Please read the previous chapter (Fortune Cookie) before reading this as this is sequel.
Prompt: Write about Maine & Alden giving a compelling argument pushing the worst advice they've ever been given
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I just arrived from our proposal date in the beautiful Boracay Shores. I lay down on my bed and think about how my life is about to change. How my heart will now continue to beat in sync with another...
As one... with Richard.
Funny how the name has always left a mark in me. For I have another Richard in my life. Si RJ. The one who can make it beat fast with joy, or slow with pain, for he conducts every single beat.
I reached for my treasured box inside my bedside drawer and pulled out a familiar piece of paper. The handwriting is already tainted with tears but I can still recite every single line from memory:
Tama sila, tinamaan na yata ako
Di ko akalain na sa unang pagpansin
Na sa una mong pagtingin, ako ay mahuhumaling
Kilig? Kilig nga lang ba?
Pero bakit iba ang nadarama ng dibdib kong may pagtataka?
Kaya salamat sa lahat
Hindi na kailangan isa isahin pa
Tutal nagiisa ka lang sa buhay ko
Sana pangmatagalan na ang ligaya nating ito
At sagutin mo na ko ng matamis mong oo
There was never an us. And oftentimes, I even don't know what US meant. We kissed, we held hands, and we were inseparable. But it is hard to distinguish between what 41 million people wants us to do versus what two bare hearts choose to be.
I remember the first time when my two Richards met. It is in one of our outings at a beach resort.
"RJ, si Richard nga pala suitor ko. Richard, this is RJ yung lagi kong kinukuwento sayo, my Bes for life.
"Nice to meet you Pare." Richard took RJ's hands for a shake.
"Likewise. Sigurado ka ba sa pinapasok mo Pare? Sinasabi ko sayo ngayon palang, sakit talaga ng ulo 'to". He laced his arms on shoulder and messed with my hair.
"Kung ganyan ba naman kaganda ang sakit ng ulo, hinding hindi na ako iinom ng gamot." - Richard
I smiled. For maybe, just maybe, siya pala ang aking Tamang Panahon.
We spent time on the beach. And the whole time, RJ was being a payb year old. I held on to every ounce of patience I have, but during lunchtime, I broke.
"Wait lang hindi ko na kaya. C-CR lang ako." RJ ran towards the restroom. I was fuming with anger as I followed him and decided a child needed scolding too.
"RJ? RJ? RJ?" I opened the door. I saw him huddled on the toilet vomiting all the contents he had for the day. I rubbed his back though I honestly want to dunk his head into the bowl.
"Ano ba kasing nangyayari sayo? "
"Anong nangyayari sakin?"
"Eh kanina ka pa eh. Kanina hindi ka sumama sa island hopping sabi mo mas gusto mong maglakad sa buhangin ng magisa."
"Tapos nung naglaro ng charades hindi ka pa rin sumali at ayaw mong maglaro pero nanghuhuli ka lang naman ng Pokemon sa isang sulok"
"Tapos nung kumakain na tayo, ilang ulit kong sinasabi sayo na tantanan mo na yung Isaw dahil sumasama ang tiyan mo pero tuloy parin ang kain mo. Hindi pa natapos dun kumain ka pa ng yogurt na hate hate mo at uminom pa ng beer.
"Tapos the whole time, as in the whole time hindi mo ako pinapansin. May problema ba tayo RJ?"
"RJ, inuulit ko May problema ba tayo?"
"Wala. Wala naman tayong problema."
"May gusto ka bang sabihin sakin?"
"Wala. Alam mo naman na ang lahat sa akin"
I guided him to make him stand up and face me.
"NAGSESELOS KA BA?"
A pause. He looked straight into my eyes and in the faintest voice replied...
"Hindi. Wala naman akong karapatang magselos. Kaibigan kang kita."
Putangina. Strike 3. They say its brave to ask "what if". But I say its braver to embrace "what is". And this is what is. And magising na ang Ikaw at Ako pala ay hindi pangako kung hindi isang panaginip.
"Magagalit ka ba kung sasagutin ko si Richard?."
"Hindi. If he is the one who makes you happy, go. Maybe siya ang destiny mo.
I again felt the paper on my fingertips and looked at your handwriting. I still believe it was destiny that brought us together. But it is our choice to stay, or let go.
And I chose to let go. And be happy. With another Richard.
I removed our eternity ring and placed it together with the poem. And as my tears continue to flow, I said in a breath of a prayer my last I love you to the one who will always be my could have been.
"You should know that no matter what happens, you already have this special place in my heart. And I want you to know that even if we end up being together or not, that spot is yours - forever.
