Suppression

It was exactly seven years ago. I was young back then when the love I thought would last ended. Hindi ko alam na may expiration pala ang forever.

It's almost eleven in the evening, kakatapos lang ng duty ko nang maisipan kong dumaan sa katapat na coffee shop ng ospital na pinagtatrabahuhan ko.

"Good evening, ma'am. May I have your order please?" bati sa akin ng barista as I approach the counter.

"Green tea latte, hot. Yung venti," seven years na rin pala nung huli akong mapadpad dito.

"Your name na lang ma'am for the cup," he asked while holding a white venti cup.

"Laena. L-a-e-n-a."

"You have a beautiful name Miss Laena. Here's your receipt. Paki-present na lang when you claim your order," he said.

"Okay. Thank you—" then I stared on his nameplate na nakalagay sa may bandang dibdib nya. "Charles," I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my heart as I mention his name.

It reminds me of someone, him. Those hazel eyes which used to stare back at me, his long pointed nose and those pair of lips that are as soft as satin.

"Green tea latte for Ma'am Laena," and I came back to my senses.

Humanap ako ng lugar kung saan pwede akong maupo. Siguro nga trip talaga ako ng tadhana ngayong gabi dahil sa lahat lahat naman ng vacant seat na makikita ko, dun pa. That same spot where he left me. Having no choice left, doon ako umupo. I was about to have a sip when the door opened, and then there he was, walking his way to the counter. I tried blinking for a couple of times hoping that I am just imagining things, but I wasn't. And so every memory of him that I tried to forget suddenly flashed right in front of me.

I was searching for a place to sit when I saw this comfy sofa na malapit sa may pintuan. It was for two dahil sa kabila ng table nito ay may isa pang sofa. Bale magkaharapan. Dahil nga madaming tao at halos walang maupuan, dali dali akong pumunta dun but unfortunately, when I was about to sit e may nauna nang makaupo.

Tatalikod na sana ako noon when the man sitting in front of the sofa I was supposed to sit spoke, "Lae."

"Huh?" nagtataka ako. Paano nya nalaman ang pangalan ko?

"Laena R. Samonte," he said habang nakaturo sa nameplate ko. Oo nga pala. I'm wearing my unifrorm with this nameplate.

"Sorry but I don't talk to strangers."

"Charles Santos. Ayan ha? Hindi na ako stranger. Please have a seat. Wala naman akong kasama eh."

I roamed my eyes around at nang wala akong mahanap na ibang mauupuan ay pumayag na rin ako. And that's how we first met. Nalaman kong parehas pala kami ng course, nursing. He's already in his last year, while I'm in my third. Marami kaming napagusapan like he never really wanted to take up nursing. Ang gusto nya, pol-sci sana for pre-law.

Lumipas ang maraming araw na palagi kaming ganun. He even walks with me papuntang sakayan ng jeep, helps me with my case studies at kung anu-ano pa.

Few months later, nagulat na lang ako nang makitang maraming tao sa tapat ng classroom ko. Dahil nga medyo maaga pa at ayoko naman makipagsiksikan papasok, umupo na lang muna ako sa bench malapit sa elevator.

"Laena! Anong ginagawa mo dito? Kanina ka pa hinihintay dun sa classroom," tanong sa akin ni Diane na kakababa pa lang ng elevator.

"Huh?"

"Ay nako. Wala ng tanong tanong," at ayun, halos kaladkarin ako papasok. "Andito na sya!" sigaw nya pagkarating namin sa may pintuan.