“We had the right love at the wrong time.” Guess I always knew inside, I wouldn't have you for a long time.
“Sure ka na ba talaga, Karylle?”
Nandito kami ngayon sa bahay ng Daddy ni Karylle, they threw a despedida party para kay Karylle dahil babalik ito sa Singapore for workshops and para sa Kitchen Musical 2. The rest of the Showtime hosts, ang ibang kaibigan ni Karylle pati na din ang malalapit nilang kamaganak ay busy kumain at magkwentuhan habang kaming dalawa ay nasa may gazebo sa garden nila looking at everyone else.
She sighed and nodded. “Oo naman Vice.”
“Mamimiss mo naman ako di ba?” tanong ko sakanya. Natawa siya ng kaunti sa tanong ko. I wish I could laugh, too. Bakit ba kasi ngayon pa aalis si Karylle? Kung kailan kakaamin ko lang sakanya na mahal ko siya.
“Oo naman Vice, ano ba namang tanong yan.” She said and held my hand which was resting sa tabi ng kamay niya. Then, she asked me, “Wala namang magbabago sa’tin di ba?”
I looked at her and smiled. “Oo naman. Pero, K, ano ba tayo?” Hindi naman siya nakasagot agad that’s why I continued talking, “Last week, I told you how I really feel, sakto naman sabi mo, aalis ka for one year, Karylle, I’m not sure kung may makikilala ka doon na gwapo, na straight na lalaki… ‘yung mas bagay sayo. Okay lang naman sakin kung….” Hindi ko na naituloy yung tanong ko when she leaned closer and kissed me. She pulled away as we were both gasping for air. Ngumiti naman siya sakin. Nakita ko sa mata niya ‘yung lungkot and uncertainty.
“Nasagot ba yung tanong mo?” she asked habang lumayo yung tingin niya sakin. She’s now staring at her guests na mukhang hindi napansin ang 10-sec kiss naming dalawa. Hindi ako makapaniwala na she just kissed me.
“So, mahal mo din ako?” I asked and it’s my turn to hold her hand. She nodded. Kaya naman tinanong ko siya, “Tayo na?”
“Matagal ‘yung one year Vice, and I’d like to go sa Singapore ng walang commitment. One year is one year, hindi ko masasabi kung anong mangyayari. Ang alam ko ngayon, mahal din kita. Paano next week, next year? Ayoko ng long distance relationship, Vice.” She said and upon hearing ‘yung sagot niya napalayo nalang din ako ng tingin dahil I can feel tears forming in my eyes. “Pero… Vice, kung mahihintay mo ko… pagbalik ko.. malay mo tayo pa din pala?”
She used both her hands para patinginin ako sakanya. She showed me an assuring smile as if saying na kakayanin namin ‘to. One year lang naman, mabilis lang ‘yon. “Oo naman Karylle, aantayin kita. Walang magbabago.”
I hugged her tight. ‘Yung para bang ayoko na siyang pakawalan, paalisin. Ayoko naman talaga pero may magagawa ba ko? Okay na ko sa mahal niya din ako. One year lang, Vice, one year.
Those dreams of yours are shining on distant shores and if they're calling you away, I have no right to make you stay.
“Good morning, Karylle.” Bati ko sakanya over the phone, papasok na ‘ko sa Showtime habang ngayon pa lang magsisimula ang araw niya doon dahil sa late usually ang shooting nila kaya madalas eto lang talagang time na ‘to ang available para makapagusap kami.
“Good morning, Vice.” She answered na parang nagiinat pa.
“Oops, nagising ba kita?” I asked. “Gusto mo tawagan nalang ulit kita mamaya?”
“No, it’s okay.” sabi niya sakin, I can now hear her doing something sa kitchen. “Papasok ka palang, Pogi? Late ka nanaman!”
