THE REBOUND

LAST CHAPTER

When we reach his room, pinaupo
nya ako sa kama and he sat beside me.

We are covered by a long silence. I don't want to speak dahil baka maiyak lang ako ng tuluyan.

"May-" he began. "I told you magkita nalang tayo mamayang gabi."

Napayuko ako. "I.... i can't wait."

Huminga sya ng malalim. "I guess.... dito nalang natin pag usapan." dahan dahang nyang sabi.

I kept silent. I just wanted to listen.

"Rina." Napapikit ako ng banggitin nya ang pangalan ng ex nya. 'Why i forgot about her?'

"Kasama sya sa camp."

I swallowed. 'Just what i thought'

"We talked. She asked for another chance and she said sorry about what happened to us. On why we broke up. I.... i." he trailed off. And i can't help but to shut my eyes again.

Kasi alam ko na kung ano ang gusto nyang sabihin.

"I gave her chance. I.... we became couple." Unti unting nahulog ang mga luha ko at tahimik akong humihikbi. "I'm sorry May. I'm really sorry. I cheated. Hindi manlang kita naisip." Niyakap nya ako.

He says sorry. He cheated. I didn't expect these. Tuluyan na akong napahagulgol at mas humigpit ang yakap nya sakin.

"There's one thing more."

'Ano meron pa? What? Magpapakasal na kayo?'

Huminto ako sa pag-iyak and i shrugged his hug.

I looked at him intently.

"May nangyari samin ni Rina doon."
Dahan dahan nyang sabi. So careful that he wanted it na maunawaan ko ng mabuti.

There. Naunawaan ko nga ng mabuti at namamanhid na ako. Pakiramdam ko yung emosyon ko nawawala na sakin.

"I'm sorry May." He held my hands.

"Do you love her?"

He shut his eyes and then he slowly move his head up and down.

Kumawala ako sa pagkakahawak nya. His hands fall on his thigh.

Unti- unti kong inuunawa ang gusto nyang iparating. Sinaktan na sya ni Rina noon pero pinatawad nya ito because she explained. Iniwan nya na ako dahil mas mahal nya si Rina or maybe he didn't even have a feelings for me. I'm still a friend. A damn stupid friend who love to assume. Pinapaniwala nya lang ang sarili nyang mahal nya ako because of the desperation to move on.

I'm slowly accepting the truth. They love each other. Panggulo pa ako.

Kung ano man ang reason kung bakit sila naghiwalay ay hindi ko alam at ba't nasaktan si Ry noon ay wala na akong dapat pakialam pa dahil nga mahal nya si Rina and he's willing to forget all at wala na akong magagawa kahit pa kamuhian ko si Rina. I don't know anything about them at sinasampal ako ng salitang 'wala na ako dun.'

"Saktan mo ako May. I deserve it. I'm really sorry. Please saktan moako. I've been a jerk. Please." Pilit nyang isinasampal ang kamay ko sa muka nya pero kinuha ko ang kamay niya and i held it tight.

"No need. Hindi mawawala yung sakit kahit pa gawin ko yun. Hindi mababawasan ang sakit kahut na kaunti lang. Kaya no need Ry."

I don't have any grudges to him. Why? Ako ang nagpumilit sa sarili ko. Wala syang kasalanan kung nasaktan ako.

"I'm sorry May." Napayuko sya at nagpunas ng luha. He cried. Umiiyak sya dahil sakin. I must be happy. But not. He cried because of guilt for hurting me. He pity me.

"I love you Ryan. Tha-thank you for the chance that you gave to me to show you how much i love you. I love you since we were bestfriends. I love you." Suminghot ako. This is the right thing to do. Eto nalang yung magagawa ko para masave ko yung sarili ko.

Tumingala sya sakin. "I love you also."

'Yes. I know that. I really know. He love me. As his best friend. Not in a romantic way.'

"But not how much you love her. You just love me as a best friend." I cupped his face. "I hope you too be happy."

He pulled me to a tight hug. "I'm sorry."

" Tama na yan. Ginusto kong maging rebound mo."

"Sana nga hindi nalang kita ginawang ganun. Di sana nakakarinig ako ng mga pamatay mong tukso ngayon."

He regret. But me, i won't regret yung pag amin ko sakanya. Dahil duon naging masaya ako at naging malaya.

"We still be best friends."

Umiling iling ako. "No. Not till i move on."

We stayed a little longer hugging each other hanggang sa nagpaalam ako sakanyang uuwi na.

Nakangiti akong nagpaalam sakanya but when i'm inside the cab, my tears fell. I feel so empty. i feel so worthless. Ang sakit magparaya at maiwanan. It's hurt to know the truth that after one year na mag- on kami, akala ko
wala ng puwang si Rina sa puso nya. Napalitan ko na. Akala ko lang pala. Yung 5 days na magkasama sila ni Rina ay nahigitan pa yung one year na mag- on kami. Yung one year na paghihintay ko na akala ko worth it ang lahat ng sakit.

In the first place, i know na masasaktan lang ako sa gagawin
ko. Alam kong ako ang madedehado
pero nagtake risk parin ako and now is should face the consequences of my stupid action.

But at least naginh masaya ako and the happiness i've felt for a year is enough. I now letting go. I need now to move on. Ite-treasure ko nalang yung pagkakaibigan namin. Our friendship will continue but after i move on.

Pagkatapos ng gabing yun, nag impake ako at tumungong Siargao. I need a break. I need to find my self and i need to be happy.

But i won't forget the days that i'd been a rebound.

Rebound ng sarili kong best friend. The one year is a treasure. The one year is a lesson. I did the right.

END