I want to share this story didicated to someone who had been so special to me until now.
A SHORT LOVE STORY: RINA AND JACKO
written by: neverknowsher
Book Cover credited to @Xanya29
FOREVER? WHAT WORD IS THAT? I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT SEVEN LETTER WORD. 'Cause I do believe that every beginning has an end.'
We started as a friend, bestfriend and soon we became lover. We spent our childhood days together possibly because our house was three blocks away from theirs. We used to play together with other kids nearby. We went to each others house eating our moms dishes. He's favorite was my mom's baked cupcakes. Her sister love it, too. Growing up we used to be together as much as before. He always there as in always. We entered in the same school but not in a same class. I was in A class while he was in B tho he always waits for me in front of our classroom every time breaks. I had my friends with me and he also had. Our friendship accelerated when he developed some creepy emotions toward me. Creepy? Yeah it creeps me out at first when he told me about it. That time I wasn't allowed to do relationship romantically. Haha. My parents some kind of parenting rule. ‘That no boyfriend unless you have your degree,’ they told me. At first it was okay but not until he confessed to me.
“PANGIT." Yeah that was him, Jacko, my bestfriend. He always called me that way. I was outside the house that time.
“Ano ginagawa mo dito?”
“Masama na bang pumunta dito? Haha. Musta?”
“Musta? Suresly? Haha. Ito lalong pumapangit.”
He then, laughed on me.
“May tatanong sana ako.” he said
“Ano? Madali lang ba 'yan. Baka pag-isipin mo pa ako.”
He ignored what I said.
“ A-ano. .ahm” he stuttered.
“Ano?!” I said waiting for him to talk.
“Ahh kasi. tsk.”
“Ano ba kasi. . may gagawin pa ako bilisan mo.”
“Nakalimutan ko.” he said while scratching his ear. He only did that when he's nervous.
“Hoy Jacko! Umayos ka nga. Ano bang itatanong mo? May ginawa ka sigurong kalokohan.. asking for my help?” He didn't spoke up. He just stares at me. And that made me nervous.
“Ang pangit mo talaga! Alis na nga may gagawin pa ako.” I said to ease that feeling. I didn't want to assume but i have had hint on what he wanted. But he knew that it couldn't be.
“Rina. Wait lang may sasabihin ako.” I glarred at him.
“Promise may sasabihin nga ako." I scruntched my face for the dislike. He sat on the pave. He spoke and started to stutter but then, the reality that made me speechless. I thought it but then I didn't know what to say when he confirms it.
“I like you matagal na...sorry Rina. Nahihiya akong sabihin sayo. Sana h'wag kang magalit.” My hands fell on his cheeks not as slap but to awake him.
"Jacko nahanginan ba ang utak mo?" that was I told him.
"Rina seryoso. Gusto nga kita." I stared at him. Gusto ko din naman siya but not the way he wants.
"Jacko gusto din naman kita pero alam mong magkaibigan tayo."
"Pero hindi naman dahil sa kaibigan kita. Rina totoo 'to." He said frustratedly.
"Okay."
"Okay? Payag ka?"
"Anong payag ako? Sinabi mo lang naman na gusto mo ako."
"Oo nga. Pwede na bang manligaw?" Again I was. . I didn't know how I reacted.
"Aba Jacko hinay-hinay." I answered
"Yu'n naman talaga ang itatanong ko kanina."
"Ahh so try mo kaya kay Daddy manligaw."
"Kay Tito? Pwede kay tita na lang."
"Bahala ka good luck na lang sayo." That day forward he started courting me but same way as bestfriend only that he was extra sweet. My family had no idea that there something going between us. Every time he came to our house I felt nervous. We became officially on after a month when he treated me after I won in a contest. He's my childhood friend, my bestfriend, and I already knew him so there's no reason to say no to him. He's a good guy. We spent several weeks and monthsaries had been celebrated together and I could say that being in a relationship was cool. But all that feeling has an end.
"PANGIT balita ko may camping kayo." Were talking infront of our house, sitting on a pave.
"Oo pero ayaw ko sana sumama." He said
"Bakit? Sumama ka additional din yun."
"Acads freak. Boring kaya. Same lang naman ginagawa du'n."
"Boring? Ang saya kaya mag-camping.. hay naku kaya wala kang maraming kaibigan e. Kulang ka sa social life."
"Sus. marami din akong kaibigan."
"Marami? Ahuh! Hindi ko ata alam 'yan." Me with suspicious look.
"Oo kaya. Si Dex...at IKAW. Dalawa ibig sabihin marami na yun." I was about to speak when he cut me.
"Oh wag ka ng magsalita kokontra pa." we're talking when mom interupted us.
"Bakit d'yan kayo sa labas? Anak, papasukin mo naman si Jacko sa loob. Magmiryenda na kayo do'n."
"Mommy uuwi na po siya may gagawin pa yan." I looked at him intently.
"Gagawin?"
"May camping kayo bukas."
"Oo nga pala. Tita hindi ako makakatikim ng luto mo ngayon. Magre-ready pa ako. Mamimiss ko po luto mo three days din yun."
"Three days? So three days na walang Jacko sa kusina ko haha. Sige mag-ingat ka dun." I was listening to them. They're really close. Sometimes i felt guilty, they didn't know what really going on between us. My parents trusted me. I looked on Jacko's face, his comfortably talking with my mom. Smiling.
"Rina pumasok ka na sa loob kakain na tayo."
"Sige mommy sunod po ako."
"Hoy pangit umuwi ka na! Pasok na ako sa loob."
"Wait lang. Grabe naman di mo ba 'ko mamimiss? Three days kitang di makikita."
"Sa phone mo titigan ang mukha ko. Sige na papasok na ako."
"I wanna kiss you."
"Mukha mo ano ka siniswerte."
"Hug? Pwede?"
"No. Makita pa tayo."
"Grabe hanggang holding hands lang ako sayo ah."
"Nagrereklamo ka? fist gusto mo?"
"Pa-try nga." I was shocked when he gets my hands and kissed my knuckles. He ran afterward. I was looking at his back and he faced me smiling and put his tongue out. That was the last time I saw him. He seldom texts me. Phone was not allowed there. Until three days lasted and I expected him to come. That was my expectation but no calls, texts coming from him. I waited but no Jacko till afternoon. I decided to visit him in their house. I brought some snacks. Tita was the one answers the door for me. And that was the start of a big change for us. A change that gave a big impact to both our lives especially on my life.
"Hello po. Dumating na po si Jacko?" But instead of a word she answered me with a hug. I didn't know what's going on. Until I heared her sobs and that on cue I had felt that there was something going on. My heart beated fast. She started to talk and it didn't registered on me. My ear didn't want to hear it. But it was clear, he didn't came back, he wouldn't came back anymore. He's gone. My bestfriend, my love, he's totally out of my life. . .
"He was drown and didn't survive." that was his mom told me. He's a swimmer but why did it happened.
END
***********
July 17, 2015
