Last Chapter
"Nicholas,"
Nilingon ko si tita nang tawagin niya ako.
Ngumiti s'ya saakin at lumapit. Binigyan niya ako ng yakap kaya bahagya akong yumakap pabalik.
"Congratulations! Your papa will be very proud of you now that you're already a doctor," she said.
I couldn't help but smile. I'm still holding onto my diploma. The diploma that states that I have already graduated and already has a doctor in my name. I wanted to give this to her. I want her to be the one who holds this after me. But she's not here.
Khaleesi is not here.
Nag-uusap si mama at tita nang iwan ko sila at dumeretso sa mga kaibigan ko. Umaasa akong nandoon si Khaleesi pero wala s'ya. Tumingin ako kay Rye at hindi maiwasang magtaka.
Ang sabi niya saakin ay sasama si Khaleesi sa kanya. Bakit ngayon ay wala?
Rye looks at me and sips on his glass. "Finding her?"
"Yes, where is she?"
"Hanapin mo." Ngumisi s'ya saakin kaya tinapunan ko s'ya ng masamang tingin.
"Seriously, where is she? I thought she was coming with you?" I asked.
He shrugged. "She had an emergency. She couldn't come."
Natigilan ako. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang mapait sa sarili ko.
Hanggang ngayon hindi n'ya pa rin ako kayang piliin bago ang iba...
Binigyan ako ni Bryan ng isang baso ng wine na wala naman akong balak inumin. Umupo ako sa tabi nila at tahimik lang. Mahigpit ang hawak sa diploma ko.
Nasa isang restaurant na kami para icelebrate ang graduation ko. Inaasahan ko talaga na nandito si Khaleesi kahit na ilang taon na kaming hiwalay.
Umasa pa rin ako dahil hanggang ngayon naman mahal ko pa rin s'ya at hindi ako magmamahal ng iba gaya ng pangako ko sa kanya.
We haven't talked for years. Nakikibalita lang ako tungkol sa kanya kay Rye na naging malapit na rin sa kanya. Alam ko rin na nagtatanong s'ya kay Rye tungkol saakin kaya umaasa talaga akong may babalikan pa kapag umuwi ako.
We still haven't moved, and I wish she hadn't moved on. I hope she'll not fall in love with someone else.
I already achieved my dreams, like what she wanted and what my family wanted. I've already realized the dreams I've had since I was a child.
I wanted to go home now.
To go home to my real home.
"What's your plan now? Will you continue your internship here?" Rastiel asked.
Umiling ako. "I'm planning to go home."
"To your family?"
"To Khaleesi," sagot ko na ikinatahimik nila.
Ngumisi ako at kahit wala naman talagang balak uminom ay hindi ko na napigilan.
"How is she? Is she doing well?"
"Hmm," tumango-tango si Rastiel. "Sumikat na rin 'yung clothing line niya at naayos na 'yung kaso doon sa design niya na ninakaw sa kanya..."
I narrowed my eyes to Rye, who'd been quiet beside her.
"How is she?" I asked him. "How's my Khaleesi?"
Ngumisi at natawa si Rye. "She's fine, bro. She's fine, though she's not your Khaleesi anymore."
