I'm driving going back sa Manila. Galing ako ng Laguna because I just visited Jhoana's family because it's her dad's birthday.
I'm waiting on a stoplight when I decided to listen to the radio. I'm more of a music person kapag nakikinig ng radio. I prefer makinig ng music pero I don't know what's gotten into me when I tuned in sa radio channel na puro life story ang laman.
Feeling ko kakasimula pa lang nung kuwento nung magsimula akong makinig. The radio man started to read the story.
"Hi Mr. DJ. I don't want po na ireveal yung name ko but you can call me M. I'm a big fan po since college and I didn't expect na one day I'll share my own story sa channel mo po.." panimulang sabi ni Mr. DJ.
I know someone na mahilig makinig sa kanya. She once said na ito yung way nya to entertain herself if she's not feeling so good.
"I want to share my story, my love story. Nakilala ko po sya nung college kami. First year college. Right from the start, when we had our introduction, I know na magkakasundo kami. She's taking up Business Management while ako naman po ay Multimedia Arts. Parehas po kaming babae but everyone accepted our relationship. We've been together all throughout college days..."
Napangiti ako kasi parehas kami ng course nung girlfriend nung sender. It's been a year since my graduation and because of her story, I can't help na to reminisce my college days.. including my time with her.
"At first, hindi ko po talaga naisip na magkakagusto ako sa kanya. I'm a clingy person na po ever since but when it comes to her, I'm always extra clingy. Hindi naman din po sya nagrereklamo. She's beautiful and kind. Well-spoken and napa-caring. Very wife material po sya and super green flag nya Mr. DJ. She knows me too well. Kung ano yung mga bawal na pagkain sakin, mga ayaw kong bagay and kung ano yung magpapasaya sakin..."
"Because of her, napatunayan ko yung quote na "To be loved is to be known." Kahit mga simpleng bagay, nakikita nya or napapansin nya. She always makes me happy with every word she says and always gives me the affirmation that I need."
The stoplight turns green so I started to drive but still listening to the radio. I don't know pero invested ako sa kuwento ni ate girl.
"We both love music po. The way we show affection for each other is through music. Lagi akong gumagawa ng playlist for her and sya naman mahilig akong kantahan lalo na bago matulog. On our first anniversary, she sang me a song sa harap ng maraming tao including our friends and families. That's one of my memorable moment with her."
Unti-unti kong napansin na para bang familiar yung kuwento nung sender. Biglang tumibok ng mabilis yung puso ko habang nakikinig sa radio.
"Everything sounds magical and full of happiness pero everything has changed when I got into an accident. I lost the memories of her. Pinagtulakan ko sya, sinabihan ng masasakit na salita because I don't know her pero lapit sya ng lapit sakin..."
With a shaking hand and my heart beating so fast, I drove fast papunta sa bahay ni Maloi. I know it's her. I can't be wrong about it. Maybe that's the reason why the story is so familiar kasi kuwento namin yung kinukuwento nya.
"I pushed her so hard to the point na kailangan ko pang sabihin sa kanya na ikakasal na ako sa iba. She tried to make me remember her kahit na meron na akong iba. Alam kong nasaktan ko sya ng sobra and I can't forgive myself from doing that to her..."
Hindi ko mapigilan na maiyak habang nakikinig. I can still remember the words she said to me that day...
Flashback
"Ganyan ka ba ka-desperate?! I don't know you and I don't love you! Stop bothering me! I have a boyfriend, hindi ka ba nahihiya?!" Pagtaboy nya sakin.
Ever since she got out from the hospital, I never stopped doing what I always do nung kami pa.. nung naaalala nya pa ako. She loves receiving flowers lalo na galing sakin pero ngayon, tinatapon na lang nya lahat ng binibigay ko. Kahit na yung mga art materials na bigay ko, hindi niya pinapansin.
I tried to give her space pero when I did that, nakahanap na sya ng iba.
