A Lonely Broken Heart (COMPLETED)

Chapter 11

After that talk, hinayaan ko siyang ihatid ako kahit sa labas lang ng hotel. Baka bigla kaming makita nung ex niya, baka kung ano pa sabihin nun.

Pagkahiga ko sa kama ay agad akong namangha.

"How can that jerk share his story to me? I even don't know his name." I said to myself.

Nakakatawa. Kung makapag-usap kami kanina ay para talaga kaming magkakilala. We're both strangers to each other. Sa unang tingin mapepreskuhan ka talaga sa kanya lalo na kapag nagsalita siya. Hindi mo aakalaing may pinagdadaanan siya.

He's confidently good-looking with a broken heart.

* * * *

Months past at napuntahan ko na lahat ng bansang gusto kong puntahan. I've experienced a lot dahil sa baskasyon kong 'to. Buti nga di ako nagkakasakit dahil sa pabago-bagong klima ng mga bansang pinuntahan ko. I really had fun. Dinaig ko pa si Dora the Explorer.

Ilang buwan na din akong walang balita kina Van at Mona. Hindi ko alam kung gising na si Van. Pero sana gising na nga siya. Masaya akong sabihing naka-usad na ako. Tanggap ko na lahat ng nangyari sa nakaraan. Everything happens for a reason naman di'ba? What I had experienced from the past made me even stronger. I learned my lesson. I learned to let go.

Sa loob ng ilang buwan, sina Mama at Papa lang ang lagi kong kausap. Yes, they're busy but they always make time to talk to me. About Bea, minsan na lang kami mag-usap. She's busy because she's getting married next week kaya kinukulit niya akong umuwi na. I'm happy for her.

Heto ako ngayon at nag-aayos na. Ngayon na ang uwi ko sa Pilipinas. God! I really missed my country. Busy ako sa pagsusuklay nung mag-ring ang cellphone ko.

"Oh?" I answered.

"1pm ang flight natin baka lang nakalimutan mo." Zach said.

The stranger I often bumped into became my friend. He's name is Zach. After sharing his story, lagi kaming nagkakasalubong sa lugar na pinupuntahan ko. Nalaman kong wala siyang ibang friends kaya sa'kin niya sinabi ang ganun kaselang pangyayari sa buhay niya. Hindi ko alam kung pinaninindigan niya ang pagiging stalker kaya kung nasaan ako, nandoon din siya. Hindi ko masasabing naka-usad na rin siya pero mukhang mas maayos na siya ngayon.

I looked at my watch.

"It's 11:30 palang. Takot na takot maiwan ng eroplano?" I said.

"Sana nga eroplano lang yung nang-iwan sa'kin eh." He said. Nagdadrama na naman.

"Ang seryoso ha! Ang emo mo talaga kahit kailan."

"Bilisan mo nga diyan! Kailangan at exactly 12 nandito ka na." He commanded.

"Opo kamahalan." I teased him then ended the call.

* * * *

"Hindi ba talaga Zachary?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang hinihintay na lumapag ang eroplano.

"Ilang beses ko na bang sinagot ang tanong na 'yan?" He replied feeling irritated.

Akala ko kasi Zach is short for Zachary pero he kept on saying na Zach lang talaga. Ang tamad naman ng nanay niyang mag-isip ng pangalan. Parang narinig lang niya somewhere ang Zach kaya yun yung pinangalan niya sa anak niya. Tinanong ko pa siya kung pwedeng makita ang birth certificate niya pero tinawanan niya lang ako.

"Ako kasi Anne Venice Marie. Tapos ikaw Zach lang? The name sounds good but it's plain. Don't get me wrong ha?"

"Ang ingay mo." He said then tumayo na dahil nakarating na kami.

"Welcome home, Anne." I said to myself while smiling.

Pagkatapos naming makuha ang mga bagahe namin ay oras na ng paalamanan.

"Thank you for spending your time with me." I sincerely said.

"Kung magsalita ka parang naging tayo ah?" Umarte pa siyang nasusuka.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes.

"Thank you for listening to my story. For being there when I have no one." He said smiling. Lumabas na naman yung dimples niya.

"Kung magsalita ka parang naging tayo ah?" Panggagaya ko sa sinabi niya.

We both laughed.

"Saan ka ba? Hatid na kita." He offered nung nasa labas na kami ng airport.

"Uhh, no. May susundo na sa'kin. Thank you anyway. I had fun." I smiled.

He smiled back. "I had fun, too. So, see you around?" He asked.

I nodded at nauna na siyang umalis. Hinintay ko na lang si Mang Lino. Siya daw kasi ang susundo sa'kin sabi ni Mama.

* * * *

"Welcome home, Anne!"

I was surprised when I got home. Everyone was there. Even Bea and his soon-to-be husband.

"Welcome home, sweety." Mama greeted me and kissed my cheek.

Papa also did the same. "Did you enjoy your vacation?" He asked.

"I did! It was the best vacation ever!" I exclaimed. "Thank you po and I missed you."

"We missed you, too." They said and gave me a hug.

"Omg cous!" Bea screamed.

"Hey!" I greeted.

"Blooming ah! 'Yan ba ang hindi nakatagpo ng interesting stranger?" She teased me.

"Ikakasal ka na't lahat, hindi ka parin nagmomove-on dyan sa interesting stranger mo." I said.

She laughed.

"Oh, and by the way, this is Mike. Mike, this is Anne, my cousin." She introduced me to her fiancè.

"Nice to meet you, Anne." He said smiling sabay lahad ng kamay.

Tinanggap ko yun and smiled back. "Finally nakilala na rin kita. Halos mabingi na kasi ako everytime na kinukwento ka sa'kin nitong si Bea eh." I honestly said, dahilan para kurutin niya ako sa tagiliran.

"What?" I asked. Pinipigilan kong matawa.

"You and your honest mouth." She said.

"Bakit ka pa mahihiya eh ikakasal na kayo sa makalawa, diba Mike?" I asked and he replied with a sweet smile. Cute.

"So, how's your trip ba? Minsan ka na lang kasi tumawag sa'kin eh." Pag-iiba ni Bea ng topic.

"It went well and I had fun. And I'm proud to say that after twelve months, I have finally moved on." I sincerely said.

They all smiled to me. Naging saksi kasi sila sa lahat ng napagdaanan ko. And now, I know they're happy seeing me like this.

Hindi ko pinagsisisihan yung mga nagawa ko sa nakaraan dahil yun yung dahilan kung bakit ako ganito ngayon. All the moments I had with them, I will always keep them in my heart. I will treasure those memories. Wala na akong galit sa mga taong nagdulot sa'kin ng matinding sakit.

I guess time really heals all wounds.