When The Time Is Right

Her Heartbreak

"Samantha." Samantha heard it loud and clear but she thought she was just hallucinating. She was caught by surprise when she looked up and saw Alyssa staring right at her.

"Alyssa?" Alyssa finally walked closer to Samantha, only stopping once she is right infront of the girl. She couldn't speak anymore. She cannot believe that after five long years and after the months of travelling just to find Samantha, she is finally here. Halata ang mga pagbabago sa appearance ni Samantha kung ikukumpara sa Samantha na nasa isip ni Alyssa five years ago. Pumayat ito at kulay itim na ang buhok ni Samantha. Halata ring mas matured na tignan si Samantha ngayon ngunit may mas napansin talaga si Alyssa na isang bagay kay Samantha. Wala na ang ningning sa mga mata nito.

Kasalukuyang magkaharap si Samantha at Alyssa ngayon matapos siyang paupuin ni Samantha. Alyssa is silently looking at her, studying Samantha's features as if getting to know them all over again. Samantha on the other hand can feel Alyssa's stare but paid no mind to it.

"You changed."

"I didn't. I simply grew, Alyssa."

"No.." Alyssa leaned against the table, staring at Samantha so deeply as if trying to study not only Samantha's physical features but also its soul. "No, Sam. The look in your eyes.. it's not the same anymore.."

Samantha smiled to herself as she listens to Alyssa's comment. She sighed softly, one of her hand against her abdomen while the other fiddles with her cup of tea. "Bakit ka nandito, Alyssa?"

"I was worried." Alyssa tried to catch the girl's eyes but Samantha was firm about not looking at Alyssa's way at all. "Yung pinipili mong mapag-isa.. it's not you. Kapag naiiwan kang mag-isa dealing with your own thoughts and problems, you always turn to alcohol. I was worried that the past will happen again."

"Alin? My stupid teenage self na na-hospital due to alcohol poisoning?" Samantha shook her head with a soft chuckle that sent shivers down Alyssa's spine. "I'm a grown woman now, Alyssa. See? No alcohol in sight.. just me enjoying my me time."

"Why did you tell them na wag sabihin saaking naghiwalay kayo ni Albie?" Alyssa was itching to go and hold Samantha's hand. It even took everything in her just to not wrap Samantha in a hug the moment she saw her earlier. "Bakit ayaw mong ipaalam saakin?"

"Bakit importante pa yan when you already found out about it anyway?"

"Because I wanna know your reason."

Samantha looked away from Alyssa, her gaze set outside of the cafe and simply watching the people pass by. "I didn't want you to think that the sacrifices you made five years ago was put into waste. Ayokong maisip mo na para saan pa yung hindi mo pagpili sa atin noon kung mauuwi rin lang pala kami sa hiwalayan ni Albie." Samantha took a small sip on her cup while Alyssa watched every move that Samantha is making. "Sinabi ko kay Albie ang kung anong nangyare saatin dahil gusto kong maging maganda ang pagsasama namin ni Albie. Ayokong mapunta lang sa wala yung sacrifices na ginawa mo kaya I really tried it with him.. and you're right, Alyssa.. I was happy. Albie made me happy."

"What happened?"

"I couldn't make him happy. I couldn't make our family complete." Pain struck Alyssa's heart when Samantha looked at her with her eyes red and full of pain. She wanted to open her mouth to comfort Samantha but all her thoughts are a mess. "Albie always wanted to have kids. A year after our marriage, we tried to start a family. Stable naman na kami at masaya so anak nalang talaga ang kulang diba? Laging excited si Albie to check kung meron na ba, kung successful ba at magkakaanak na ba kami but after months of trying, wala parin. A whole year of trying and we finally decided to check if there's something wrong only to find out that I was the one at fault."