Dating Alys Perez (PUBLISHED)

Epilogue (2nd part)

They say everything is bound to reach its ending. Minsan magulo, minsan hindi pero ang maganda dun, merong closure.

"Your time's up. Go, go," the nurse instructed me para lumabas sa kwarto.

I looked at him one last time and then kissed his forehead. Ang haba na ng buhok niya, may stubbles na rin sa mukha niya. Pero gwapo pa din. I smiled at the thought. Ang unfair. Ako tumanda na ng three years pero si Tripp, ganun pa rin yung mukha. Ang daya.

"I'll return, okay?" I said one last time before I walked out the door.

What happened for the past three years? It was crazy. Naaalala ko pa nung itinago ng mom niya si Tripp sa akin. She still hates me up to date. It was maddening how I searched for Tripp.

After having him in a stable condition, pinaayos na ng mom niya yung papers to transfer him to the States. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. I was nursing a broken sould, I was crying for my unborn child, tapos ilalayo pa nila sa akin si Tripp.

Looking back, I can say that I'm proud of myself. Hindi biro lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Kung sa ibang tao siguro nangyari yun, baka nabaliw na sila.

Dahan dahan akong umalis, baka kasi makita ako ng mommy ni Tripp. The last time she saw me sneaking around the room of his sleeping son, she pulled my hair so hard I bled. Okay lang. Para kay Tripp naman.

I fled away from the Philippines. Ayoko na dun. Puro naman kasi masasakit na alaala yung naiisip ko.

While waiting outside, my phone vibrated. I looked at it.

Another email from Drake.

I opened it habang nakasakay ako sa loob ng taxi. Since the accident, hindi ko na kayang magdrive. Kahit humawak sa manibela, hindi ko kaya. All I could see is red. Nakakatakot. Hindi ako makahinga.

From: Drake Palma

Hi, Alys. How are you there? We're doing good here. Your mom's doing okay. Your brother is still mad at me but it's fine. Do you know that Kent proposed to your best friend? It was crazy, I'm telling you. He kneeled in front of everybody and then he got a slap from your crazy friend. You wouldn't have laughed if you were here...

I wish you were here, you know?

I love you. I still do. I will always.

Anyway, I visited Marco's grave. Why did you have to name him Marco, anyway? Tripp's not yet dead, you know. But I won't question you since you're Marco's mother. I had the grave cleaned since I know you'd hate me if I would let his tomb get dirtied.

It's been three years, 765 emails, 0 reply.

They say give up, Drake. She's moved on. But hell I won't. You won't forget about me, right? You said you love me. You said you just needed a break.

You said you love me. Love.

I'm still holding onto that, Alys. I'd rather die alone than to replace you.

Call me an asshole but if ever you happen to fall in love with another guy, please don't invite me to your wedding.

Always,

Drake

I smiled at his email.

Hindi naman ako galit. I just needed space to rebuild my life. Ayoko ng magmahal ng sobra. Minsan kasi pag sobra, wala ng natitira sa sarili mo. Paano pag iniwan ka niya? E di kawawa ka naman.