"Uy Julie san ka pupunta?" Diva asked. I didn't answer. Instead, I went inside my car and drove away. My heart feels heavy. As if there's a boulder on top of my chest. As if air was blocked from my lungs. I couldn't breathe properly. I'm hyperventilating, I'm having palpitations, I feel dizzy. I feel empty.
I don't even know how I got to my house, safe. I was crying really hard. And I couldn't see clearly. I slumped on the floor, box in front of me. My hands were shaking as I open it again. Seeing them again. Feeling heartbroken for the nth time.
I took one memorabilia at a time and as I stare at them, memories came rushing back...
FLASHBACKS...
"Manager!!" I was awaken from slumber when I felt someone jumping on my bed. I opened my eyes and saw a 19-year old Elmo looking excited and hyper. "Manager wake up!!!"
"Tsk. Ano nanaman ba muppet?" I asked him.
"Wake up! Wake up!" he said and even slapped my cheek lightly.
"Tsk. Ano?" I asked as I opened my eyes.
"I got the tickets!!!" he said flashing two tickets at my face. I backed away to see it clearly and my eyes grew wide.
"Tickets to CB's concert?!" I asked.
"Yes!! And guess what?"
"What?"
"VIP, Manager! VIP!!!" he said. I shrieked and we both jumped up and down my bed.
"OH MY GOSH! I LOVE YOU NA TALAGA! GALING MO!!" I said as I ruffled his hair.
"Hahaha. Love you too!"
*****
We were sitting at the school field, waiting for the boys' soccer practice to finish when he came up to us.
"What's up ladies?" he said and laid beside me, sweaty and all.
"Yuck, muppet! Ang lagkit mo!" I cried. The others laughed as they watched us fight.
"Arte mo naman!" he said shaking his head like a dog. Sweat started dripping from his hair to my arms and legs.
"Elmo Moses kadiri ka!!!"
"Hahaha. Just kidding, manager. May food ba kayo diyan? I'm hungry." he said, rummaging through Sef's backpack.
"Hey hey hey! Don't touch my beautiful backpack you slimy icky creature." he warned Elmo.
"Whatever." he said and threw the backpack back at him. "Manager, feed me." he whined and even leaned his head on my shoulder.
"Tsk. Wala na. Itong chocolate na lang oh." I said, giving him the bar I have.
"Yehey! Thanks manager! I'll go back to the field na." and he kissed my cheek before running back to their training.
"Ehem. Kamatis. Ehem." Jmee and Diva said while Maqui and Sef poked my sides.
*****
"Oh guys! Picture na kasi!" Diva yelled. We were in Palawan and were riding a boat when she told us to pose for the camera.
"Ayoko!" Elmo said. He was starting to get seasick and we were all teasing him of being a coward.
"Come on muppet! Picture na!" Derrick said and even pushed him playfully.
"Rick naman!" he cried.
"Hahaha. Oh wag na asarin baka magkalat pa yan dito. Tayo pa kawawa." I told them. "You okay?" I asked him. He shook his head and leaned on my shoulder.
"I feel sick." he said.
"You look sick. Dapat pala naiwan ka na lang sa hotel." I told him.
"No! I don't wanna be alone." he said.
"Hahaha. And we don't want to bathe in your barf." I laughed.
"Game na lovebirds! Picture na!" Diva yelled again. I smiled for the camera and when it clicks, the picture taken was a candid shot of us in chaos. Because Elmo puked and we were all looking shocked and disgusted.
*****
Baguio. It was another barkada trip and everyone's asleep except for me. Di kasi ako makatulog because of how cold it was. I think the temperature dropped from 13 degrees to 9 degrees. I was standing in the balcony of our hotel room trying to appreciate the quiet place when I heard the sliding door open. I glanced back and saw him.
"Can't sleep?" he asked. I shook my head and looked back at the vast space below us.
"Nope. Ikaw?"
"Me too. Ang lamig eh." he said. He stood beside me and we stared into space for a long time. No one dared to move. No one dared to speak.
"Shit ang lamig talaga." I said, shivering. I was hugging myself already and he was just looking at me. "Haha. Look at your pullover, mukha kang gangster na takatak boy sa sobrang laki niyan. Seriously Elmo. Ganyan ba uso sa inyo ngayon?" I teased him.
"Haha. Makaasar ka ah. Useful kaya to." he replied.
"Mukha nga eh. You have a blanket and a jacket in one." I said and laughed again. The next thing I knew, he was making me wear the pullover with him still wearing it.
"See? I told you it's useful." he whispered afterwards. We were sharing one big pullover. Bodies close to each other. Feeling each other's warmth. He hugged me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder as we watched the lights and the stars and the moon above us.
END OF FLASHBACKS...
"Moe..." I cried as I hugged that huge piece of clothing.
