Prologue
"Tangi..." I called him in the parking lot, "Riley, please..."
Nang maabutan ko siya at mahawakan ko ang kamay niya ay agad niya itong itinaboy. He looked at me with so much anger. Nakakuyom ang kamao. I've known him for years and I've never seen him act like this. He told me he doesn't like being mad and he doesn't like arguing and fighting with other people.
It hurts me so much. To think that he's angry because of the people I love. Because of the people I love, he is suffering.
"Riley. I'm sorry..." Iyon lang ang masasabi ko. Wala akong ipapaliwanag.
He scoffed, "Get out of my face."
My tears fell, "Tangi..."
"Do not!" He exclaimed, "fucking call me that, Tala."
But why? I wanted to ask. We called each other Tangi for years and I can still hear the way you call me that. So, why? I love it more than my own name... so why do you despise it this much?
"Minahal mo ba ako? Kahit kaunti?" I asked, "Nagkaroon manlang ba ako ng lugar sa iyo?"
Riley was dumbfounded by my question, "Do you think everything is about you?"
"Just... answer me." I said, "Riley, I just need your answer. Minahal mo ba ako? O katulad ng mga sinasabi nila... past time lang ako?"
He scoffed, "What do you want to hear for you to finally let it sink in that this is over? That I am angry and that I can't forgive?"
"Answer me!" I cried.
"Oo, past time ka lang." He said.
"Liar." I am so stupid.
Umiling si Riley, "I brought you to different places just because I don't have someone else to be with me. Ayokong mag-isa eh. They are right. Past time ka lang. I'm bored to death, Lana! I just don't have a choice but to talk with you! Dahil makulit ka!"
"You're just saying that for me to walk away." I said, "I am not walking away from you, Riley."
Riley laughed, "Why? Aren't Gen Z good at these kinds of things? Yung papaniwalain ka na mahal ka pero hindi naman pala. Ibibigay ang lahat ng oras sayo pero yung totoo, wala ka naman para doon sa tao,"
"You loved me." I said, "You made me feel that way..."
"I acted well." Riley smirked lightly, "Go home. Tell them I'll put them to jail, okay? Wala akong pake kahit sino pa sila."
Tumalikod si Riley mula sa akin.
"Ako, mahal kita." I said, huminto siya sa paglakad, I saw his fist crumple, "Everything we went through. It's not a pastime for me. I loved you for real, Riley. I'd do everything all over again. I'll meet you all over again. I'll fall in love with you all over again. Hindi ako mauubos o kahit... kahit... maupos pa ako."
And then he walked away.
