"He can't understand me, okay? Even my Mom can't understand me. Tangina no one can!" Hoon was full of anger and stress while saying that to me."When you don't have anyone to understand you, I will." I said in a careful tone.
"What do you know? You're living the best life. You wouldn't understand what it's like."
I'm living the best life?
I can't blame him for saying that, I never shared anything about my life. Maybe okay na yun na isipin niyang masaya ang buhay ko para kahit papaano hindi siya magiguilty everytime na mag-oopen siya sa'kin. I understand his behavior. He is just like me, and that's okay.
"Tara balik na ta-"
I didn't finish what I was about to say when Hoon embraced me. Nagulat ako sa biglang pagyakap niya. At that moment, I wanted to cry my heart out. Finally, after all I've been through someone loved me and he's right here... embracing me. I wanted to break down right there and then. I remembered how my family and friends treated me. Kung paano nila ko sinaktan, kung paano nila ko pinagtawanan, kung... kung paano nila inubos ang pagkatao ko at ang mga rason ko para mabuhay.I wanted to cry when Hoon hugged me... but I didn't. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong maiyak. I was about to let go pero hindi niya ko pinakawalan, and so that hugged felt like forever.
But for some reasons... it still didn't give me enough reason to stay.
"Can I read?" Hoon asked me if he can read the message that I carved on our tree.
"No! 'Di muna pwede! Read this next year bawal muna ngayon." I covered it. This is my farewell message. You can't read it now...
"Ako, pabasa nung sa'yo." I approached him, grinning.
"No! Next year na lang." Pang-aasar niya kaya naman natawa ko.
But there's no next year.
"Po?! Wala po bang available na magkahiwalay na rooms?" I asked in panic nang sabihin ng receptionist na isang room lang ang available for tonight sa beach resort.
"Don't worry, hindi kita lalapitan kung uncomfortable ka." Hoon reassured me. Wow, I didn't know may lalaki pa palang ganto. A guy who knows boundaries, that's rare.
"H-hoy! Ito ang linya ha! Bawal ka lumagpas!" Halatang nagpipigil nang tawa si Hoon nang guhitan ko ng whiteboard marker ang sahig namin. I have ballpens and markers para sa pagsusulat ko ng letter mamaya.
Nang mapagod kami at nakatulog na siya, bumangon ako para isulat ang last message ko sa kanya. I wrote him a letter, and tears fell down as I wrote it. Nilapitan ko siya sa kama niya, I crossed our border, and I brushed my hand over his head.
"I'm sorry, Hoon. Can you live without me?" Tuloy-tuloy lang ang pagluha ko as I stared at him sleeping. This will be the last time that I'll see him.
"I promise to look for you in our next lives." I smiled at him habang pumapatak ang mga luha ko. I leaned in and gave his forehead a kiss.
So, we spent my last day together just like that. At least on my last day here, Hoon made me the happiest.
Later on in the morning, nauna na umalis si Hoon dahil may urgent call siya from his dad. When he left, that's when I read the message he carved on our tree.
"I love you, Elezia. I will marry you one day."
I broke down as I read his message. Napaluhod ako and I covered my mouth to stop myself from crying out loud.
"I'm sorry, but I can't marry you, Hoon. I can't be your bride." I whispered to myself. Tuloy-tuloy ang pag iyak ko.
I'm sorry because I'm leaving you...
"When I grow up I want to become a Doctor!" That's what I said when I was in kindergarten. Now that I'm grown up, all I wanted was to become happy.
God finally did something.
God sent me Hoon. The person who made my dream come true. He made me happy, even just for a day, for a whole year. My smile was genuine when I'm with him. No words can describe how thankful I am that I met Hoon, and I do love him so much.
and I'll continue to love him even in the afterlife.
YOU ARE READING
Elezia
Short StoryHoon was suffering from depression when he met a bubbly and cheerful girl, Elezia, who is the complete opposite of him. They see each other every year on the same date and at the same beach to unwind and escape from reality.