*****
2 weeks have passed and finally I can go back to Manila. I missed them all especially Julie. I was waiting for her to call me but she didn't. And I began to worry that she doesn't feel the same way anymore.
When I arrived at the airport, I was surprised to see Gino and our barkada there. Teka. I was the one who's supposed to surprise them. Bakit sila nandito? I ran so that I could catch up with them.
"Gino boy!" I yelled. They all looked my way and I was smiling widely at them. When I reached their place...
PAK!!
"Maqui!" Sef yelled.
"What the--" I said as I touched my now red cheek.
"The nerve of you coming back here?! After ng lahat ng sakit na binigay mo kay Julie?!"
"What?" I asked, confused.
"And now you're acting innocent. Shit ka talaga!" she screamed.
"Maqui pwede ba kumalma ka?" Diva told her.
"Paano ako kakalma kung ang rason ng pagpunta ni Julie sa Singapore eh andito?! Ha?!"
"What? Julie's in Singapore?"
"She followed you, you moron. Ano ba kasing laman ng box na pinadala mo at bakit nagmamadaling umalis yung gagitang yun ha?" Sef said starting to get angry as well.
"Teka nga. Pwede wag tayo sa gitna ng airport magdramahan? Nakakahiya sa mga tao." Derrick said as he pushed us towards his van.
"Shoot." Kris said once we all got in.
"Elmo, ano ba kasing laman ng box? When I gave it to Julie, she opened it pero sinara agad tsaka na siya umalis sa bahay, crying. And then the next day, she called Maqui na ayaw mo na daw and that you're ending things with her. Ano bang laman ng lintek na box na yun?!"
"It was our memorabilias." I answered.
"Eh gago ka pala talaga eh. Bakit kailangan mo pa ibalik mga yun? Tanga!!" Jmee said.
"Teka nga. Hinalungkat ba niya maigi yung box?" I asked them.
"Pakyu ka. Sa tingin mo hahalungkatin pa niya yun kung puro memories niyo andun? Talaga bang sasaktan mo si Julie?!" Diva said. I facepalmed myself and scratched my head.
"Tsk. Tara sa kanila. Bilis." I ordered them.
"At bakit?" Sef asked.
"Ipapakita ko sa inyo kung anong laman ng box."
*****
Singapore. Why did I even go here? To hurt myself more? Para isampal ko lalo sa mukha ko that Elmo is over me already?
"Elmo asan ka ba?" I asked myself as I looked around the place. I feel out of place. Alone.
I checked in to Sentosa and fixed myself after. I wanted to start looking for him but I feel dead tired because of the 3-hour plane travel and because of the jet lag. I was staring outside when something hit me. I started looking for it on the contacts and finally. Finally I saw it.
'Tita Pia Magalona' was the name that might be of help to me.
*****
"Apo!" Nana looked surprised to see me with the barkada. "Eh kaaalis lang ni Julie ah. Diba hinatid niyo?" she asked us.
"Opo, Nana. Pero may kailangan kami." Maqui replied. We all went upstairs to Julie's room and found the box sitting on her bed. I instantly went for it and opened it. Rummaging through the memorabilias one by one until finally I saw it. Untouched and obviously she didn't see it. I took them out of the box and they all looked curious and surprised.
"What's that?" Sef asked.
"She didn't mention about this?" I asked.
"Nope. Not a clue." Kris replied.
"Eh ano bang laman niyan?" Maqui asked, still pissed at me. I opened the little blue box and they were all taken by surprise.
"Elmo! Eeeeeeeeh!!!" kinikilig na sabi nila Sef and Jmee.
"Gago ka talaga boy." Derrick said as he punched my shoulder playfully.
"Sabi na eh." Gino said.
"Langya. Ikaw na!" Diva cried.
"Dude, idol talaga kita." Kris said. We all looked at Maqui who was teary-eyed. She snickered and wiped the tears in her eyes.
"Kala mo bati na tayo dahil diyan? Sunduin mo muna yung kaibigan ko sa Singapore. Tsaka tayo magbabati."
*****
"Julie, sweetie!" I was greeted by a middle-aged woman. She still looked like my mom's bestfriend. Young-looking and sophisticated.
"Tita." I greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"How are you sweetie? You looked gorgeous! Dalagang-dalaga ka na." she said turning me around just like how she does everytime we see each other. "Elmo told me about your business in the Philippines. And sabi niya you are like Mav when it comes to cooking and baking. I'm so proud of you!" she said.
"Thank you tita. Uhm..."
"Teka. What are you doing here in Singapore?"
"Uhm... Tita it's about Elmo."
"Bakit?"
"Is he here?" I asked looking around their house. I looked at her and she looked serious.
"He isn't here. He went back to Manila for you eh." she said.
"P-po?"
