Have I Told You (PUBLISHED BY POP FICTION)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Just when I thought my long break would be boring and depressing, I was wrong. Fortunately, I have my own ways to make blue days less sad and boring. 

My optimism just doesn't disappoint.

I attended art classes in spite of my injury. I practiced to write, draw, and paint with my right hand. I'm still attending art classes, but now, I'm fully-recovered. May injury o wala, hindi naman ako nauubusan ng gagawin. Ayokong maubusan ng gagawin. Doing nothing makes me tired. It makes me think of him.

For the past twelve months, I've been spending my time hanging out with my friends, painting and drawing, submitting my artworks, attending workshops, and going to exhibits, galleries, and museums, playing with Ahia's children and bringing them to a lot of places, and visiting the lolos and lolas in Hospicio.

See? I've been pretty busy.

Ngayon, kakauwi ko lang galing sa job interview, same hospital kung saan magwo-work si Bev starting next week. Nakadapa siya ngayon sa kama ko, habang nagla-laptop. Minsan, sa amin siya natutulog, pero pag kasama niya sila Evan at Dorrie na lumuluwas sa Manila, doon sila sa condo niya.

Bev's parents are migrating in the US soon. Matagal na kasing nagtatrabaho doon yung ate niya. Hindi siya sumama dahil ayaw niyang mag back to zero. Mage-exam na naman daw siya o di kaya mag-aaral ulit. Pinapadalan naman siya every month ng ate niya kahit may work naman na siya.

Mamaya, uuwi na siyang Cebu. Pa-balik balik na lang siya na parang sobrang lapit lang ng Manila sa Cebu. Sinusulit na raw niya dahil next week, hindi na siya makakauwi since may work na nga siya.

Dumapa ako sa likod niya. "Okay naman."

"Girl, don't you love it?! Ginawa mo akong unan. Sandali lang, umalis ka muna diyan. May kukunin ako." Tumawa siya at tumayo. Kinuha niya yung box na binigay ni Eisley saka nilagay sa tabi ko. "Oh, ayan. Tinabi ko na sa'yo. Parang awa, pakawalan mo na."

I gasp. Napaupo ako. 

Shiz, oo nga. Noong isang araw ko pa sinasabing bubuksan ko na yung regalo ni Eisley, pero hindi ko magawa. It's his last gift. 'Yun na lang ang hindi ko nabubuksan na regalo niya.

Pag binuksan ko 'yun, wala na. I won't have anything to look forward. It means, I'm completely free from him. Bev has been bugging me to open it, so she'll get to see the gift and at the same time, I'll finally get to move on.

Hindi ko naman siya masisisi kung gusto niyang makita yung regalo ni Eisley dahil lahat ng binigay niya so far, handmade. Kahit isa, wala siyang binili na hindi niya nilagyan ng lettering o design.

Bev sighs deeply. "Girl, iwan muna kita, ha? Magmuni-muni ka muna. Ayokong siraan moment mo. Take your time. Magsha-shopping muna ako. Mamayang gabi pa naman flight ko."

"Sure ka?"

"Oo naman. Hinahanapan kasi ako ng pasalubong sa hospital."

"Okay." I smile at her. "Thanks, Bev. Really."

I really appreciate this girl. Apart from my mom and achi, she's my closest. Hindi naman kami laging nag-uusap, pero pag may significant na nangyari sa kanya, ako ang isa sa mga una niyang sinasabihan.

She knows I'm not the clingy type of friend and she loves me for it. H'wag ko raw siyang agawan ng role. Hayaan ko na raw na siya lang ang clingy sa aming dalawa.

She taps my shoulder. "Wala 'yun, girl. Ikaw pa. Sige na, alis na muna ako."

Paglabas na paglabas niya, binuksan ko yung storage box at kinuha yung last gift ko na naka-naka-box at wrapper pa. I put it on my lap and stare at it. "Do I really have to say good bye? Hindi ka ba talaga magpapakita?" I sigh.