Matagal na niyang gusto kausapin ito. Pero para bang iniiwasan siya ng binata. Di niya alam pero gusto na niyang matapos lahat. She wanted to talk to him to clear things up. Matagal niyang tiniis ang lahat. Pero this time, napagod na ang puso niya. Napagod na ang isip niya.
"Can we meet?"
"Now?" he asked over the phone.
"It won’t take long. I have to be somewhere din naman. Mabilis lang na usap to. Promise."
"Okay. Sa coffee shop na lang."
"Thanks. See you." she hung up the phone at saka na nag-ayos. Kahit pa nasasaktan siya, she has to look good in front of him. Di niya pwedeng ipakitang durog na durog na siya.
She drove to the coffee shop that he said and when she arrived, she saw him sitting at the corner of the store. He was silently drinking coffee as he stared at his phone and paminsan-minsan pa ay nangingiti ito.
She got jealous because of that smile. Why? Because he never gave her that kind of smile. Yung ngiti na puno ng pagmamahal? Yung ngiti na maiisip mo lang na ikaw ang pinakaswerteng babae sa mundo kasi sayo lang niya binibigay yung ngiting yun. Pero no. He never smiled at her the way he smiled at his new girl.
Pumasok na siya ng coffee shop and waved a hand at him.
"Kanina ka pa?" she asked as she sat across from him.
"No. I just arrived a few minutes ago."
"Ah. Okay." silence enveloped them. It was very awkward pero anong magagawa nila? She can’t seem to find the right words to say and he doesn’t have any idea why suddenly, she wanted to talk to him.
*****
Kanina pa sila magkaharap but he doesn’t know why she suddenly wanted to see him. Bigla na lang siyang tinawagan nito asking him if he can meet her. Tapos ngayon naman na magkaharap na sila, wala namang sinasabi ang dalaga sa kanya.
"Uhm… Dadating siya dito so if we can just…"
"Siya na ba talaga?" it was a question that he never expected her to ask. Alam niya kasing inintindi siya nito from the very start. But he can’t blame her. Maybe she got tired of understanding him.
"Okay lang naman sa akin kung siya na eh. I mean, I can’t do anything about it. Puso mo na nagdikta niyan." napayuko naman ang binata.
"I’m sorry."
"Don’t be. I kind of expected this to happen." she laughed bitterly. "One question though…"
"Yeah?"
"Did you ever love me?"
"Yes. Yes, I did."
"Thanks. Atleast alam ko na minsan sa buhay mo, natutunan mo din akong mahalin." she said and gave him a smile. "I can’t help but be curious. Anong meron siya na wala ako?" He smiled at her and took a deep breath. "You don’t have to answer that. It was a question for myself."
They remained quiet for a long time. Walang umiimik. Walang nagsasalita.
"She has always been my number 1 fan." he finally said. He smiled at the thought. Ever since they got to know each other, she never failed to watch his performances. "Lagi siyang nanunuod ng prods ko. She critics me and teaches me things to improve myself. She was always there to cheer me up everytime I feel down. Always there to back me up when I get into trouble. She was always there to complete my day. She always find ways para barahin ako. Which is very cute. Always know when to tease and when to be sweet. Alam mo yung feeling na napipikon ka na minsan sa kanya pero isang lambing lang, okay na ulit. Haha. I sound like a lovesick puppy." he said as he shook his head and chuckled. Pero naging seryoso siya ulit.
"She never failed to say that she loved me and that she will love me until the end. She was a dream I never thought I’d have. And I’m pretty sure na hindi ko na siya papakawalan pa." he said. He was staring into space as if he was in dreamland.
"She must really be something." she said.
"Yeah. Yeah, she is." he replied.
"She must be very lucky."
"No. I’m lucky to have her."
"Yes. And as hurt as I may seem, I’m still happy for you."
"Thanks."
"Take care of her, ha? Wag mo siyang sasaktan."
"Of course. I can’t afford to see her in pain." tumango na lang siya and smiled. Yung matamlay na ngiti.
"Well, I’d better go."
"Really? Now? I mean, di mo na ba hihintayin na dumating siya?"
"Moe, di ako masokista."
"Haha. Pero friends naman na kayo diba?"
"Yes. We’re friends. But you can’t change the fact na ex mo ko and present mo siya."
"Sorry if I have to do this."
"I told you. You don’t have to say sorry. Relationships end and it just so happened that ours, did. Don’t worry. I’m happy for you. Finally nakahanap ka ng katapat."
"Oo nga. Thanks for letting me go."
"Mahal kita eh. And nakita kong masaya ka sa kanya kaya naisip ko, you two deserve each other. Di na ko papalag pa."
"Thanks again."
"Well. Can I atleast get a goodbye hug?" she asked opening her arms. Elmo gave her a quick hug at saka na siya nginitian nito. "Take care, Elmo. I’ll always love you."
"Thank you. You take care as well. Makakahanap ka din ng magmamahal sayo."
"Yeah. Pag wala, I guess you can call me an old maid."
"Haha. That’s impossible. Someday. May dadating din na para sayo."
"Haha. Yeah. Maghihintay na lang ako." she said. "Basta bilin ko sayo ha?"
"Yes. I’ll remember that."
"Hindi lang siya some girl. She is Julie after all."
"Yes, Lo. She is. She is my Julie."
*****
Sometimes, letting go is the best thing to do. Because letting go can lead us to something better. To someone better. - anonymous.
*****
END
