That Thing Called Heartbreak

E P I L O G U E

Gaano ba kasarap magmahal?

Sabi nila, kapag nagmahal ka raw, kaya mong gawin lahat. Sisirko ang puso mo sa tuwing kasama mo yung taong mahal mo. Konting ngiti nya lang sayo, mawawala na lahat ng pagod mo. Pag nagmahal ka raw, pakiramdam mo ikaw si batman o si darna. Malakas ka.

Kapag dumating sayo ang pag-ibig, swerte ka. Dahil maraming tao sa mundo ang gustong makaranas ng pagmamahal. At hindi lahat ng tao nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na iyon. Some travel the world just to find that one magical feeling. Others end up alone and broken. Kung isa ka sa makatagpo ng pag-ibig na totoo at wagas, daig mo pa lahat ng bilyonaryo o pinakamaganda o gwapo.

Because love is eternal. Love is forever. It is never ending, always powerful.

Pero kasi, lahat ng tao, they see love as that. Madalas maraming nasasaktan kasi tumataya sila agad. Makaramdam lang sila maniniwala na agad. Pain never crossed their heads, kaya kapag nasaktan sila, sobrang sakit.

Hindi ka makatulog. Hindi ka makakain. Hindi ka matigil sa pag-iyak. You'll feel like a worthless creature and sometimes you'll be blaming the world.

Love isn't just about rainbows and butterflies. Love is about struggle, adventure. Ang pag-ibig, pinaghihirapan. Hindi lang basta, pag-ibig na. Ang pag-ibig, minsan nadadaya.

**

Six years.

Six years na ang nakalipas at babalik na ako sa bayang pinagmulan ko.

I never thought that I'd be who I am today. From that funny, naive and crazy girl to a successful, independent woman. Now I am currently working in Canada, sa isang sikat na company.

"Diyos ko, ikaw na ba iyan Estella?!" Halata ang pagkaexcite sa boses ni Tita Freda. Tumango ako. Dali-dali nya akong niyakap at nabitawan ko ang maleta ko dahil doon. Napangiti ako at niyakap ko rin sya. Namiss ko si Tita Freda. Habang magkayakap kami ay may lalaking lumabas mula sa kusina. May dala itong sandwich at kape, nagulat ito ng makita ako.

"Estella?!"

"Hello po Tito Samuel!" Bati ko. Niyakap ako ni Tito Samuel.

Finally, hindi na kailangang magtrabaho ni Tito sa ibang bansa. Stable na sila dahil nakapagtapos na rin pala sila Amelia at Anastasia. Amelia is currently working in Britain habang si Anastasia ay nandito sa Pilipinas. Balita ko pa ay ikakasal na sya sa susunod na taon.

A/N: from here 3rd Person's POV.

"Estella?!" Naputol ang kwentuhan nila nila Tita Freda at Tito Samuel nya sa boses na iyon. Pagharap nya, sinalubong sya ng mainit na yakap at mga halik sa pisngi ng pinsan na si Anastasia.

"I missed you! Walangya ka! Hindi ka nagpasundo!" At tumatawa pa ang pinsan nya. Sinadya nyang wag magpasundo para surprise.

Four years ago, ay naging exchange student sya sa London. Sa kahusayan nya, the school in London offered her a scholarship just if she still wanna study there. And she did accept it.

She studied so hard to forget. Masyado syang nasaktan sa nakaraan. Oo nga't bata pa sya noon pero hindi birong sakit ang naiwan sa kanya. She was so broken back then. Pinaglaruan ang puso nyang noon lang nagmahal ng totoo.

THE next day, she woke up and decided to go in a restaurant, alone. Wala lang, gusto nya lang mag-enjoy. Kahapon kasi ay lumabas na rin sila nila Tita nya at ng pinsan. Nagshopping sila, na sagot nya rin naman. Ngunit okay lang iyon, kulang pa iyon sa lahat ng tulong ng pamilya ng mga pinsan nya.

While she was enjoying the view outside the restaurant, may napansin sya sa kanyang peripheral vision. Paglingon nya, hindi nga sya nagkamali. There's a man standing in front of her.

Pagtingin nya sa mukha nito, she became surprised.

"Estella."

"Hermes."

Hindi sya mapakaniwalang makikita nya si Hermes. Was it fate? Or destiny? Or whatever you may call it.

"May I have a seat?" Magalang na tanong nito. She said yes.

Ang ineexpect nya four years before, kapag nagkrus ang landas nila ay magtatago sya. Which is very far from what is happening right now.

"Kumusta ka na?" Tanong nito sa kanya. She examined his face. He's still handsome. Actually, mas gumwapo ito at lumaki ang katawan. His hair's now blonde, na bagay naman sa lalaki. Oh those eyes that made her weak. Those eyes are still lovely as before.

"I'm fine. You?" Magalang nyang tugon. Right. She is a matured woman.

"I'm incomplete." Malungkot na sabi ng binata. Tumingin si Estella sa mga mata nito at nakita nya ang lungkot.

"Estella. Ilang taon kitang hinanap. Nagsisisi ako sa nagawa ko. Sorry."

Mukha namang sincere si Hermes. Estella gave her sweetest smile.

"Estella, give me a second chance and I'll make it up to you."

Napangiti ng mapait si Estella. Ganoon lang ba kadali iyon? She forgave him. Pero ang second chance?

"Hermes. To tell you honestly, pinuno mo ng sakit ang puso ko. You hurt me so bad. It's like you stained a white dress and it can't be worn anymore. Noon, I wanna die. I wanna hurt you the same way that you did. Nagpakalayo ako, pero masakit pa rin,"

"That's why I am here in front of you Estella. I'm not gonna hurt you anymore."

"Just because you're here, it doesn't mean I'm gonna risk it....again."

Hinawakan ni Hermes ang mga kamay ni Estella. Ngunit dahan-dahan itong binawi ng dalaga.

"I've already found love. Now, find yours. Bye Hermes." And she stood up.

Huminga sya ng malalim paglabas ng restaurant. She looked at her ring and smiled.

She's getting married within a year...with Zeus.

She met him, she felt like a little girl craving for a cone of ice cream, she fell in love, she went away, she moved on, she became better, and she found love. True love this time.

That thing called heartbreak completed her.

Fin.