kumustahin ako. Kahit hindi pa tumatagal nang sampung minuto iyong mga pag-uusap natin, they were all meaningful.

Mabuti na lang at naipukaw ko ang atensyon at energy ko para sa year-end Immersion project namin. We were grouped separately. Your project, I think, was focused on tuberculosis and malaria awareness and treatment management. To divert my focus further, I decided to lead our team project as well which (if I could recall it correctly) was about conducting smoking cessation and teenage pregnancy awareness programs. You were responsible enough not to let your relationship interfere with our student responsibilities naman and Cedric had been very supportive. Through that, I was able to learn that he is a good man.

May mga araw nga na nahihirapan akong magalit sa kanya, sa inyong dalawa, kahit pakiramdam kong naiwan ako sa ere. Kasi hindi ko maitatanggi that your relationship made both of you even better people, and aspiring for even greater dreams.

Slowly but surely, I learned how to be happy myself. I learned how to be happy for you and Cedric.

A week before the deadline of our project presentation, nakausap ko iyong pinuno ng fisher folks association ng siyudad habang naglalakad sa labas ng Volunteers Hut. Gabi na iyon at nakasalubong ko lang si Manong Arwin. Nagkumustahan kami at nabaling ang aming pag-uusap sa namataan niya kagabi habang namamalaot. Tila'y pagbubunggo raw ng dalawang bituin. "Nakakatuwa, Jann. Napansin ko lang dahil biglang nagliwanag ang dagat at aking bangka. Dalawang bituin iyon, nagbangga, tapos naging isang malaking pulang bituin na nagniningning." Nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Talaga po ba?" aniya ko.

"Oo. Aba, napakagandang pangitain,"

"Sana po pala sumasama po kami ng mga kaklase ko sa inyo tuwing namamalaot kayo," Dagdag ko.

"Ay, sige. Huwag ka mag-alala. Sasabihan ko kayo sa susunod para maisama ko kayo."

At dahil lumalalim na rin ang gabi, nagpaalam na ako kay Manong.

Habang naglalakad ako pauwi sa ating foster house, nakita ko kayo ni Cedric at mukhang inihahatid ka niya pauwi.

I thought of coming over to you para may makasama rin ako sa paglalakad but I hesitated. I figured, katatapos lang din siguro ng project niyo and you wanted the time you had at that moment solely for Cedric.

So, I followed you na lang. You and Cedric were holding hands, giggling, and looking at the night sky. Majority of the time I noticed, tahimik lang kayo. Pero nakangiti, at nagti-tinginan.

When you reached our foster house, tumigil kayo sa paglalakad. I hid behind the light post on a corner. At first, I decided to wait until I could see Cedric walking away bago ako tumingin sayo. But curiosity killed the cat so I stole a glance.

I saw Cedric caressing your cheek with his hand and you were smiling at him. Slowly, lumapit siya sayo, you closed your eyes and...

You locked lips.

Sobrang bilis ng heart beat ko at that time. Parang ako iyong tila nakakaranas ng first time.

I saw Cedric kissed you, Isla. I knew it was your first kiss because you flinched. Your hands were frozen and when he moved away from you, your eyes. Your beautiful brown eyes opened wide in shock and nervousness.

You didn't expect it, Isla.  

And I learned, through your first kiss and the smile on your face after it, that the most unexpected moments in life make a person's fondest memories.