That One Place (TALA SERYE#1)

Beginning

#ThatOnePlaceBeginning

Beginning

"Ready ka na?" Leah asked me one more time. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror in front of me once again, before I faintly smiled at her and nodded.

"Alex, sure ka? I mean with all these makeup and concealer; you still look pale." She said as she stared at me intently.

I weakly smiled at her. Wala naman kasi akong choice. I have to be ready. I need to be ready. Kasi whether I like it or not, I needed to be okay.

"Oo nga Leah, ready na ako." Sagot ko sa kaniya at tipid na ngumiti. Bumuntong hininga lang siya atsaka tumango.

"Okay, basta mag message ka kaagad sakin if something happened ha." Paalala niya. Tumango lang ako sa kaniya atsaka kinuha ang bag ko. I put my phone inside it and get my car keys.

"Mag-iingat ka Alex. Drive slowly." Muli ay paalala niya. I kissed her cheeks and bid her goodbye saka sumakay sa sasakyan ko.

I revved the engine and make my way out of our subdivision. I was stuck in traffic for almost 30 minutes now. The traffic here in the metro will never change – that's one thing I am sure of.

And just like the traffic, I wished that my life never changed. I wished that I was still there, he was still here. But then again, this is something I am not capable of controlling.

***

I parked in front of the familiar restaurant. I did my breathing exercise for 20 seconds before I turned off my car's engine. I get out of my car and started to make my way to the entrance of the resto.

I once again inhaled deeply and exasperated blow my breathe. I am getting anxious each second that passes by. Sobrang daming memorya sa lugar na 'to. Sobrang daming ala-ala na pilit kong kinalimutan sa mga lumipas na taon; pero ngayon isa-isa silang bumabalik lahat.

I am near on having a breakdown and fall in the ground when I felt a hand on my waist. Hind agad ako nakagalaw dahil ramdam ko pa rin ang pangangatog ng buong katawan ko because I am having anxiety attack as of the moment.

"Are you okay?" I froze when I heard the voice of the one who's holding me. I abruptly fixed my position and looked at the owner of the voice.

Pakiramdam ko ay tinakasan ako ng dugo sa katawan. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko at muli ay naramdaman ko ang panghihina ng buong katawan ko.

He's here. He is really here, standing in front of me – mirroring the same expression I have.

I already lost counts on how many blinks I already did, and he was still there, rooted in his place.

"Dhanna..." He whispered my name. I stared at him, and for a moment I felt that magical feeling I thought I would never feel again.

My heart skipped a beat as my brain keeps on repeating his voice in my head. I missed it. I missed this feeling. I missed him.

"Rusty!" My glance was averted to that voice. And there she is. Sporting that wide smile. She looked more sophisticated and beautiful than the last time I saw her.

She looked at me when she saw me standing in front of the guy he called. Slowly her wide smile vanished like she just has seen a ghost.

"Alexandria!" My lips slowly formed into a smile when I heard that voice calling me. I looked at my back where the voice was coming, and there he is, Alex Clyde, waving his hand.

He jogged in my direction and kissed my cheeks then he took a glance at the two people in front of us.

"So, you two are still together huh?" Alex asked. I tugged his elbow and gesture him just ignored them. He sighed and nodded and put his hand on the back of my waist.

"If you'll excuse us," I said – almost whispered. I was about to turn my back when he held my left hand.

"Dhanna..." He said once again. I looked at him and to my hand that he's holding, and back to him. I waited for him to say anything, but thirty seconds had already passed but he remained silent.

I forcedly let go of my hand on his hold before I continued walking. I can still feel his stare, but I know better than to acknowledge his presence anymore.