The hues of the water and sky combined made everything at the beach looked surreal.
Sobrang in-enjoy ni Rielle at Yra ang dagat. Matagal na talaga nilang plano na mag-out of town – magliwaliw kumbaga. Lumayo sa stressful na academic studies, sa mga problema sa personal nilang buhay at kalimutan ang mga taong dapat nang kalimutan.
How long has it been? How many years have passed? It's been so long, that's for sure.
Rielle and Yra weren't sure if they have really moved on but they would like to think they had. Kahit na ba alam nila na malaki ang posibilidad na masaya na sila at malamang ay umiibig nang muli. Nakakatawang isipin na hanggang ngayon stuck pa din sila sa what ifs and what could've beens.
Tanga nga siguro sila. Nagpakatanga, umasa, nasaktan, umiyak, magtataka.....
Bakit?
Seryosong tanong: Bakit?
Walang makakasagot kasi wala naman na. Nakakatawa talagang isipin, diba?
One thing's for sure though.
They have realized that everything's not going back to the way it was and somehow the thought of letting go seems fine already. Siguro may mga natirang bubog but not too big to cause another ache – just enough for wishful thinking. The subtle heartburns helped pa nga. Parang wake-up call kumbaga. Magising sa katotohanan na wala na talaga.
Huy! Gising! Wala ng kayo!
"Chips?" Rielle asked Yra.
Nasa isang spot sila malapit sa tabing-dagat – nakahiga sa lounge chairs, sipping juice and eating junk foods. Mamaya ay uubusin naman nila 'yung isang gallon na cookies and cream ice cream. Hindi ito food for comfort ah. Hindi naman sila solely nasa Puerto Galera for their hearts: it could be but not entirely.
Slowly in the process of letting go and moving on na nga. Just a little bit more. And they couldn't wait.
The reflection of the sunset into the water calmed them. Perfect timing para mag-senti. They even saw this couple na nagte-take ng picture with the view behind them. The sight made Rielle wonder: will those two last? Or magiging memories lang din?
Sometimes when she sees a couple, she couldn't help but remember. Uy, ginawa din namin 'to...
"You know," Yra broke her thoughts. "Mari sent me a photo of Yuan and apparently – his girlfriend. Alam mo ba ang tungkol dun?"
"Walang sinasabi ang pinsan ko." Rielle glanced at Yra.
"Look, it says: Happy birthday, big boy. Be good to me." Yra tapped a few more on her phone. Probably stalking the girl – her best friend's girl. "It's funny because Yuan didn't mention any girl to me too. So, either nagko-conclude lang si Mary or nagtatago ang pinsan mo satin. Ang tagal nang MIA nung unggoy na 'yun." She rolled her eyes.
"What did Mary say?" Rielle sipped on her juice and adjusted the blanket that was drafted on her lap.
Yra did the same only this time, humiga na siya totally sa lounge chair. She scrolled through her phone.
"Sabi ko sa kanya wag na siya umasa kay Yuan. It's been so long since I've played cupid sa kanilang dalawa and failed multiple times. Syempre, 'di ko na siya paaasahin. I already felt bad that I even tried when Yuan clearly isn't interested sa pakikipag-relationship." She put her phone on the table in between us and focused on the view infront of us.
Gabi na pala.
"Alam mo kung anong sinabi niya?" Yra continued and crossed her arms. The wind blew her hair and she tucked it on her ear. "Sinabihan niya ako na gaga. 'Di naman na daw siya umaasa. Maganda daw 'yung girl. Wala lang daw siyang magawa kaya nag-stalk siya. And then she laughed. She sent a lot of 'haha', you and I both know what that means."
