Lost And Found, Tales and Tells

Chapter 22

Sola’s POV

Malakas kong tinawag ang kaniyang pangalan nang tuluyan na akong makarating doon.

Ramdam ko ang lakas ng tibok ng puso habang nakatingin sa kaniyang nasa pinakadulo na ng building. This is the first time I see different color surrounding him. It’s just black and white, different from the color that was always around him. 

Mabilis akong napatakbo sa kaniyang gawi. Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang mapayakap dito habang patuloy na sa paghagulgol ng iyak. 

“Rough… I’m here… You promise that you won’t leave me, right?” mahina kong tanong habang nakayakap na sa kaniya ngayon. Tila hindi nauubos ang luha mula sa aking mga mata. 

Ramdam ko ang paninigas ng kaniyang katawan bago ako unti-unting hinarap. 

“Who are you, Miss?” Napakunot ang kaniyang noo sa akin subalit mayamaya lang ay unti-unti na ring napaawang ang kaniyang labi. 

“It’s Sola… I’m Sola, Rough…” I don’t know if it’s the side effect of his illness pero hindi ako magsasawang paulit-ulit na banggitin ang aking pangalan just for him to know me. 

“Sola…” mahinang tawag niya sa aking pangalan tila ba may unti-unting napagtanto. Ni hindi ko na inalintana pa ang luha mula sa mga mata ko nang tawagin niya ang aking pangalan. I always imagine him calling my name again. To hear his voice again and now, he’s in front of me. 

“I miss you so much, Rough…” Dinamba ko na ‘to ng yakap until he finally breakdown in front of me. The guy who just always know how to smile was finally crying in front of me. Parang ilang punyal ang tumusok sa aking dibdib nang marinig ang hikbi mula rito at nang maramdaman ang mahigpit na yakap niya na para bang ayaw niya na akong pakawalan. I hugged him tightly too and letting my emotion out. 

“I’m here… You can cry your heart out…” mahina kong bulong sa gitna ng hikbi ko. Napuno lang ng iyak naming dalawa ang buong rooftop. 

“I love you, Rough… Please don’t do whatever you’re planning to do…” Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang buhok nang bahagya na ‘tong kumalma subalit tila nanghihina rin ang paa dahil tuluyan nang bumigay ‘yon. I just let him while still holding on to him. Still keep on praying that he should let me stay with him. 

“I love you… Just like what you said months ago… When life fuck you, you can always run to me too… I’ll always open my arms widely for you… I’m here, Rough…” I said while holding his hand for support. I saw him staring at me nang maghiwalay kami ng yakap. Nanatili lang naman ang titig ko sa kaniya. I just slowly smile now that I’m seeing his face again. Not just on my imagination. 

Pareho na kaming natahimik habang nakatingin sa kalangitan. Parehong nakasandal na sa gilid mula rito sa rooftop. Siya ang bumasag ng katahimikan naming dalawa. 

“Who are you?” he asked once again. I don’t really know what’s going on dahil mukhang hindi naman siya nagmamaang-maangan doon. 

“I’m Sola, your girlfriend…” I said before smiling at him. He looked shock while looking at me kaya bahagyang kumunog ang noo ko. 

“I know that I had a girlfriend… Someone who left me after I heard the result from my check up… She leaves me after I realize that I’m dying so it’s impossible that it’s you…” sambit niya na mukhang naguguluhan na rin. 

“Why can’t I remember the name of my girlfriend?” mahina pa niyang tanong sa kaniyang sarili. 

“Strangely how I don’t really know about you at all but I feel comfortable with just your hug…” He looked at me again. Para bang tagos hanggang kalamnan ko ang titig niya sa akin ngayon.