Played By Cupid

100 - l a s t p a r t

"Good evening... Canada..." I whispered as I arrived in the place.

No one will pick me up, no one will live with me, no one will going to check on me. Just me, livin' alone here for along-long time.

Tipid akong ngumiti. Dad buy me a house here that I will use for my long stay. I have a car, I have even the small things I would need, complete furniture and everything. Ayaw na yata talaga akong pauwiin.

My phone vibrated, Ryui is calling. I turned it off. Ayoko muna ng kausap.

Dumiretso ako sa kwartong una kong nakita, marami pang ibang kwarto pero ako lang naman mag-isa rito. Kailangan ba talagang iparamdam na mag-isa ako? Sa apartment na lang sana ako namalagi.

When I closed my eyes, her image suddenly popped up. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from crying again.

Iniwan ko sila sa boot camp ng walang paalam. Hinahanap daw nila ako at tinatawagan, but I deactivated my account. Even my real account. Nagpalit ako ng number at si Ryui lang ang nakakaalam ngayon.

My chest heaved when I remember how my girl cried like a baby at that night. I made her cry. I fucking hate myself for hurting her. She doesn't really deserve a stupid partner like me.

A tear escaped in my eye. I promise to myself, this is the last time I would cry because of the people I left in the Philippines. I'll just always smile for my Riri, she would love to see me smiling.

Days passed by smoothly. I'm slowly healing, I can feel it. I hope, Claries, too.

"How is she?" I asked the person in the other line.

["She's getting okay day by day. Ikaw ba?"]

I pressed my lips together. "Kasama mo siya ngayon?"

["Kahahatid ko lang sa kaniya sa bahay nila. I'm staying in Batangas for awhile since summer break din naman."] Sagot niya.

Umayos ako ng tayo sa balcony ng bahay. Bumuntong hininga ako.

"Thank you, Ryui." I sincerely said. Maikling katahimikan bago pa siya sumagot.

["Take care of yourself. Be better, Kaegan."]

I did. I enrolled to the one of the famous and good University in Canada. Kahit nahihirapan akong sumabay dahil hindi naman ito ang nakasanayan ko, sinubukan ko pa rin. I worked hard, harder.

I'm also working. My uncle owns a business here so I tried. Since employee niya ang nagm-manage, hindi niya alam na nag-apply ako roon, isa pa ay nasa Pinas siya at hindi ko alam kung kailan babalik.

Dad was not... visiting me, or even tried to call or search for me. Ni-ha, ni-ho, wala. I laughed in sarcastic tone. Mukha pa ba akong hahanapin? Ni hindi niya nga ako inimikan noong umalis ako.

"Sir Evans?" I called my professor.

"Mr. Alfaro, why?"

I licked my lower lip, hesitating. "Do you... have a contact to my Dad in the Philippines? I heard, you were friends. If you only-"

"Here's his number," he smiled and handed me his phone.

"Thank you, Sir. Thank you so much."

I didn't dare to call him, I just want to have his number, just in case.

It's been five months, I'm struggling a lot but no one dared to ask me if I'm fine, how am I doing, am I happy or what aside from Ryui. And there when I realize that I only have myself from now on, even since then.

I graduated with no one by my side. Ryui asked me if he can come over but I refused. Ayoko namang maabala pa siya, malaking pabor na ang tinututukan niya si Riri. Ayos na ako roon. Siya na lang, kahit huwag na ako.