All I Want (Capture Series 1)

Fifteen

"Oli! Oli, wait!"

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa makarating ako sa parking lot. Doon ko lang narealize na sa kotse nga pala ni Alli ako sumabay. Umupo ako sa may gutter at doon tumulala. Alli squatted in front of me. Walang nagsalita sa amin nang ilang minuto.

"Hindi pa naman ako sigurado." she said carefully.

"If this is a joke, I swear it is not funny." I told her.

Napayuko lang siya at hindi sumagot. I closed my eyes tightly. I inhaled deeply.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sa akin sinabi? Kailan mo pa binalak 'to?" I asked.

"Last month." she bit her lip.

Napatayo ako sa sagot niya. I glared at her.

"Last month? Alli, am I a joke to you? Wala lang ba ako sa'yo?" my tears started to form.

She stood up then held both of my arms.

"No! You know that's not true!" tanggi niya.

"E bakit ngayon mo lang sa akin sinabi? Kung hindi pa nagsalita si Kuya Collins, hindi ko malalaman." I backed a little para bitiwan niya ako. She did.

"Like I said, hindi pa ako sigurado kung sasama ako kay Mommy. I can't just leave you here."

Napahinto ako sa sinabi niya. "Mommy? Tita Marielle? Wait. She wants to go out of the country?"

She smiled at me then nodded. I can see how her tears were forming. Lahat ng galit na nararamdaman ko ay parang bulang naglaho dahil sa sinabi niya. I immediately hugged her. She chuckled and at the same time I can hear her cry.

"Oh my gosh." I whispered then looked at her face. "H-How? Wait, it doesn't matter. Oh my gosh. You... That means..."

"I can finally pursue my dream, Oli." she cried.

I hugged her again. Magkahalong lungkot at tuwa ang nararamdaman ko pero mas lamang sa akin ang tuwa. I know all her struggles, her pain, all of it, and to hear this news from her, parang ako na rin mismo ang nasa kalagayan niya.

"Go ahead, Alli. Leave the country." I told her. Bumitaw siya sa yakap.

"It is not that easy. Hindi kita pwede--"

"Yes, you can. I'll be okay here." I assured her kahit na ako mismo ay hindi sigurado kung magiging ayos lang ba ako kapag umalis siya.

She shook her head. I held both of her cheeks to make her look at me.

"You said yourself na kahit magkalayo man tayo, kahit nasaan ang isa, kahit anong oras pa 'yan, we'll still be there for each other." I reminded her.

"I know I said that but you know how our friendship works. How can I protect you from those who want to hurt you kung malayo ako sa'yo?"

"All those years na kasama kita, don't you think na wala akong natutunan sa'yo na lesson? I think I can protect myself now." I told her even, again, hindi ako sigurado sa sinasabi ko. "Let me protect you now. I will protect you and your dreams, I will not let that crash just because of me or anyone."

She cried harder then hugged me tight. Niyakap ko rin siya nang mahigpit. I am so afraid to let her go because this might be the last time. All of the memories we shared ran through my mind. From our first meet, to becoming best of friends, until this moment.

"When and where?" I asked.

She sighed. "Next week, Saturday, Luxembourg."

Mas lalo ko siyang niyakap. Next week? 11 days? I only have 11 days to be with her!