When It's Too Late

2

Russell Wilson's POV..

“Bakit nag aya ka na naman uminom?” tanong ng kaibigan ko pagka-upo nila sa tabi ko.
“Syempre Marc, naguguluhan na yan kung sinong dapat piliin. Yung first love niya ba o yung fiance niya?” tiningnan ko siya ng masama at nag taas naman siya ng kamay.
“Alam mo pare, sinabihan ka na namin una pa lang e. Kung mahal mo talaga yang first love mo wala ka naman ding pag-asa kasi kasal na yon.  Yung fiance mo, kahit arrange marriage ang nangyari sa inyo hindi naman mahirap mahalin sabi mo diba? Bakit hindi mo subukan? Baka biglang mawala sayo yan, hindi lahat ng umaalis bumabalik, hindi lahat ng nasasaktan nagpapatawad.” napa inom ako sa sinabi niya, tama siya.
“Malapit na matapos ang kontrata na pinirmahan naming dalawa sa mga magulang namin. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na mag dadalawang taon na pala kami magkasama sa iisang bahay.” napailing silang dalawa.
“Teka nga, 'wag mong sabihin ni minsan hindi pa kayo nagkasabay kumain?” umiling ako
“Alam mo kahit kaibigan kita babatukan kita e! Mukha lang tayong mga g*go pero hindi tayo nang g*g*go ng babae! Pre, kapag talaga iniwan ka niyan sa altar, bahala ka.”

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Sa tuwing inu-umaga ako ng gising, nakikita ko siyang nag luluto sa kusina. Like today, she's wearing a simple shirt that is hugging her shape. She's also wearing a pajama pants, her hair was fixed into a messy bun. She turn around, maybe sensing that someone is looking at her.

“Let's eat?” I shake my head no.
“I need to go now.” I'm already late, for sure Mom will scold me again. I sighed heavily.
“You can bring something for lunch.” she said, my phone rang and I looked at it. Chesca calling.. I stared on the screen until it ended. I was about to answer Alyssa but my phone rang again and its Chesca again so I just answered it.

“Yes, I'll be there in five okay? Calm down.” she's panicking, without any thought I go out of the house and drive fast. I was almost in Chesca's house when I remembered I didn't answered Alyssa.

After that, she never invite me to eat again. She never tell me to bring food in the office. She become more silent and always leaving when I'm home. She will answer when I ask her, but nothing else. I tried to talk to her but she's getting ready for something. She's always away this past few weeks, I'm not sure why I am following her right now.

She picked up a girl, I guess that's her friend. They keep on going to some stores, eating and I end up watching them everytime from a far.

I was busy smiling and looking at her direction while she's trying different clothes, she look so good in everything she tries. My phone suddenly rang, I immediately answered it without looking on it.

“What?” I asked
“What? I'm here at my house. Can you come here please?” I heard Chesca's voice. Oh crap.
“I have important things to do right now, Chesca.” she began crying
“I don't know what to do anymore. Please I need you Rus, come here.” I sighed and nods even though she can't see it.
“I'm on my way, wait for me there.”

When I arrive, I saw her outside their house crying. I immediately hugged and comforted her.
“What happened Ches? Why are you crying?”
“He wanted to divorce me.” she keeps on crying.
“Why? What happened? Did he cheat on you? Tell me!” she keeps on shaking her head
“No, but he saw someone and he's interested to her. What will I do? I love him so much, I don't want him to leave me. Please help me Rus, I know you can help me. What should I do?” She's begging me to help her get back to the man I always pray to be me. Why does she love him so much? I can love her more than he can, why not me? And most importantly why does she need my help? Its torturing me so much already. Why do I love her so much?

“You should get inside now Chesca, if you want him back stop crying and fix yourself. Take care of him, and make him realize that only you can love him more than anyone else.” Just like what I did, but still you never notice it. My heart aches as I continue to hug her. Why do I love this girl so much?
“Bakit ba ganito? Bakit hirap siyang mahalin ako? Sana, ikaw nalang ang mahal ko. Sana sayo nalang ako ikinasal, sana ikaw nalang.” she's sobbing uncontrollably, I felt a pang im my heart. Sana, sana ako nalang. Bakit hanggang sana lang? Bakit hindi nalang talaga ako? I feel like crying, so I pushed her slightly. Looking at her eyes.
“Go inside now, take care of your husband.” I cleared something in my throat and walked away.
“Do you think I can?” she asked, I stopped and nodded. I learned how to love you, I know your husband can.
“Yes.” with that I walked to my car and drive away.

