Prologue
I glanced at the busy streets of manila while waiting for the person in front of me to digest what I have just said.
"What do you mean break up?" He looked at me like I'm crazy. I can't blame him, we've never had big fights before.
I called him this morning to talk to him about something important. And that something important is me, breaking up with him.
"May ginawa ba ako? Something wrong? Something you hate?" He sounded desperate.
"No. It's just me, I wanted out." I told him honestly.
"You already planned on breaking up with me?" Medyo mahina nang sabi niya. Hurt evident in his voice.
"Yes." I sighed.
"Why Ida? Okay naman tayo ah? Wala naman tayong naging problema." He looked like he was so lost.
"I'm really sorry, Theo." I apologized, sincerely.
"You felt obligated. Is that it?" Tumango siya na parang naiintindihan na niya kung bakit ako nakikipaghiwalay sakanya.
"But Ida, we were together so long since I can remember!" Biglang tumaas ang boses niya sa puntong pinag-titinginan na kami ng mga tao.
"We were together since we were highschool! Since we were kids-!" I cut him off. That's the fucking point!
"Yun nga yung problema!" Hindi ko na din napigilang pag taasan siya ng boses.
"We were kids!" I snapped, "We were childish enough to get swayed by the teasing our friends made." I stood up and fixed my things.
"Ida.." His voice broke.
"I did love you Theo. Just not enough to make me stay." I said and walked out.
I left the café feeling relieved. I finally told him those pent up words that have been crawling to get out. Naawa ako sakanya, but I have to put myself first this time.
"So you told him you don't love him enough, and then left?" Meg, my bestfriend, asked.
I nodded at her question. I'm here in her bar drinking.
"Grabe ka A! I never thought you could be that heartless!" She exclaimed as she cleans some shot glasses.
"But, you did reject him a couple of times even before." She shrugged.
I poured myself another shot and looked around the bar.
Meg is two years older than me. This bar originally belongs to her adoptive father who took her in his house and took care of her and treated her like his own.
He named the bar after her.
I have lots of memories here, really. Her father treated me like his own too. Kaya I was devastated nung nalaman kong inatake siya sa puso na naging rason ng pagkamatay niya.
Things at home never go well. My grandmother is really strict and conservative, and she basically controls my life. My relationship with Theo was also arranged by her. She told me to get along with him so I did.
So I guess that's why being with Theo felt like a duty.
"What's your plan now then?" Meg asked, "Considering your grandma already knows about what happened, she'll surely raise hell." She laughed.
"What I do best?" I shrugged.
"And that is?"
"Escape." I grinned.
Nakangiti naman siyang umiling-iling na para bang inaasahan niya na 'to pero hindi parin siya makapaniwala.
