Setting You Free (Let Me See Side Story)

Chapter 4

William did everything as planned. Umuwi siya sa tinitirhang bahay sa US kasama ang mga magulang at nagpanggap siyang ayos lang ang lahat mula sa nangyaring therapy niya kanina. Just like what Jiv told him, nagpaalam din siya kung pwede ba siyang sumama sa pinsan ni Jiv at pinalabas may event doon kaya kailangan niyang sumama.

Surprisingly, their plan worked. His parents let him go without any kind of fuss or suspicion. Sinabihan lang siya na mag-ingat at mag-update kapag kaya niya. Everything was too smooth that William couldn't help but be doubtful na baka may kung ano rin na mangyari along the way. But before he knew it, there he was in the airport, already waiting for his flight.

"Sigurado ka na ba talaga rito? Wala nang atrasan 'to," Jiv's cousin asked. William filled him in with all the needed details about his situation. He was supportive, but he couldn't help but be worried as well. Kapag pumalya kasi ang plano, damay rin pati siya.

"I've never been more sure in my life. Aisleen's the best thing that has happened to me. Hindi ko kakayanin kung mawawala siya sa akin," William answered. He was on the verge of breaking down already. Masyado na siyang nagi-guilty dahil sa nangyari kay Aisleen, and he swore he would do everything to make up to her. Kung kailangang ibigay niya ang sariling mga mata, malamang ay gagawin niya.

"Let's just hope for the best," Jiv's cousin said as he tapped William's shoulder. And as they watched for the ticking of the clock, they knew that there's no turning back now.

***

William didn't manage to sleep during the flight. Naghahalo-halo ang takot, kaba, lungkot, at saya sa puso niya. Kahit na gustong-gusto na niyang makita at makasama muli si Aisleen, he knew that he needed to prepare himself for the worse first. Alam naman niyang hindi rin siya basta tatanggapin ni Aisleen sa buhay niya. A lot of time has passed by and a lot could have happened since then.

To be honest, he didn't know where to start. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba ay humingi muna siya ng tawad dito o kung dapat ba ay maghanap siya ng paraan para maging maayos na ang kalagayan nito. He couldn't get enough details about her situation yet and it's making him so frustrated. He tried asking for Jiv's help but to no avail. Hindi na raw pumapasok si Aisleen kaya hindi na rin ito makakuha pa ng balita para sa kanya.

And so when the plane landed in the Philippines, William did his best to know Aisleen's whereabouts. Through connections, he found out that she was still living with her parents in their home in Makati. The only difference was that she doesn't go out as much kaya mahirap na itong sundan sa kung saan.

Aisleen also changed her number and her social media accounts were closed. Hindi na niya alam kung paano ito makakausap. Getting close to her was getting more difficult than expected. He was so close to losing hope and giving up.

Not until he accidentally met her one time...

Nakita niya ito sa isang restaurant. He was supposed to meet Jiv to ask for updates regarding Aisleen at kung paano nga ba niya ito malalapitan. Before flying back to the Phlippines, he knew that it would be difficult to approach her again. Ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas matapos ang aksidente at malamang, hindi na rin talaga siya palalapitin pa ng mga magulang ng dalaga. In everyone's eyes, he abandoned her and simply chose the easy way out.

Nang pumasok siya sa restaurant, inikot niya ang tingin para hanapin ang kaibigan. Pero laking gulat niya nang may nakita siyang pamilyar na babae. At first, he wasn't quite sure if it was really her. Sa tagal na hindi sila nagkita, hindi na rin siya sigurado sa itsura nito. But when he looked a little harder, he finally confirmed that it was her. Mag-isa itong nakaupo sa lamesa and as he took steps towards her, his heart started to beat frantically.