Only Yesterday

Chapter 1: Reminisce

HER LIPS widen as she saw the beautiful shot in her camera. Yvonne really loves photography and it serves as her inspiration in her academics. She's on the third year of college and has been a dean lister for three years. Yes, she would able to maintain her high grades since she was on first year college. She is taking business course, which is far from her interest. And just like what her parents said that it was an in demand course, at hindi mahirap makahanap ng trabaho. That's why she took it as an assurance that she will have a bright future. Perhaps, her interest on photography would serve as an inspiration.

And when it comes to photography, nature is her favorite subject. Kaya naman nag-request siya sa kaniyang parents na bilihan siya ng sariling DSLR camera. "Wow! Another good shot, perfect!" Hindi niya maiwasang mapangiti sa nakuhanan niyang litrato mula sa kabuuan ng beach. Since it is their family outing, ito rin ang isa sa pinakamahalagang araw ng kaniyang ama. In fact, ngayon lang ulit siya nakapag-relax dahil masyado siyang busy sa school. Ito rin kasi ang nagsisilbi niyang source of happiness dahil madalas ay nakararamdam siya ng anxiety. For some reasons, she's an introvert person, that's why she doesn't have a lot of friends-- and only few people she has talk to. She'd rather to stay in a room full of books and photography with her own existence.

But despite from being an introvert, she loves to join any curricular activities that might affect her grades. She loves sport as well, that's why she had a legacy on volleyball to be one of the most multi awarded on a said sport.

"Yvonne, let's eat first! Alliana is looking for you." Narinig niyang sigaw ng kaniyang Mommy Yvanna. By the way, Alliana was her high school best friend. And being the only sibling, she got all the things that she want. She have a good relationship with her parents, at bukas din palagi ang mga isip nito para makinig kung may problema man siya.

"Okay, mommy, susunod po ako." Pagkasabi no'n ay isinabit niya sa kaniyang leeg ang kaniyang DSLR camera matapos iyong patayin. At sala sumunod sa kaniyang mommy.

Doo'y nadatnan niyang kinakantahan na ng birthday song ang kaniyang Daddy Jeremy. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday.. happy birthday to you.." pagkanta nina Alliana at ng kaniyang Mommy Yvanna.

"Happy birthday, dad!" pagputol niya sa sandaling katahimikan matapos mag-blow ng candle ng kaniyang ama. Kaya naman nagpalingon mula sa direksyon niya ang tatlo.

"Na-late ka para kantahan ako," wika ni Daddy Jeremy.

"Kaya nga po, e, hindi n'yo po ako hinintay."

"Ito kasing si mommy mo, gutom na raw, kaya minadali na nila 'yung pagkanta."

"It's okay, marami naman po akong nakuhanang magagandang view dito sa beach," sabi niya bago pa man magawang tumabi kay Alliana.

However, her only best friend, Alliana has been supporting her all throughout. But not in all aspects, for some reason, Alliana was not agree of her feelings to Alexis, after ended up with a two consecutive relationship. In fact, Alexis was her ultimate crush since childhood at alam iyon ni Alliana dahil minsan niya na rin itong nakilala noong high school. Pero nang tumuntong sila ng College ay magkaiba na sila nang pinasukan ni Alexis. Kaya naman anito'y suntok sa buwan na magustuhan din siya ni Alexis dahil simula't sapul ay hindi naman na siya nito niligawan.

"When do you realize that Alexis is not meant for you?" Para siyang sinupalpal ng mga salitang iyon ni Alliana. "Ilang taon na ang lumipas, Yvonne, why don't you give a chance again to Ezekiel, instead?" Katatapos lamang nila noong kumain nang magpasya silang maglakad-lakad sa may malawak na maraming white sand ng beach.

Bahagyang napataas ang kilay niya at simpleng salita ang lumabas sa bibig niya na nagpatahimik dito. "Because I do not love him anymore and I guess, you know about the reason on why we broke up, aren't you remember?" Ezekiel was her latest ex boyfriend who has been courting her again for about two months.

"I know, but come to think about his effort just to win you back."

