FATE 1: LOVE, LIES AND FATE - COMPLETED 2018

Chapter 21

IT had been awhile since he last came here. Ito ang bahay na pinagawa niya para kay Alyce. He asked his mother to hire someone to keep the house clean for him. Pinaligpit din niya ang ibang gamit ni Allysa. He hadn't heard of her since that day she left him at the coffee shop. She just disappeared.

Pumasok siya sa loob ng bahay. Binati siya ng matinding katahimikan. Kapansin-pansin ang mga gamit na natatakpan sa puting tela. May ilang karton pa sa sala na naiwan kung saan nakasilid ang mga picture frames. He didn't have to look at those dahil mga prenup photos lang naman nila 'yon ni Alyce.

He couldn't remember it clearly but he knew he used to live in this house. Kahit saan siya tumingin, it reminds him of a vague memory, he knew happened, however, he was having a hard time finding the right puzzle pieces of his lost memories.

Umakyat siya sa taas at pumasok sa masters bedroom. Naupo siya sa itaas ng kama at muling iginala ang tingin sa buong paligid. And again, he felt a familiar memory he couldn't clearly remember. Paulit-ulit lang na pumapasok sa isipin niya ang mukha ni Allysa. He knew it was Allysa. Naalala niya ang suot nito nang araw na nakipagkita siya rito. That was also the last time, he saw her.

He saw her tripped near the entrance. That silly woman. Kung bakit kasi naka all black pa siya at heels. She could have just worn her usual shirt and jeans. He found himself smiling at the memory. He was not sure why, but he can't help it.

Binuksan niya ang itaas na drawer ng bedside table sa gilid niya. May nakataob na itim na picture frame. Kinuha niya 'yon at tinignan ang larawang nakasilid doon. Mukha 'yon ni Allysa. Nakatingala ito sa madalim na kalangitan na sa mga oras na 'yon ay tila inuulan ng mga flying lanterns. She has this bright smile on her face. She looked so happy in the photo.

Inalis niya ang likod ng frame at kinuha ang picture. Alam niyang mahilig siyang magsulat sa likod ng mga larawang siya mismo ang kumukuha.

And he was right.

He did write something.

Your smile was so beautiful tonight. I envy the lanterns for taking your breath away because of awe. I envy the night sky for making this a perfect night for you. I envy the sea for being calm despite the beauty of your smile. I would love to see your smile everyday. The world will be envious because you have chosen a mere human being like me to be your husband.

Did he really wrote this?

Bakit ramdam niya ang saya ng Lance na nagsulat nito? The Lance who wrote this was so in love with his wife. It was so honestly written with his emotions. He could literally feel it in his heart.

You don't look at me the same way you look at Allysa.

Naalala niya ang sinabi ni Alyce sa kanya. Am I? Am I different when it comes to Allysa? Did my heart knew her when my eyes couldn't? Napabuntong-hininga siya. Damn, this is making me crazy. Ibinalik niya sa drawer ang frame at ang larawan ni Allysa. Bumaba na siya at dumiretso sa front yard ng bahay.

Palabas na siya ng gate nang may isang bagay na nakakuha ng atensiyon niya. 'Yong nag-iisang puno sa front yard ng bahay. Binalikan niya ang puno at tiningala. Napangiti siya nang mapansin ang kulay pink at puti na mga bulaklak ng bougainvillea. May ilang talulut ng mga bulaklak na nakakalat sa paligid nun.

He wanted to plant a baby's breath flowers for Al pero mukhang mahirap naman 'yong buhayin sa garden. Instead, he chose a pink and white bougainvillea flowers. Yes, there was a reason why he planted this tree in their front yard.

Akmang aalis na siya nang mapansin niyang may kung anong matigas siyang naapakan. Doon niya napansin ang naka usling metal box sa lupa. Tila may kung sinong bumangkal ng lupa doon. Sa uri ng pagkakabungkal nun ay parang 'di naman tao ang gumawa kung hindi isang aso. Wala silang aso sa bahay, marahil maka ilang beses na naiiwang bukas ang gate kapag may naglilinis sa loob.