There and Then

Chapter Nine

Anata wa kitto eien ni (You surely are)

Watashi no takaramono dakara (My treasure for all eternity)

Futari de sugoshita kioku wo (So I will treasure the memories)

Taisetsu ni shite zutto wasurenai (I had with you and never forget them)

She sang. She sang alone at her bed while weeping. That's "Kitto eien ni" by Crystal Kay. Sana lang talaga ay marinig at maintindihan ni Yad ang napakagandang kantang ito.

Anata wa nee donna michi wo (Hey, what path have you been walking on)

Are kara aruiteru ni deshou (Since then?)

Hanarete hajimete wakatta (We separated and I understood for the 1st time)

Kakegae no nai ga atta koto (That I had a love that was irreplaceable)

After that blissful evening with Yad, Clarissa found herself naked on her bed. She was alone. Nakita n'ya na lang sa bedside table ang isang note na alam n'yang kay Yad galing.

Rissa,

I didn't have the courage to wake you up. I hope you can forgive me for what I did, when you're ready. I didn't regret what happened but I know that it's better to part from you for now. I already called Ara and she'll be back soon. Sorry for taking something from you that I know I can't return even if I turn the world upside down. And thank you.

And Rissa, be happy.

Yad

She burned the letter after reading it. Hindi n'ya alam kung bakit pero ayaw na n'yang makita ang sulat na iyon kahit kailan. She was silently hoping na matapos ang nangyari ay hindi na aalis si Yad.

Kahit papaano ay pinilit n'ya ang sariling maniwala na mahal pa rin s'ya nito. Pero umalis pa din si Yad at hindi man lang nagpaalam sa kanya. Naisip na lang n'ya na baka hindi talaga ito para sa kanya.

Kanashimi mo itsuka wa (I wonder if someday even the sadness)

Omoide ni kawaru no kana (Will turn into memories)

Itami no kakera sae (I don't want to lose anything)

Nakushitakunai subete wo (Not even the shards of pain)

One month Later

"Yad, is that you?" tinig iyon ng isang babae.

Nasa isang dining restaurant ngayon si Yad sa Venice, Italy para i-meet ang isang kliyente. Successful naman ang meeting n'ya at madaling natapos iyon kaya naman naisipan n'yang kumain sa labas. Patapos na s'yang kumain ng may isang babae ang biglang tumawag sa kanyang pansin. Tinitigan n'ya ito at kaagad na namukhaan.

"Michelle Torres?" tanong n'ya. Ang babaeng kaharap ay ang dating best friend ni Clarissa na si Mich.

"Ako nga! How are you?" bati nito sabay hila sa upuang nasa tapat n'ya. Naupo doon ang babae.

"I'm good. Ikaw? Tumaba ka yata ha!" biro n'ya dito.

"Syempre, I have three kids na! I didn't expect to see you here!"

Tumango s'ya. "Same. Actually I didn't know you're here in Italy. I was here for business reasons," kwento n'ya.

"I see. This is a surprise. Kanina kakakausap ko lang kay Rissa sa fb and now nakita kita. I miss the old times," he heard her say.