When Two Ends Meet

Prologue

I can't believe I'm really back after 2 years of mending. It's good to be home. Hah! How could I say that? There's nothing good in here. All it give me is a painful memory from the past. I shouldn't have come. Pero wala na akong magagawa pa. Nandito na ako. Ang bagong ako. New and improved. Hindi na ako 'yung mahina at iyaking babae na umalis two goddamn years ago. So, let's see kung hanggang saan ang inimprove ko. This time, I will not leave crying. Or better yet, I won't leave at all. I want to be brave this time. Bagay na hindi ko nagawa noon. Gusto kong ipakita sa mundo na ito na ang resulta ng isang pagkatalo noon.

"Welcome home, Jade Primrose!"

I was greeted by my tita nang magkita kami dito sa airport.

"Thank you Tita Xanthe, but you don't have to call me by my full name. Jade will do. Haha!"

"Jade Primrose's better. Wait, have you eaten na ba?"

"Nope. And I'm starving!"

"Well, my dear, come with me. It's my treat!"

"Yay! That's why you're my favorite Tita eh!"

"Stop that pambobola pamangks. I'm your only Tita, silly. Hahaha!"

We headed to her Sedan para pumunta sa isang restaurant nearby. Hay, gutom na talaga ako. Nakakastress ang byahe!

"Tita, I'm glad binasura mo na 'yung last edition mo ng Beetle. Hahaha!" I started the conversation.

"What's wrong with my Beetle? Pati ba naman ikaw? She's my BFF kaya. Medyo heartbroken nga ako noong binenta ko siya eh..." she replied while driving.

"May bumili pa sa Beetle mo, Tita? Really? I can't believe this! 'Yung kakarag-karag na Beetle na 'yun may nagtyaga pa?"

"You're hurting my feelings. I hate you. Inalagaan ko kaya 'yun!"

Nagtawanan kami habang nasa byahe.

We eated sa isang Italian Restaurant my Tita knows, but after that dumiretso na kami sa bahay para makapagpahinga nadin ako. I'm going to stay in Tita Xanthe's condo unit since siya lang naman mag-isa dito.

Ako lang mag-isa ang umuwi from Singapore but my family's staying there because of business. 'Yung bahay naman namin dito ay pinapaupahan kaya hindi ako pwedeng tumuloy doon. Buti nalang mag-isa lang si Tita dito.

Inayos ko ang mga baggage ko and after that, I took a nap. Kapagod talaga, swear!

"L-Let go of m-me..."

"Shh, miss. 'Wag kang maingay kundi... alam mo na. Hahahaha!"

I was scared. Nanginginig ang buo kong katawan. Nakatutok sa akin ang patalim ng isang lalaking humarang sa akin ngayon.

"Help! Help me-!"

Napabangon ako bigla. Tagaktak na pala ang pawis na tumutulo sa mukha ko. That dream again. That was originally a memory that I was trying so hard to forget but now, even in my dreams it still haunts me.

Isang pagkakamali talaga ang gabing iyon. No, it was so foolish of me. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil nagpakatanga ako. But I was more angry at... him. Siya ang may kasalanan kung bakit hanggang ngayon hinahabol ako ng isang bangungot na hindi naman dapat nangyari.

"Are you okay Jade?"

Tanong sa akin ni Tita nang makita niya akong nakatulala na nakaupo doon sa sofa.

"I'm okay Tita, don't worry. Pero pwede po bang magpahangin muna ako sa labas?"

"Hmm, okay. But you'll come back agad ha?"

"Opo..."

Kinuha ko ang jacket ko at lumabas ng building.