When You Were Mine

Chapter 52

WE WERE walking hand in hand sa madilim na daan na naiilawan lamang ng buwan at streetlights sa bawat nadadaanan namin and it was eerily quiet na bawat paghinga at pagtama ng aming mga paa sa espaltong daan ay dinig na dinig.

"Where are we going?" Tanong ko kay Dan, tugging at his hand na mahigpit kong hawak.

"Uuwi."

"Uuwi? Where?" Takang tanong ko sa kanya but he just smile at me.

Isang matipid na ngiti at napadiretso ulit ang tingin niya sa daan na para bang ang lalim ng iniisip niya.

"Dan?" Huminto ako sa paglalakad kaya napilitan rin siyang tumigil at harapin ako. "Are you hurt?" I'm not sure why I asked him that, and this feels like a déjà vu.

Hindi siya sumagot instead ay hinila niya ako payakap sa kanya na sobrang higpit, my nose buried in his chest.

"C-can't breathe..."

He chuckles and tucked my head with his chin. "Pumasok ka na."

"What?" Nang ilibot ko ang paningin ay nagulat ako nang makitang nasa harap kami ng gate ng bahay ng mga magulang ko.

"Iuuwi muna kita." He said looking straight in my eyes and I noticed how dark his eyes are.

I gasped and clung to his shirt. "Dan..."

He took a step forward and kissed my forehead.

Nakaramdam ako ng takot. "Ayoko!" Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay ng mahigpit pero tinanggal niya lang ito.

"Pumasok ka na, malamig na oh." He tipped my chin and plant a soft kiss on my lips and somehow that calms me down.

"Magkikita pa naman tayo bukas di ba?" My forehead creased when that question slips my tongue. A very familiar question that I cannot quite figure out where did I hear it first.

He stare me down, long enough para kumabong ang dibdib ko waiting for his answer.

"Of course." He finally said in almost whisper.

Tumango ako kahit na napipilitan. "Okay. I love you."

He squeezed my hands tight but didn't answer back and he slowly retreated.

My lips parted breathing through my mouth as I watched him walked away and darkness slowly engulfed him. I gasped panic surged in my chest.

"Dan!" I called out but he didn't look back. Tuloy tuloy lang siya sa paglalakad palayo at sa bawat hakbang niya ay nararamdaman ko na para na rin siyang nawawala sa akin.

I scream and then I was back to my eighteen year old self, that night when he said his simple goodbye to me not knowing it will be last time I'm seeing him again.

I wanted to run to him and stop him from leaving but I'm stuck, I can't move no matter how I tried, it's like I'm glued in my place and my limbs are not cooperating and I can't do anything but watch him until he disappear in thin air.

"DANIEL!"

-

I JERK up, catching my breath. I clutch my chest that I can feel my heart pounding hard na parang gustong kumawala sa ribs ko.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay na napahilamos ako sa mukha only to find out na basang basa pala ang pisngi ko ng mga luha.

"It's just a dream, Kathy. Panaginip lang, it won't happen again." I told myself but more on convincing.

Napalingon ako sa kabilang side ng kama and I panicked seeing that empty spot beside me. Iniikot ko ang paningin sa madilim na kwarto na naiilawan lamang ng dim light mula sa headboard ng kama.