What's Up, Anne

Epilogue

The fluorescent lights were too bright, almost harsh against my eyes, and the hum of the crowd felt louder than it should have. The airport seemed to shrink with every step I took, the walls closing in, suffocating me. Hindi ko na ininda ang paghingal ko sa pagtakbo—hindi rin naman iyon ang mahalaga. 

Ang mahalaga ay ang maabutan ko siya.

I could see him now. Louise. Standing by the gate, his posture stiff as if he were waiting for something—or someone. Nang magkatinginan kami, parang tumigil ang mundo ko. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes told me everything. Pain, hope, and confusion all mixed into one fleeting look.

"Final call for passengers of Flight 220 to Toronto. Please proceed to Gate 3."

Narinig ko ulit ang anunsyo, pero hindi ko ito pinansin. Tumakbo ako nang mas mabilis, ignoring the aching in my legs, until I was right in front of him.

"Louise," I said, breathless, my voice trembling. "Wait."

Tumitig lang siya sa akin, his lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't say anything, but his silence was deafening, urging me to speak.

"I'm sorry," I began, para bang may bara sa lalamunan ko. "I'm sorry for everything. That night... when you told me, I—"

"Anne," he cut me off. His tone was calm, pero para bang ayaw niyang marinig ang mga sasabihin ko. "I already told you how I feel. Alam mo na 'yon. Hindi mo na kailangang magsalita ngayon." ngumiti siya, ngiti na parang ang sakit makita.

"No," I interrupted, shaking my head. The tears I'd been holding back started to fall. "Hindi ganon, Louise. I didn't say anything because I thought it wouldn't matter. Akala ko aalis ka rin no matter what I said. I thought it was better this way, na hindi ko na kailangang magsalita pa—"

"Anne." His voice softened, but his eyes remained guarded. "You don't have to do this now. I need to go."

"Final boarding call for Flight 220 to Toronto. Please proceed to Gate 3."

I knew he meant it. The way he said it, the way he looked at me—it was clear he had made up his mind. But I couldn't let him leave without knowing.

"Gusto kita!" sigaw ko, my voice breaking. 

My words hung in the air, louder than the announcement and the noise around us. Louise froze mid-step, his back still turned to me. Slowly, he turned around, his face a mixture of shock and something I couldn't quite place.

I took a shaky step forward, my heart pounding. "Louise... gusto din kita," I repeated, my voice softer but no less firm. "I'm sorry it took me this long to say it. But I mean it. Gusto kita."

Sa sandaling iyon, nakatingin lang siya sakin ng diretsyo, his lips slightly parted as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. The world seemed to blur around us—the passengers walking by, the boarding gate, even the bright lights of the airport. 

It was just me and him.

Kita ko ang pamumuo ng luha sa mata niya. He looked at me like he wanted to step closer, to say something, but instead, he took a step back.

"Anne," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "I'm glad you told me..." 

"But I have to go."

"No," I whispered, shaking my head, more tears spilling. "You don't have to. You can stay—"

"I can't." he smiled, a small, bittersweet smile that broke my heart even more. "But wait for me, okay? Wait for me, Anne."

He turned around then, walking toward the gate. My legs felt like they were glued to the floor, my chest tight as I watched him.