When A Heart Gets Broken

Part 32: Flashback

They were seated in front of each other, both unable to speak.

" Ikaw yung hinanap ko, hindi si Jessica. My one that got away. I went to your old apartment but lumipat na raw kayo. Everyday, I was praying na balikan mo si Mommy... ako until I just accepted the fact na hindi na tayo ulit magkikita. Then nagkita tayo sa Makati, I was the happiest..."

" Why didn't you tell me?"

" I don't know how to tell you kasi sabi mo marami nang nabago...kayo pa rin?"

Rae nodded slowly. She eyed him and she saw the hurt on his face.

" I'm actually leaving next week for US. Nandun na kasi si Jonas. He found a job for me sa hospital where he also works."

Yumuko si Liam to hide the tears that are welling in his eyes. He knows that this may be the end of the road for both of them.

Ganun din naman si Rey. But this time she asked the questions.

" But you guys were sleeping together when I was there? How could you say that to me now..."

"That's not true. I slept in mama's room sa floor during the entire length of her stay. When she started feeling nauseous, I went with her at the ob-gyne and found out about her pregnancy. That's  when she told me about her Pinoy boyfriend in UK."

" I was relieved in a way but then I realized what I did to you. That's when I went back to your apartment and found out you had since moved out."

The Liam asked her: "Was I the reason why you left Mommy?"

Tumango si Rey.

" I have to tell myself everyday as well to move on dahil dumating na yung girlfriend mo. Akala ko kaya ko na makita kayong magkasama. pero hindi eh. Sakit na sakit ang loob ko kaya once I realized na apektado na lahat pati pag-aaral ko, I made a decision. Matagal bago ako nasanay na hindi na kita nakikita and si Mommy Violy, naguilty ako. But I have to make that decision to save my studies and myself from being destroyed, mga responsibilities ko na dapat kong gawing priorities bago ka dumating."

" Ang daming sayang na pwede kong sabihin ngayon. Ang daming I wished I did this...I wished you asked me."

" How will I ask you? Ganun lang... Random question: Hey Liam! Are you guys sleeping together? Ikaw talaga. Wala naman tayo kahit ano that time! How will I get the guts to ask you that?"

"Ang dami kong regrets after you left. I really wanted to give you flowers before but I never got the chance .I knew you love them so much."

"Hahahha! How did you now?"

"I was always seeing you touching and smelling them sa bahay kapag naglilinis ka. I was just waiting for a reason to give you one but it didn't come before you left. Kaya when Mommy said I have to change the name of the flower shop, ikaw talaga naisip ko kasi nga, sabi ko baka magkita tayo one day and bibigyan talaga kita ng flowers na gustong gusto mo na hindi ko maibigaysayo nuon...kaya Rae's Flowers of Hope."

A tear trickled on Rey's cheeks and Liam saw that but he continued.

" Ang dami kong I wished I did this. And one time when I felt so depressed, I went back to your place nagbabaka sakali na bumalik kayo duon but wala na talaga kayo."

 Rey looked at Liam's face.

 "Yeah we moved-out... my decision to make life easier for me..."

"...But sabi sa akin ni Mommy, if we're meant to be together, magkikita pa rin tayo to continue where we left off."

" See! Ngayon nagkita na ulit tayo..."

"But now I am too late."
Liam looked at her with a certain undescribable sadness in his eyes. 

Pareho na silang naluluha but both tried to lift each other's spirit up.

"We should be thankful kasi He gave both of us a closure and a chance to tell each other what we felt before. Siguro yung nafeel natin nuon kaya hindi natuloy kasi we're never meant to be together... Hanggang aso't pusa lang talaga tayo."

'But let's promise to each other to come back here. Maghihintay ako sayo dito. Promise me na babalikan mo ako pag hindi kayo nagkatuluyan ni Jonas ha?" Rey hugged him tightly.

"If you didn't return to me after 2 years, I'll be happy for you...because that means you found your one."

" Why are you doing this Liam?"

" After all these years, I loved you without expecting in return. Ngayon pa na alam  ko na you loved me too before.. Talagang ganun pag nagmahal ka ng totoo."

" Sayang no?"

Rey nodded in agreement. She felt a big lump in her throat.