What Happened? || MaColet (BINI #1)

Chapter 37: Goodbye

Days passed so fast that I could even think kung kailan ako nagpahinga. After our last performance nagpaalam na kami na aalis nila Jho at ipinakilala namin ang mga bago. They were all freshmen para sure kami na magtatagal sila. Some went sad dahil nasanay na sila sa amin especially those third year students pero wala naman silang magagawa.

I never thought that I could find genuine fans here. Someone who waited for our music kahit wala namang original at puro covers lang ang ginagawa namin. Someday, I will give them one. Something that they will never forget.

We are here now at the airport kasama ko si Aiah. Nauna na si Jho since mas maaga siyang nakapagbook ng flight. Ang sabi niya ay hihintayin na lang niya ako sa airport doon at sabay na kami pupunta sa flat na inilaan niya for me.

"Colet, are you ready?" Aiah asked me with a concerned look. "It's getting late. Baka mahuli pa tayo sa flight."

I looked back at the airport entrance, waiting for someone. I am waiting for Maloi. Ayokong umalis na wala siya. Ayoko talagang mang-iwan. If I could just stay, I would. However, this is for my dream and she isn't part of it. She has a dream to pursue too.

"5 minutes, Aiah. Kaya pa ba?" I'll wait for her. Baka umabot siya. Baka kaya pa. Alam naman niya na aalis ako ngayon.

"You know what if you're hesitating, don't go." Aiah sighed, "wala namang pumipilit sa ‘yo e."

I slowly nodded and gripped on my hand carry bag. Hindi na siguro siya aabot. Hindi rin naman kasi ako nagsabi ng time kung anong oras ako aalis dahil alam ko namang pipigilan niya lang ako. Ilang beses niyang nasabi ’yan.

I never wanted to ruin such a perfect relationship. However, may mga bagay talaga na hindi natin maiiwasan. ‘Yung tipong kahit anong gawin natin, hindi na natin kayang ipaglaban.

"Tara na." I smiled sadly before walking towards my friend, "baka ma-late na naman siya." Even though I know na never siyang na-late sa akin kung hindi naman siya busy.

Sinadya niya. Sinadya niyang huwag akong kitain.

Aiah looked at the entrance too bago tumango at sabay kaming naglakad. We're leaving now. Hindi na ako aasa na mahihintay niya ako. Ayoko rin itali siya dahil mahirap naman talaga ang magkalayo. If she wants to find another person na magbibigay ng love sa kanya habang wala ako, ayos lang. Iintindihin ko. Maiintindihan ko siya palagi.

***

I reached my destination and Aiah immediately parted ways with me since hindi naman kami pareho ng pupuntahan dito. She's here for vacation, and I am here to work.

Agad kong nakita si Jho na malaki ang ngiti habang kumakaway. I miss my family already, buti na lang kahit papaano ay nandito si Jho. She can be my family for a while.

"Tired?" she asked at tinulungan ako bitbit ko. "Sorry, walang private car, let's have a cab na lang. Tapos deretso na tayo sa flat mo para makapagpahinga ka na. Is that fine?"

"Hindi ka ba pagod? Magpahinga ka rin kaya."

"I'm fine. Sanay ako sa ganito. Ikaw ang hindi," she said then chuckled. "Tara na, dahil bukas you'll meet my family for the contract signing. They are so excited to meet you. And oo nga pala..."

"Ano?"

"I bought you a new phone. Nabanggit kasi ni ate Aiah na naiwan mo raw phone mo bago kayo umalis sa airport. Kaya bumili na ako." She handed me the new phone.

I accepted it and thanked her.

Jho's smile lift up the mood. Kahit sobrang pagod siya hindi niya pinapakita ’yon. Sobrang hardworking niya despite having a generational wealth.

Pagkarating namin sa flat ay nag-ayos muna ako ng mga gamit at tinulungan ako ni Jho. She was still silent but excited. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya excited pero nakakagaan siya tingnan. Ang happy-go-lucky lang niya.

"Dito ka na matulog." I told her after everything. "Gabi na rin, tapos wala kang dalang kotse."

"Okay lang," she said and smiled.

"Please?"

Jho stopped for a while at napakurap. "Is that really you, Colet?" She chuckled. "Ngayon pa lang kita narinig mag-please."

"Dito ka na nga matulog. Ayoko rin mag-isa. Ang lungkot." I sighed at umupo sa couch. "Okay lang ba?"

"Fine." She nodded. "Kahit dito na ako tumira, ayos lang." I know that was a joke pero um-agree ako.

"Then live here. We're going to make music together." I smiled a bit.

"Pag-iisipan ko, but for now let's sleep. Pagod na ako." Jho reached for my hand at hinila na ako papasok sa kwarto.