WAITING

Chapter 17

Vince

It's been a week since the breakup, and I still can't stop thinking about her. Every time my phone vibrates, I hope it's her calling me to say she made a mistake and wants me back. But it never is.

I've been trying to keep busy, but everything reminds me of her. The park where we used to go on picnics, the coffee shop where we had our first date, even the song that was playing on the radio when we kissed for the first time.

I know I need to let go of the past and focus on the future, but it's hard. I miss her so much.

It's really difficult when you love someone so much and then suddenly you break up. I don't know how I'm going to change myself after all of this. Maybe I need to accept what happened before I can move on.

"*Ring ring,*" my dad called on the phone, and I answered right away.

"Hello, Dad," I said.

"Hey, is everything okay? You haven't been going to work. Is there a problem with your job? We can talk about it," he asked, sounding worried.

"No, I'm fine. I just needed some rest. I promise everything's okay," I replied, trying to reassure him.

"Are you sure? Maybe something's wrong, and you don't want to tell me," he persisted.

"I'm sure. Don't worry," I chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood.

"I know you, Vincent. Just remember, I'm always here for you," he said comfortingly.

"Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to me," I said, grateful for his support.

"Okay, I have a lot of things to do. I just wanted to check on you if you're okay." pagkatapos ay pinatay niya narin ang phone.

"*knock, *knock" when I heard someone knocking on the door.

"Vince, nandyan kaba, please..." Si miss toni? bakit siya nandito nang gantong oras, anong kailangan niya.

She has been knocking and calling my name for several minutes now. I wanted to be alone, but she might have something important to say, so I opened the door after a while.

Nagkamali ako na ginawa ko pa yung bagay na yun...

Inaya niya ako kung pwede pa kaming mag-hangout kahit saglit lang. Pumayag naman ako. Sa totoo lang, masaya naman siyang kasama. Makulit, madaldal, at kung minsan para siyang bata mag-isip. Baka hindi ko lang talaga gets yung humor niya o kung paano siya.

Ang daming nangyari, pero ang mahalaga naman dun nag enjoy kami.

"Eh...kay alicia naka move on kana ba?" Ang bilis naman, 1 week break up pa lang.tanong niya sa akin habang nakangiti ng nakakaloko.

I didn't know how to respond. I wanted to say yes, to make her think that I was doing just fine without her, but my heart knew the truth. Hindi pa rin ako nakakamove-on. Masakit pa rin. Parang ang hirap magpakatanga pero parang wala akong magawa kundi tanggapin na wala na talaga.

I looked at her and saw that she was genuinely concerned about my well-being. Pero ayoko ngayon. Ayoko ng masakit. Ayoko ng tanong na paulit-ulit akong nasasaktan.

So I just smiled and said...

"Oo naman, kaya ko 'to," I lied, trying to protect myself from further heartache. Sa una lang mahirap pero habang tumatagal masasanay din siguro ako na hindi na siya kasama.

"Uyy, joke lang baka mamaya umiyak ka, sisihin mo pako, alam ko din naman na di ka pa nakakamove on obvious naman sa mukha mo," sabi niya sa akin.