"Pa.." his son tapping him "Pa, wake up.. lipat ka na sa kwarto mo, you're drunk again"
"hindi ahh.." he said in defense
He look on his phone and focus the camera to his Papa, he looks terrible as his usual routine after his work
"look at your Papa, I told you to go home muna eh" he said to Athena
"Kuya, kahit naman umuwi ako dyan eh, walang magbabago.. ganyan na yan si Papa hanggat di nakaka move on" she said on the other line
"Ano ba't pinag uusapan nyo ko? Im ok.. nagkayayaan lang ng barkada kahapon kaya medyo nakainom ako" Herbert said to both of them
"Haist Pa, whatever.. you go na inside your room and clean up para makapagpahinga ka ng maayos"
he sigh
"Ok! matutulog ako maghapon.. baka sakaling may magbago"
"Athena, I don't know what to do na about Papa.. ganyan sya after magpakasal ni Tita, and the result of the election added fuel to his frustration pa.. we have to be here beside him para naman makabangon sya"
"I will check what other options, kailangan muna siguro ni Papa umalis dyan eh, what if kayo na lang ang sumunod muna dito sakin?"
"hindi naman yan aalis eh"
"i'll talk to him kapag maayos na siya"
" Please do"
Havry said before ending the call
---
"Akala ko totoo yung panaginip ko.. sabi kasi nag public na kami ni Kris, nung nag file ako ng candidacy.. tapos finally naipagsigawan ko na sya sa mundo.. hahaha nakakatawa sobrang ganda ng panaginip ko.. lahat masaya lahat ok"
"Pare.."
"Alam ko.. wala naman akong sinasabi eh, kinukwento ko lang sayo yung panaginip ko.. kaya alam mo tama yung pag inom ko bago matulog eh.. nagiging masaya ako sa panaginip"
"Alam mo Herbert, bilib ako sayo...kapag nasa labas ka parang wala kang reaksyon sa mga nangyari these past months.. napaka chill mo lang.. yun pala basag na basag ka na sa loob"
"Hoy, nagkwento lang naman ako hahah" he tried to laugh
"sige sabi mo eh" Girlie said
Girlie knew his best friend from head to toe, he knew when he was lying or not.. how can he be happy if the love of his life just tied a knot with someone else? the woman he dreamt of growing old with is now married to someone she just met right after her brother died? How can Herbert take all the frustrations life throws at him these past months?
he heard him sigh
"Yan ka na naman, kung maka bugtong hininga ka.. kala mo ikaw ang natalo sa eleksyon at iniwanan ng girlfriend hahaha.. sige na nga madami pa kong paperworks.. hoy sa weekend ha iinom tayo wag mo kong indianin"
Girlie just laughed.. before ending the call
----
After he got lost in the election, Herbert chose to be a private citizen for a while.. he accepts roles from time to time, but he declines if it's a tv series. He actually withdrawn his role in "The house arrest of us season 2" they just plotted his death in the said internet series
"Sayang naman yung role, para sana meron kang pagkaabalahan muna" Gardo said
"Ok lang Pare, napagod din ako sa campaign.. I have to rest din"
"Sa bagay, kailangan mo din nga.. ano ng plano mo?"
"Make time with the kids pa rin, baka puntahan ko muna si Athena sa US.. hindi ko pa alam"
"Sige, basta Pare whatever you decide, we'll support you and pag kailangan mo ng kausap, you know where to find us"
"Oo naman pare.. salamat, salamat!" he tap his arms
"we will miss you Dad" Kathryn said hugging him
"mamimiss ko din kayo.. basta ha pag kinasal na kayo ni DJ alam nyo na"
"Syempre tito alam mo na yun noh!" DJ added
and the rest of the cast hugged him
"Hoy Kuya ha! bawal mag mukmok!" said Ruffa
"Oo Giant!"
"eeewww, but I'm gonna miss you.."
"ayieee" said Alorah teasing them
"Ewan ko sayo Alorah! oh sya sige na.. Kailangan ko pang kitain sila Harlene.. thank you again.. Direk! salamat! salamat sa inyo"
-----
Herbert once again alone in his room
It's been a year.. a rough year for him, first is the election.. he had to go from one province to another. Good thing covid allowed them to do campaign but with restrictions still. He went together with his running mates, Senate President Tito Sotto, and the Presidential candidate of their ticket slate Senator Panfilo Lacson and the rest of their senatoriables. Aside from that is the numerous radio, TV, vlogs and podcast guestings as the new normal. He used to do it before in Quezon City as a Mayor. But now is far different because he had to court the whole nation to have them say Yes to him.
He's too exhausted and pressured on winning the election because thats his only escape to runaway from the emotional torture he's feeling before, during and after the election.
The feeling of knowing Kris, his Bernadette is marrying not him but the person he leased expected. It's killing him everytime people ask for his reaction to her wedding, but have to answer casually, making sure his true emotion will not show how sad he is and how it affects him every single day. The regrets, what ifs and if only's were the constant questions in his mind.
What he did wrong to deserve these? losing two important aspects in his life in just a snap. Both he made sure to work on for a long time. An almost 8 year relationship with Kris; and a five month battle in elections.
--------
"Ang ganda ng usapan namin nung July.. manalo o matalo magpa public na kami" he said in one of his conversation with Hero
Hero on the other hand cant say a word, he just tap his back and let him talk.. talk about his series of "kasalanan ko to and dapat kasi"
"Kasalanan ko to, dapat kasi nireassure ko sya eh, kasalanan ko kasi pinaghintay ko sya ng matagal, dapat kasi mas naging affectionate ako sa kanya. edi sana ako yung pakakasalan ngayon"
"Di lang naman ikaw kuya yung may kasalanan"
"No, no.. walang kasalanan si Kris dito, its all mine kasi ako yung lalaki. Deserve niya naman din si Mel kasi kaya siyang panindigan nun di katulad ko diba?" he said
He didn't say a word anymore
-----
He laid on his bed, lit another cigarette while drinking alcohol
His routine for almost a year now.
Whose fault is this?
Whose more broken? the one who leaves?
... or the one who's left behind?
BINABASA MO ANG
All This Time I Have Been Yours
RomanceAll stories are product of Imagination, all my what if's and Could've Been for this Ship