"Maloi please, let me be. I know hindi mo ako naaalala and wala na akong pwesto dyan sa puso mo but let me show you my love for you kahit sa ganitong mga paraan lang." Pagmamakaawa ko.
"No. Ipapa-police kita if hindi ka tumigil. If what you're saying is true, if girlfriend nga kita, hindi ko alam kung ano nakita ko sayo. Hindi ko kayang magmahal ng tanga at desperadang tao na katulad mo! And besides, I'm getting married so please lang, tigilan mo na ako!" Pakiramdam ko ay nabuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig dahil sa sinabi nya.. ikakasal na sya sa iba.
End of flashback
"That day, nung pinagtabuyan ko sya, hindi na nya ako ginulo pa. Hindi na sya nagsend sakin ng mga kung ano-ano and hindi na rin sya nagpakita sakin. That's when I learnt na umuwi na sya sa kanila sa Cebu. Hindi ko alam Mr. DJ pero akala ko I'll get the peace that I want pero hindi. I long for her..."
Maloi's accident happened right after our graduation. She's been in coma for almost a month because of that car accident. I stayed by her side hanggang sa gumaling sya and hanggang sa nalaman ko na ikakasal na sya sa iba which is sinabi nya sakin 3 months ago.
3 months akong nagstay sa Cebu and walang contact sa kahit kanino maliban sa family ko. Ngayon lang ako umalis ng bahay to dahil birthday ni tito and para narin kunin yung mga gamit kong naiwan sa condo ko.
It's never part of my plan na puntahan si Maloi kasi I know na wala na akong karapatan sa kanya. I still love her.. hindi naman ata mawawala yun ng basta basta.
"She's not fond of this Mr. DJ pero if there's any chance na nakikinig sya, I just want to let her know na I remember everything. I love her so much. Yun lang po Mr. DJ. Thank you sa pagbasa ng kuwento."
Hindi rin nagtagal at nakarating ako sa bahay ni Maloi. Lumabas ako ng car and tumakbo papunta sa gate and press the doorbell.
"Ms. Aiah?" Bungad na tanong sakin ni manang Cecille.
"Si Maloi po?" Kinakabahan kong tanong.
"Umalis po si ma'am. Nung isang araw pa po syang wala." Napanghinaan naman ako ng loob sa sagot ni manang. Ngumiti na lang ako ng kaunti at nagpasalamat.
Dismayado akong naglakad papunta sa kotse ko. I'm about to enter my car when I heard a familiar voice calling me.
"Aiah?" Napatingin ako sa nagsalita and I saw Maloi standing not far from me. Mukhang kalalabas nya lang ng kotse nya.
I didn't waste any time and tumakbo na ako papunta sa kanya. Niyakap ko sya ng sobrang higpit and hindi ko na rin napigilan mapaiyak.
"I heard sa favourite radio station mo yung kuwento natin." Sabi ko na mahina habang yakap siya.
I pulled from the hug and looked at her. "Kailan pa?" Tanong ko.
"Almost 2 weeks na." Sagot nya. Umiiyak na rin sya.
"Why didn't you tell me? Bakit hindi mo ako pinuntahan sa Cebu or tinawagan?"
"I'm scared.. I'm scared na because of what I did to you, hindi mo na ako balikan. I'm scared to find out na meron ka ng iba." Malungkot nyang sagot.
"Nothing has changed love. I still love you and you're the only one na mamahalin ko. Kahit ilang beses mo akong nasaktan, I'll always forgive you."
"I love you too Aiah. I'm sorry for not remembering you. I promise I'll make it up to you." She hugged me and cried on my shoulder. I soothe her back to calm her down.
"Let's make up to each other. Pero before that, kinasal ka ba talaga?" She shook her head and look at me.
"When you left, one week lang ang lumipas and nakipagbreak ako kay Akira. Hinanap ko muna yung sarili ko and when I did, all my memories came back. Because I was scared, I decided na lang na ishare yung story natin hoping na mapili and marinig mo."
"I love you so much Maloi." I said then kissed her forehead.
"I love you too Aiah."
