The Unfortunate Crush (Published under UKIYOTO PUBLISHING HOUSE)

Chapter 35

We stayed at the near cave for the night. Good thing Rett brought blankets. Ang sabi niya ay inaasahan niyang magagabihan siya sa paghahanap sa akin kaya nagdala siya ng mga kailangan.

Malamig man ang sahig sa kweba, naging kumportable pa rin para sa akin at sa kanya. We slept with a lighted heart, both contented with everything. 

"Paano pala sila Danabel and...your Mom?" Tanong ko habang pabalik na kami sa kampo. 

"Don't worry about them. Mom is worried about you. Baka kung saan ka na raw nagpunta. She learned about the truth too." 

"A-Alam na ni Tita?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. 

Tumango ito. "Yeah."

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. 

"I know what my Mom did. Noong panahong inatake ako ng pangalawang amnesia, my mom did everything in her power not to bring up about the island again... Nalaman kong nakiusap ka raw sa kanya,"

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad. 

"Uhm. Naiintindihan ko naman sila. There was Dana in the picture. Tama naman na mas mabuti kung hindi mo na maalala ang nangyari sa isla..."

Umigting ang panga nito. 

"Still, she should have told me. Araw-araw lagi nalang akong parang may hinahanap." 

Ilang sandali pa ay may nilabas ito. 

It's the phone that we used when got stranded on this island!

Doon ko rin inilagay ang mensahe ko sa kanya noon!

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "N-Nasa sa'yo pa pala 'yan."

Tumango ito. 

I chuckled painfully. "Akala ko tinapon mo na 'yan."

He licked his lips at umiling. 

"How can I? It has something important. I cannot throw it away." 

Natahimik ako  nang matanto kung ano ang tinutukoy niya.

Pinindot niya ang note at nakita ko roon ang mensahe ko para sa kanya noon.

He smiled but his eyes show sadness. Tila nahihirapan habang binabasa ang mensahe. 

"I read this two nights right after we returned to civilization. I remember I couldn't sleep right after I read it. " He licked his lips. 

"The night before I collapsed. I tried to respond to your message. It's there..." Itinuro niya ang isang note kung saan nakalagay ang date na September 2, 2023, ang araw bago siya sinugod sa hospital. 

Iniabot niya sa akin ang phone at binuksan ko 'yun.

Dear Eve,

I'm not sure if you're going to read this. But I hope someday that you will. 

There are so many things that I want to say. 

First, I want to say that I can still smell the scent of your hair. The way you kiss me is still imprinted on my mind and it haunts me every night.  And everyday, I just find myself longing to hear your voice.

Miss na miss na kita Eba.

Walang araw na nagdaan na hindi kita namimiss. 

I'm not sure now if I'm happy about my decision. 

I thought everything is going to be fine, but if so, then why I am so miserable? 

Hindi ko pala kaya.