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“Bro, code D. It's on me.” I called my best friends, humiyaw pa ang dalawa pagkasabi kong ako ang bahala.
“The usual? We're on our way, man.” I sighed heavily when the call hung up. I've always known that I don't have a chance to Chesca, but I really love her. I can't just give up like this and I can't let her go.

“Man, kakarating mo lang. Akin yan e!” saway sa'kin ni James ng tunggain ko ang beer na bagong lapag pa lang sa harapan niya.
“Another 1 bucket.” 
“O ano na naman problema mo? Lagi ka nalang may problema di ka na naubusan.” sambit ni Greg sabay tawa ng dalawa.
“Mga gunggong sino bang tao ang naubusan ng problema?” binatukan ko sila tsaka bumalik sa pag inom, di ko napigilan ang mga luhang kusang bumagsak
“Tangina po umiiyak na siya.” komento ni James
“Weak, lasing na agad.” hirit pa ni Greg
“Mga g*go, sakin pa siya humingi ng tulong para bumalik asawa niya sa kanya. Sabi pa niya, sana daw ako nalang yung napangasawa niya. Bakit sana lang? Bakit kasi hindi nalang ako? T*ngina.” nakakahiya pero humahagulgol pa ako, may mga iilan rin na umiiyak sa lamesa nila, sa kabila. Wala akong pakialam kahit pinag-titinginan na ako, even if they know my pain or not.
“Pare naman kasi, una pa lang alam mo ng hindi pwedeng magkaroon ng kayo. Arrange marriage rin ang nangyari kay Chesca, no offense pare ha. Pero hindi mo ba nakikita na parehas kayo ng posisyon. Kasal na siya at ikakasal ka. Parehas arrange marriage, minahal na niya ang asawa niya. Paano kung minahal ka na rin ng asawa mo? Gusto mo bang maranasan niya rin mula sayo ang nararanasan ni Chesca? You should think about it, hindi kami mag a-advice sayo na madaliin mo ang sarili mo at ipilit na kalimutan mo na si Chesca.” mahabang lintaya ni Greg
“Hindi ko gusto 'tong mga ganitong cringe na usapan pero tama si Greg pare. Hindi magkaparehas na babae si Chesca at ang fiance mo. Maaring kayang ipaglaban ni Chesca ang kasal nila ng asawa niya pero ikaw ikakasal ka pa lang. Kahit anong oras pwedeng mag back-out ang fiance mo. Ang maipapayo ko sayo why don't you start diverting your attention to your fiance? Malay mo mas babagay siya sayo, you'll never know if you won't try.” dagdag naman ni James.
Napatango ako sa mga sinabi nila
“Pero hindi ganon kadaling kalimutan, minahal ko si Chesca at mahal ko siya hanggang ngayon kahit nasasaktan ako. Pero si Alyssa? I barely know her, I saw her being s perfect fiance and wife material she is. Inaamin ko she's not hard to love but, I don't know.” talagang mas maganda si Alyssa kaysa kay Chesca.

Chesca grew up with gold spoon, while Alyssa is not. Chesca is a spoiled of all, while Alyssa is so down to earth. She's simple and beautiful.

“Sa tingin niyo ba mag b-back out si Alyssa?” hindi sila nagsalita, kaya tumingin ako sa kanila.
“We can't say bro, ayaw namin umasa ka. Kasi may posibilidad na oo at hindi.”

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“Grabe lasing na lasing ka na, may number ka ba ng fiance mo?”
“G*go ka ba anong kailangan mo sa kanya? Fiance ko siya.” nagtawanan ang dalawang tukmol sa harapan ko
“B*bo mo pre, ipapasundo ka lang namin.” agad nilang inagaw ang cellphone ko na pilit ko namang kinukuha.
Ilang minuto pa ay may sumundo sa'kin, hindi ko makilala kung sino pero babae. Siguro dahil sa sobrang kalasingan ko kaya ganon pero sumama ako.
“Pasensya ka na ha, naabala ka pa namin. Nag aya kasi bigla itong kaibigan namin uminom, balak pa yata ubusin alak dito.”
“Don't worry its okay, salamat nga pala. Mauna na kami ha.” that voice is really familiar.

Huminto siya sa kung saan at binuksan ang pintuan kung nasaan ako.
“Come on Russell, lift your body. I can't pick you up, you're too heavy.” I groaned
“You don't have to pick me up honey, I'm not drunk. I can still pick you up, you know?” I picked her up instead and she keeps on screaming while I walk into my room while stumbling in the stairs. 

“Stop Russell, put me down. You're drunk, you will drop me. I can walk perfectly fine.” I groaned, not wanting to let her go.
“What should I do to have you?” I kissed her, Chesca. If I can't have her, I will do my best do have her.

to be continued....