Napairap siya sa kawalan. "Ganoon ba? Edi, ikaw na lang ang makipagbalikan sa kaniya, tutal naman ay botong-boto ka sa manyakis na 'yon." Sa totoo lang ay naiinis siya sa tuwing itinutulak siya pabalik ng matalik na kaibigan sa dating kasintahan. He doesn't know why, but she is really wondering on why did Alliana was not in favor to Alexis.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Alliana bago niya pa man ito talikuran. Dahilan ng malakas na pagsigaw nito. "Yvonne! Bumalik ka rito!" Subalit napailing lamang siya at nagpasyang bumalik na lamang sa kanilang cottage.

For some reason, kung bakit siya nakipaghiwalay kay Ezekiel ay isa lang ang dahilan, ayaw niyang ibigay ang kaisa-isang hiling nito-- ang virginity niya. Tumagal din ng mahigit isang taon ang kanilang relasyon at aaminin niyang minahal niya rin ito. Pero hindi pa talaga siya handa sa ganoong bagay. Because she don't want her parents to get disaappointed. Besides, kahit na nakatutulong ang kaniyang pagiging dean's lister sa pag-aaral ay hindi rason 'yon para suwayin ang bilin ng mga ito sa kaniya. By the way, her parents was not strict, ayaw ng mga ito nang hinihigpitan siya dahil baka maging rason pa 'yon ng kaniyang pagrerebelde. That's why all of the guys who were intentionally court her, was surely passing by to her parents. Kaya naman kilala ng mga ito ang dalawang naging nobyo niya na sina Miggy at Ezekiel.

Miggy was her puppy love in high school, at aaminin niyang ginamit niya lamang itong rebound para kahit papaano'y maka-move on kay Alexis, dahil sa katotohanang may nobya itong iba no'n.

Little did she know, Alexis treatment for her was like a friend, but she's wrong. After graduation in high school, Alexis was migrated to Canada to have a good future there. But unfortunately, his parents got separated. That's why he went back to the Philippines without any communications with Yvonne ever again. Because, Yvonne has finally blocked him in all social media. Wala na siyang kahit na anong balita kay Yvonne simula no'n. After his parents got separated, his life was out of direction. Doon siya natutong magrebelde. Hanggang sa makilala niya si Flordeliza Echavez naging girlfriend niya ito for two years bago pa man sila nagpasyang magpakasal, dahil accidentally ay nabuntis niya ito. Pero isang hindi inaasahang pangyayari ang naganap nang magtrabaho ang asawa bilang designer sa isang Wood Craft Company. Doo'y hindi sinasadyang magkaroon ng malaking sunog. Maraming empleyado ang mga nasawi, including her wife, Flordeliza was unfortunately died in that incident.

Until one day, he got surprised when  Yvonne Lucenario have sent him a friend request. Hindi niya inaasahang makikita ng kaibigan niyang si Ramil na ini-stalk niya ang profile ng dalaga. It was their unplanned bonding on Ramil's house, together with their peers.

"Si Yvonne ba 'yan? Mukhang lalo siyang gumanda, hah?" At imbes na mag-react sa sinabi nito ay mabilis niyang pinatay ang screen ng phone. "Bakit mo naman pinatay? Ayaw mo bang makita ko ang kagandahan niya?"

"It doesn't matter, mind your own business, Ramil," preskong aniya. Bago pa man pasimpleng in-accept ang friend request ng dalaga.

Umikot pa nang umikot ang baso bago niya makitang umikot ang tagay sa kaniya. "It's your turn, bro," wika ni Jenzen.

At habang tinutungga niya ang alak ay hindi maalis sa kaniyang isipan ang mukha ni Yvonne. After three years, ay doon lang muli ito nagparamdam sa kaniya. At aaminin niyang bumalik ang alaala ng kahapon, kung paano niya ito nasaktan noon dahil sa panloloko niya sa ibang babae para lang mabaling sa iba ang kaniyang atensyon. And yes, hindi niya no'n ma-appreciate ang beauty nu Yvonne, at malaking kamalian na pinalampas niya 'yon. Lately he found out na may feelings pala siya para rito. Pero ang lahat ng 'yon ay natuldukan ng isang katotohanang may anak na siya. Mas malaki na ang responsibilidad niya para sa bata kaysa ang maghanap ng seryosong pag-ibig. Hindi na p'wede na seryosohin niya ang dating kalokohan at hindi na maaaring maging sila-- if yes, tatanggapin kaya nito na may anak na siya at isang biyudo? Kahit alam niya na simula't sapul ay gustung-gusto siya ni Yvonne.