James
“James, I can't breathe.” narinig kong usal ni August. Nakatayo ako ilang metro ang layo sa kaniya, sinubukan kong maglakad, ngunit kahit anong hakbang ko'y hindi ko siya marating.
“James.” Inilahad nito ang nanginginig niyang mga kamay. Sinubukan ko ring iabot ang kamay ko, umaasang maaabot ko siya, subalit sa gitna ng kumpulan ng mga tao'y bigla na lamang siyang naglaho. Mistulang kinain siya ng anino ng mga ito.
“August!” I shouted, but I heard nothing, but the bouncing back of my voice. I can feel my body slowly crumbling down, because I can't see her.
“August!” I shouted for the second time around, I moved my feet and I decided to run as fast as I can, with the hope that I can reach her, but I didn't. Hindi pa rin ako nakaalis sa kinatatayuan ko, kahit anong pagtakbo ang gawin ko, hindi ko siya marating.
I can feel a warm liquid forming into my pair of eyes. My breathing isn't fine. Damn it! I want to see her.
“Augustine.” I whimpered. My voice is shaking so my body too. Sa ere ay sinubukan kong ilahad ang aking kamay. Nanlabo unti-unti ang aking paningin, hanggang sa mahagilap muli ng aking mga mata si August, nasa gitna siya, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito'y wala na 'yong napakaraming mga tao na kanina'y naging dahilan upang maglaho siya sa aking paningin.
“Mahal.” bulong ko, tuluyan na akong napaupo sa malamig na kalsada. Nagtititigan lang kami pareho sa mga oras na 'to. Ang kanina'y nanghihina at humihingi ng tulong ay nakangiti na, umaliwas ang hitsura nito. Ngumiti na rin ako, subalit kaagad ay naglaho rin 'yon nang matumba siya at bumagsak ang katawan nito sa lupa. Nawalan siya ng malay, at nang humakbang ako upang lapitan siya'y, dumilim ang buong paligid na naging dahilan upang hindi ko na siya marating pa.
“Fuck it!” I cursed when I heard my phone ringing. Bumangon ako sa pagkakasandal sa headrest. I picked up my phone at the dashboard right away, it was an unknown number who's calling.
“Hi?” I said over the line.
“Babe.”
Boses pa lang ay alam ko na kung sino ito. It was my ex-girlfriend, Betty.
“What?” angil ko.
“I miss you.” aniya.
“You shouldn't miss someone you have cheated to. I don't miss you, bye.” I ended the phone call and throw my phone at the backseat. I massages my nape and that dream of mine came across my mind. It was all a freaking dream, but it sucks, big time.
Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako, pagkatapos ko kasing hintayin si August ng ilang oras sa duyan kung saan siya nakaupo kanina, bago siya kunin ng lalaking 'yon ay dinalaw talaga ako ng antok. I looked into my wrist watch, it's exactly seven in the evening. Kailangan may gawin ako, my mind urged me to open my car's door, I went outside, pero bago 'yon, I checked my breath, amoy strawberry pa rin naman. I also fixed my hair, ibinato ko na ang coat ko sa loob ng sasakyan. I'm now ready to face her, sana talaga kausapin niya na ako.
I started walking and from a few meters I saw her finally, she's sitting peacefully in the white sand, she's barefoot and both of her hands were in the water, feeling its coldness. I took a deep breath, I can feel my heart wanting to came out of its ribcage due to nervousness. I set aside all of the thoughts preoccupying my mind, I stepped forward, and forward until I reached her back. I stood in my place for a while, but when I heard her breathing, it just makes me miss her more.
“August.” I called her.
“Naramdaman kita.” she answered.
“Can we talk na?” Kumilos ako at umupo sa tabi niya, pansamantala nitong itinigil ang paglalaro ng dalawang kamay niya sa tubig.
“Ano pa bang pag-uusapan natin?”
Naramdaman ko ang lungkot sa boses niya.
“Everything that my Dad has said were lies.”
Dahan-dahan ay ibinaling nito ang atensiyon niya sa akin, tinitigan niya ang kabuuan ng mukha ko.
“What's more about explanation when the damage has been done?”
I choked my own saliva.
“August, listen to me, I know you got hurt, but believe me, I didn't mean to. There are people who just wanted to ruin someone's happiness, and that was my Dad is trying to do, he wants you to believe all of his lies, so that you can get rid of me. He's trying to steal my happiness, he's trying to steal you, from me."
Kumislap ang magkapares niyang mga mata na animo'y diyamante nang hagkan niya gamit ang basa nitong palad ang aking pisngi.
“You know what I hate about myself?” she whispered. “I don't listen to other people, because all my life, I was alone, and the only person I know, I'll listen to, is I.”
“And you know what I love about myself too?” Inayos ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok nitong humarang sa mukha niya, bago ako magpatuloy. “I'm always willing to understand, value, wait and love you.” Pinisil ko ng marahan ang ilong niya pagkatapos sabihin 'yon. I saw how she hid her little gummy smile, it's a victory, I succeeded.
“Naniniwala ka na ba sa akin?” tanong kong muli.
Tanging tango lang ang isinagot niya sa akin.
“Wala akong marinig.” pagbibiro ko.
“Oo nga, naniniwala na ako.” Tumawa siya ng mahina.
“I love your laugh, but I love you more.” banat ko.
“Ayan ka na naman.” Napailing ito.
“Let's get back to Manila, together, tomorrow?” pangungumbinsi ko.
Tumingin ito ng masama sa akin. “Ano ka desisyon? I'll stay here, I'm taking a break.”
I really love her kapag nagsu-sungit siya, it's weird, but I don't know why.
“Okay, I'll stay here too, sasamahan kita—habang-buhay.”
Hinampas nito ang balikat ko, sabay irap. Beast mode na si mahal.
“By the way, sino pala 'yong lalaking 'yon kanina. The way he held you, gusto ko siyang sapakin.” ani ko.
“Parang kapatid ko na 'yon, ilang taon ang tanda ko sa kaniya. Sira-ulo.”
Nagselos pa ako, sabagay ganoon talaga, ang tunay na guwapo nagseselos din kahit papaano.
BINABASA MO ANG
My Greatest Cure (PUBLISHED UNDER PAPERINK)
Romance"You're my greatest cure." Her home is only the safest place for her. She developed this unusual kind of fear when she reached age 25, it's Agoraphobia, the fear of entering open or crowded places. She's Augustine Morales, a 26 years old girl, who...
