Unexpected Love

Chapter 30- Unknown

"Mind if I join you?" she asked.

Ayoko'ng ipahalata na nabo-bother ako sa presensiya niya kaya pumayag na ako.

We were sitting in a cable sa tuktok ng tower at tahimik na humihigop ng kape.

Ni hindi ko alam kung pa'no ko kauusapin ang babaeng ito. Ang babaeng dahilan ng pagdadalamhati ko.

Halatang hindi niya talaga ako kilala... Gusto ko siya'ng tanungin, pero natatakot ako. Natatakot ako sa maaaring isagot niya.

"E-ehem. What's your name, anyways?" she suddenly asked.

"J-javi"

"Nice to meet you, Javi. I'm Carina" she smiled like a fine lady.

Kung ikukumpara sa artista, mala-Solenn Heusaff ang aura niya.

"Taga sa'n ka ba sa Pinas? Manila ka din ba?" bigla niyang napatanong.

"A-ah, oo. Ikaw din?" natanong ko na rin.

"Yes, but I'm staying here for good... with my soon to be fiancé" she smiled so warm na ikinabagsak ng puso ko.

Soon to be fiancé? Si Daniel ba ang tinutukoy niya?

Parang ayaw tanggapin ng puso ko.

"M-matagal na ba kayo ng fiancé mo?" hindi ko naipigilang matanong.

"Sort of" she laughed at her answer. "It was a whirlwind-like relationship"

"We were highschool sweethearts for a year and so naghiwalay kami when stepping into college. Ngayon, nagkabalikan na kami. Bago lang. Actually, he is suffering from amnesia." she is now serious in tone.

Awtomatikong napatingin ako sakanya na kunot-noo.

Amnesia?

Si Daniel nagka-amnesia? Kailan lang?

"Ooohhh, you look interested" she chuckled. "Naaksidente kasi yu'ng boyfriend ko sa Pinas kaya nagkaroon siya ng amnesia. He can't remember a thing except his family and oh well, me."

I wanted to cry upon hearing her story.

"The moment he woke up, he was acting crazy because he wanted to see me. That's why her mom decided to also bring him to Korea para makita ako since matagal na ako'ng nag i istay dito. My dad and his mom are partners in business. Para na rin makapagbagong-buhay siya. Dito na siya tuluyang nagpagaling. He is well now pero hindi pa bumabalik ang buong alaala niya, and I hope hindi na." she continued her story.

Napatingin ako sa kanya na may halong pagtataka.

Mukhang naintindihan naman niya ang ekspresiyon ko kaya nagkuwento pa siya.

"Nu'ng panahong hiwalay pa kami, I saw him in a restaurant with other woman. I didn't see her face but I know they were together for an intimate purpose. Naiyak ako nu'n dahil hindi pa ako nakaka-move on, but seeing him with me right now makes me feel contented. Now I know na ako pala talaga ang mahal niya dahil ako ang naaalala niya... At ako ang kasama niya ngayon." she wiped her tears as she ended her story. "I guess he completely forgot about that woman which I am thankful for"

May naging girlfriend pala si Daniel bago ako? Ang tanga-tanga lang. Ang dami ko'ng hindi alam. I can't blame Daniel, I can't even blame this woman beside me.

All I can do is to blame myself.

Hindi pala niya ako maalala?

Am I not that important?

Para di masubukang maalala ng isipan mo?

"A-ano nga pala'ng pangalan n-ng f-f-fiancé mo?" deep inside me gusto ko'ng marinig na ibang pangalan ang banggitin niya.

"Daniel. Danilo Pahamak. Funny name, right?" she brightly smiled towards me.

Ngiting-ngiti siya pero ako, sobra pa sa broken.

"I used to teased him by his last name way back in high school. Sinasaway lang ako ng dad ko. My dad and his mom are partners in business, right? Kaya sure thing kami na talaga. It's an arrange marriage though, pero it's more like matagal na nami'ng mahal ang isa't isa. A gift by fate, maybe?" she widely smiled. "How about you, Javi? What brings you here in Korea?"

"Ah---- Kailangan ko na pala'ng umalis. Pasensiya ka na" nagmamadali ako'ng tumayo para sana umalis na kaya lang pinigilan niya ako.

"Oh, nandito na pala siya. Wait, Javi, ipakikilala muna kita sa boyfriend ko." she held my right arm.

Too late at hindi na ako nakatakas. Pilit ko'ng lumingon sa direksiyon ni Daniel and I saw him smiling towards me, towards her maybe.

"Dan, meet Javi... My new acquaintance. Javi? This is Daniel. Boyfriend ko..." she urged us to shake hands.

Iniabot ni Daniel ang kanang kamay niya. "Hi, nice to meet you. Pinay ka pala"

Ni hindi ko matanggap ang iniaabot niya'ng kamay. Ni hindi ko magawang tumango or ngumiti man lang.

"Hi" I remained my self composure.

"You look familiar. Have we met before?"

Oo. Gago ka. Ako nga yu'ng mahal mo sa Pinas, eh. Putang ina ka.

"H-hindi yata" Damn, I want to say how much I miss him and how much I want to hug him. "S-sige, mauna na talaga ako"

Bilis-bilis ako'ng lumabas at bumaba ng Namsan Tower.

Again and again, tumulo na naman ang precious tears ko.