One Shots Collection

Once and Again

#KiefLy

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"Drink! Drink! Drink!"

Di mapigilan ni Kiefer ang mapailing habang tinatanggap ang baso na halos kasinlaki ng pitsel. "Inom na, pare!" sigaw ni Luis.

"Pasalamat ka stag party mo 'to, pare!"

"Thank you!" at nagtawanan sila. Itinaas ni Kiefer ang malaking baso saka niya ininom nang minsanan ang beer at pinalakpakan sya ng mga kaibigan.

"Woohoo!" sigaw nya. "Congrats pareng Luis! At goodluck!" at nagsigawan na sila't nakisayaw sa mga babaeng kinuha nila para sa party na yon.

Dahil sa sya lang ang di masyadong nakikigulo sa mga kasama, si Kiefer lang ang nakarinig ng pagtunog ng doorbell. He stood up and left his corner to open the door. Pagbukas nya'y,

"Lu-" napatigil ang babae.

"Alyssa."

"Kief" At saka sila sabay na napatingin nang marinig ang nag-iingay at lasing nang si Alvin, ang kuya ni Alyssa. "Is this a stag party?"

"Well, yeah."

"You're getting married?!" Napatigil si Kiefer sa ni-react ni Alyssa. Natawa sya't napakamot ng ulo.

"No. Luis is."

"Oh."

Hindi na napansin ng mga boys ang pagkawala ni Kiefer sa party. Lumabas ito at sinamahan si Alyssa sa labas. They went for a walk in the garden, around the condo suites. "So, di pala sinabi sa iyo ni Alvin."

"We talk everyday pero di man lang nya naalalang banggitin. That guy."

"Kelan ka pa bumalik?"

"Hm? I never left."

"Pumunta ka ng Paris-"

"I missed the flight."

"Oh." tumango-tango si Kiefer. "Di talaga ugali ng kuya mo na i-update tayo sa latest." Natawa si Alyssa.

"True. So...kumusta ka na? How are you doin' lately?"

"Good, I'm doing good."

"You look good."

"Thanks, you too."

"Kumusta na yung shop mo? Your - library slash coffee shop slash pet store." Kiefer laughed.

"Still the same. Eh ikaw? What do you do? Do you still-"

"Yeah, I...I still paint. I've sold a dozen these past two months."

"Wow. Congrats!" Ngumiti si Alyssa sabay sulyap kay Kiefer. "So all along andito ka lang pala pero ngayon lang tayo nagkita."

"You never visited me."

"I thought you've left." sagot ni Kiefer. "You didn't let me know you stayed." Nawala ang ngiti ni Alyssa.

"Why? Would it make a difference?" Tumigil sila sa paglakad at humarap sa isa't isa. Julie smiled again. "Kung susulpot ba 'ko sa shop mo and will tell you 'Hey, I didn't leave! I've planned to stay. So, I suggest let's start over again?'" Napatitig si Kiefer sa dalaga. "What would you tell me?"

Umiwas ng tingin si Kiefer saka ito napangiti. Hinimas-himas nya ang batok nya't saka sya tumingin ulit kay Alyssa. "I think ang isasagot ko sayo, 'Start over again? Did something happen in the first place?' Saka kita tatawanan." Umiling-iling si Alyssa and she slightly laughed.

"Yeah. Oo nga naman."

"Why did you react that way?"

"What?"

"When you went to Luis's party. Nung inakala mong ako iyong ikakasal. And that's not even my pad." Alyssa looked at him. "Why did you think I'm the one who's getting married?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Alyssa. "I don't know. Maybe because...you're the one who opened the door?" At saktong sabay silang nagtawanan. They continued walking.

"I missed you." sambit ni Kiefer.

"I can tell."

"I miss you too lang di mo pa masabi."

Nakangiting nilingon ni Alyssa si Kiefer. "You haven't changed. And it's nice. Akala ko, you'll be cold to me and you will do everything to make me feel how much you hate me."

"Why? Because you didn't meet me halfway?" Napangiti si Kiefer. "I will never hate you. I like you too much that even if I want to, I can never hate you."

"Do you still like me?"

"Huwag mong itatanong sa 'kin yan kung balak mo lang na layuan ako ulit."

"So you still like me." nakangiting sabi ni Alyssa.

"I didn't say that."

"So, you don't anymore."

Natawa si Kiefer at tumigil syang muli sa paglalakad at humarap kay Alyssa. She did the same thing. "And you haven't changed, too. Malala pa rin yang kakulitan mo."

"Nagtatanong lang naman ako. If my memory serves me right, you have told me before you like it when I ask you questions. Because you always seem to know how to answer me."

"Bakit mo tinatanong kung gusto pa rin kita after you broke my poor little heart into pieces?"

"Do you still like me or-"

"You said I haven't changed. Totoo yun. As well as my feelings." Alyssa stared at him for a long time and then she nodded. She continued walking pero hindi na si Kiefer. "So, is that another 'I'm sorry, Kief. I think we're not meant to be together right now'?"

Humarap si Alyssa sa kanya't naglakad nang patalikod. "I missed the flight that day because I was waiting for you!"

"What?!"

"I was hoping na darating ka nun! I could've told you I also felt the same, but I'm not really sure! It's stupid, I know!"

"Hey, hey! Is this a second chance for you to break my heart again or a second chance for me to ask you to stay?"

Alyssa gave Kiefer a sweet smile as she stopped moving. "The second one sounds better!"

"So where the hell are you going?!"

"You still have a party to go back to!"

"But-"

"I miss your shop, by the way! I might do a visit tomorrow!"

Kiefer sighed, then he smiled. She smiled back. And he already knew.

END.