Staring at the painting Duke made for me made me smile. Such a creative guy he is. Tumayo ako sa sofa at lumapit doon. The painting was at least as tall as me. Nakaupo ako sa isang malaking bato and plants were everywhere, I was looking somewhere far while sunlight softly brushed my whole body, I was wearing a soft white dress at nilagyan pa nga ni Duke ng flower crown ang ulo ko. I chuckled because Duke would always say that I looked like a fairy, and he turned me into one.
The frame was dusty, but nevertheless, the painting still shone in extravagance. I stroked the golden frame, where my initials were carved; E.L.C.— Evelyn Lilian Cruz.
Lumayo na ako doon at sinuri ang paligid. Parang kailan lang, magkasama pa kami rito ni Duke. The furnitures were wrapped in white cloth. Wala namang may umiba sa paligid maliban doon, but it somehow felt very empty.
Siguro, dahil wala na ang mga damdaming nagbigay liwanag sa lugar na 'to.
Tama.
Wala na nga ang mga damdamin.
Before, everytime I would stare at that painting, palaging bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko... but now, it's just plain amusement. Nothing more and nothing less.
I wonder, does Duke feel the same?
Narinig ko ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto, nandito na siguro siya. He was as stunning as ever, but his eyes wavered when they met mine.
"Kukunin ko lang 'yun," he pointed at a medium-sized box. Iyan na lang ata ang mga natira niyang gamit dito. Duke stared at me for the last time before leaving.
Nawala na. The spark in his eyes were gone— telling me that none of us feel the same anymore. Well, I guess that's just how it is.
Goodbye, to the one I loved.
