Mirae

Wakas

Wakas

Good

Years of solitude led Cyra to believe she did the right thing for herself and Adiel. But now that she was waiting for her annulment papers, regret consumed her. How could anyone ever know that one decision would change their lives? How could Cyra have known she would lose everything that she built because of her choice?

She watched the trees around the house of her husband waver due to the wind. Her hair is moved as well. The leaves on the concrete ground flew and landed on the ground again. She had talked to her in-laws before she came here; she apologized and explained everything there was to say. They didn't look forgiving to her, but they did listen. Her mother-in-law hugged her before she left the house with tears.

Napapagod na siyang umiyak, pero ano nga ba ang ibang paraan para ilabas ang sakit? Parang luha lang ang pinakainaasahan ng tao na maglabas ng nadarama kahit wala namang nangyayari matapos humagulgol.

Parang tanga.

Cyra took a step and opened the gate of the house. It wasn't locked. Maybe he was expecting her, maybe his parents told him she apologized to them.

She scanned the two-car parking space and wondered if someone else would have their car here someday. Would Adiel let someone else live in the house he bought for him and Cyra? Would he let another in?

Thinking about it distracted Cyra from what she was going to do, so she went to the wooden door and reminded herself she was just here to talk to her husband for the last time. Huli na 'to, sa susunod na pagkikita nila—kung magkikita pa sila—wala na silang ugnayan.

Pinihit niya ang doorknob at binuka ang pinto. She walked in and didn't see her husband. Umakyat siya sa second floor at nakita ang isang bukas na pinto. Dumiretso siya ro'n at nahanap ang asawa niyang nagbabasta. Mayroong mga damit sa higaan at sapatos sa lapag.

Adiel was in the bathroom, checking if he had forgotten anything. He was going to be gone for a while, he had to double-check everything on his list, which was on his phone.

Nang lumabas siya, nagulat siya sa nadatnan. Cyra was examining his open luggage and other things. He then remembered that the gate wasn't locked since he was going out later.

Their eyes met, and Cyra felt a strike of longing. She was looking at her best friend with guilty eyes, so she had to look away. Adiel, on the other hand, felt homesick. He was about to separate himself from someone he once saw as a safe embrace. The short-lived marriage slowly crumbled with their sighs.

"I let myself in, wanted to talk to you for the last time," Cyra explained. "I..." She glanced at him for a second before moving her eyes away again. "I wanted to apologize because the last time we talked, I was trying to force you to try even though you were honest and transparent about what you wanted."

Adiel gives a slow nod, as if he were waiting for her next words.

Cyra suddenly smiled. "And I wanted to say goodbye."

"Aalis ka ba ulit?" he questioned.

"No, I'm not going anywhere anymore," she says, stepping to the bedside table and seeing the picture frame; it was Adiel with his parents. She held it up. "I learned going away never did me any good."

Adiel observed his soon-to-be ex-wife. His dream for this house was that it would be filled with everything Cyra—her scent, her things, her food, her voice, and her presence. Yet, despite never living here, Cyra owned the house. Cyra haunted the house.

"So, why the goodbye?" he voiced. "It sounds like you're going away again. Only this time, you're telling me."

Kahit na siya mismo aalis, hindi maiwasan ni Adiel na hindi magustuhan ang ideyang baka umalis muli ang asawa niya.