Echoes of the Past // MIKHAIAH

Chapter 9: Free

Matthias' POV

Ilang araw na din akong hindi pumasok. I was focusing on the task Lolo gave me.

Today, I'm meeting with Sophia to get updates.

Araw araw I get messages from her, but I couldn't bring myself to see her. Binibigyan ko lang ng panahon si Jeremy. Which is a huge favor for him. Alam ko naman kasing hindi madali sabihin yung ganong bagay.

I looked up when someone tapped me and sat with me.

"You're here na pala. Do you have any leads?" I asked Sophia as she sipped her coffee.

"Still stuck unfortunately, but getting there."

We talked for a few minutes before she decided to leave.

I walked back to the condo. My thoughts were still bombarded with questions.

Alam kong I owe Aya the truth pero I want it to be at the very least coming from Jeremy's mouth.

Am I wrong for thinking like this?

I sat in a bench in a park near my condo. Then I saw a familiar figure. It was Lola, the one I helped.

"Lola Maiah? Ikaw ba yan?" I asked as I approached her.

"Ikaw pala yan, ija. Anong ginagawa mo dito?" she asked.

I sat down beside her.

"Just relieving stress, la. Ikaw po?"

"Inaalala ko lang ang kabataan ko, ija." she had a sad smile flashed to her face.

"Magkwento ka na, la. Marami naman akong free time." I said.

Ngumiti naman siya.

"I fell inlove, ija. It was the most amazing feeling I ever experienced. He was an ice cream vendor in this park." she paused. "He would always give me a cup of ice cream kapag nakikita niya ako."

I was listening intently, not quite sure what to feel.

"He was the sweetness in my life. Hindi dahil sa ice cream." she laughed which made me smile. "Pero dahil minahal niya ako kahit ano man ako. Kapag kapiling ko siya, ang saya ko. Kahit anong problema ko sa bahay at pag-aaral nawawala kapag kasama ko siya."

I didn't know why pero I started thinking of Aya when she said those words.

Love ba ang tawag don? Feeling at peace? Calm and happy around a person?

"Naging kami at don ko nalang nalaman na anak pala siya ng mayaman. Mayroon silang business but he was not interested. Bumili siya ng bahay, by the beach, kasi alam niya kung gaano ko kagusto tumira sa tabing dagat." I saw her eyes welling up with tears.

"Pero hanggang don lang pala yung saya na yon. He left. Umalis siya at naiwan akong walang alam, hanggang sa nabalitaan ko nalang kinasal na pala siya."

I was shocked, that was a complete turn around. Which is why love is not reliable. It will betray you.

"Kaya umalis ako at bago nalang bumalik sa Cebu. Sa ilang araw na napalagi ako dito, hindi ko parin malimutan ang pagmamahalan namin. Pero ako? Nakalimutan niya kaya ako?" tears were streaming down her face.

I held her hand and comforted her.

"For sure, may rason siya, la. Kung mahal ka ng tawo, mahirap din sayo na iwan siya. Sana magkita kayo para makapag usap kayo." I said.

"Hindi ko nga alam, ija. Kung kamusta na siya? Kung may mga anak na ba siya? Kamusta kaya pamilya niya? Gusto ko siyang tanungin pero matanda na kami, ija. Matagal ng natapos ang kwento namin. Baka hindi nga kami para sa isa't isa." she said.