Forgotten (one shot)

Forgotten

"You're already dead to me"
"I've already forgotten you"
are the lines that my crying voice uttered
I know now that it's already too late
But even now, I still wanna tell you I love you
That's all. That's all that I can say for sure

- Shiawase ga Afuretara (If Happiness Overflowed), Indigo la End

***

It's a typical Monday morning.

Nagpalipat-lipat lang ako ng tingin kung saan-saan para aliwin saglit ang sarili ko. Sa kaliwa't kanan, naruon ang mga taong naghihintay makasakay ng tren. Busy magpunas ng pawis ang iba, samantalang ang iba naman ay tutok na tutok sa kanilang mga cellphone. Samantalang ako, heto, nakatayo lang sa unahan ng pila at naiisip ang volume ng trabaho na naghihintay sa'kin sa opisina.

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas at mukhang ang tagal pa naming lahat maghihintay rito. Wala kaming magawa pare-parehas kung hindi magdasal na sana hindi naman nasiraan yung tren.

Napapa-tsk na yung lalaking katabi ko, at yung isang bata sa malayo, umiiyak na at hindi mapakali. Panay tingin na sa kanyang relo ang babaeng naka-corporate outfit sa likod ko at nagmumura na yung kasama niyang lalake. (Which I assume, ay boyfriend niya)

I led out a loud sigh. When I fixed my gaze straight ahead, I found myself staring at a familiar figure from afar.

Akala ko kamukha lang niya, pero nang titigan ko siya- It was definitely, Aki.

Lalo siyang gumanda- In fact, she became outstandingly beautiful. Nakaupo siya sa isa sa mga upuan sa kabilang platform. She was wearing a lovely floral-patterned dress and silver doll shoes. I kept on looking at her in disbelief. 7 years after our break-up, I never imagined that I would see her again.

Biglang dumating ang tren. Tarantang pumasok ang mga tao, lahat nagmamadali. Natulak na nila akong paloob pero naglakad ako ng paurong at bumalik uli sa platform. I took small steps backwards and counted up to three.

One. Two. Three.

At naruon na ako, nagbalik sa kahapong nagdaan- sa mundo naming dalawa.

I met Aki when we were 16 years old. She's one of the top students in our batch and she's also the class VP. Active siya pag dating sa mga class activities kaya hindi na rin kataka-taka na isa siya sa mga paborito ng mga teachers. Pero kahit ganuon, madalas ko siyang nakikitang mag-isa na para bang wala siyang ni-isang kaibigan- at kung bakit ganuon, hindi ko rin alam.

Everybody respects her, pero parang hanggang ganuon lang. Kapag naglalakad siya, na-i-imagine kong nasa loob siya ng isang malaking bola at walang nagtatangkang pumasok duon para samahan siya.

She's surrounded by people who admire her, yet she's always alone. With her physical attributes, I could say, she wasn't really outstandingly beautiful during that time -she had crooked teeth, pale white skin, freckles on her cheeks and unmanageable wavy hair, but I eventually fell in love with her imperfections.

I'm just an average guy. Average looks, height & grades. There seems to be nothing special about me. While Aki, she's above average- rich family, good grades & she's talented. Pero kahit alam ko ang pagkakaiba namin, kinapalan ko ang mukha ko na kaibiganin siya.

I also courted her and after 6 months, she finally said "yes". Nang itanong ko sa kanya kung bakit siya napapayag, sabi lang niya 'loner' din raw kasi ako at pakiramdam niya, kapag kasama niya ako, parang kumpleto raw ang pagkatao niya.

In fact, I felt the same with her- pakiramdam ko wala ng kulang sakin pag nandyan si Aki. I couldn't believe her when she told me I was her first suitor and boyfriend. With her intelligence and mysterious charm, hindi ko ma-imagine na wala man lang ni-isa na nanligaw sa kanya. Well, maybe I was just really meant to be her "first" - first date, first kiss, first everything.