Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Twenty-Six

I was choking back my tears as I hugged Cienne for the last time before she goes to the States.

Nasa labas na kami ngayon ng airport, about to drop Cienne off. Ara was behind me as I continously cried over the fact that Cienne was leaving.

"Nakaka...inish ka.... naman... Syen eeehhhh!" Pasinok-sinok kong sabi.

"Drama mo talaga kahit kailan!" She said as she pulled away. She wore a sad expression as her eyes started becoming teary. "Besides, I'm sure magkakakitaan pa tayo. And..." She blinked back her tears but still tried smiling. "Kahit nasa U.S. na 'ko, alam kong matatapilok pa rin ako sa sobrang haba ng buhok mo. So it's not really goodbye!"

Nabatukan ko si bruha. I heard Ara laughing behind me. "Nakakainis ka!" Cienne smiled, wiped her tears away, and hugged me again. Niyakap ko siya nang sobrang higpit, knowing that this might be our last hug.

Cienne pulled away and looked at Ara. She hugged her and whispered something to her, but I didn't hear it.

"So... this is good bye. For now, at least," Cienne said and walked towards the entrance. Tapos tumigil siya, tumingin sakin, tumakbo papunta sakin at hinug ulit ako. "Mamimiss kitang bruha ka," She whispered in my ear.

Tears crawled down my cheeks as Cienne pulled away from the hug, waved good bye to Ara and I, and disappeared into the entrance.

Napatingin ako kay Ara and she had an it's going to be okay look on her face.

The journey back home was much quieter, except for the sounds of the songs played on the radio and the rumbles of the subtle engine of Ara's car. It all still felt unreal to me. Feeling ko, nasa bahay pa rin si Cienne, waiting for me with Cake Boss in full volume while preparing a delicious meal for the both of us. The thought made me smile, pero alam ko sa sarili ko na it wasn't a completely happy thought.

We arrived at the condo a moment later, but I didn't feel like going home. Besides, it's not home without Cienne.

"Gusto mo bang... pumunta somewhere else?" Ara asked, as if reading my mind.

I smiled and nodded.

'Di ako tinanong ni Ara kung saan ko gustong pumunta, and I was more than okay with it, kasi kahit ako, 'di ko rin alam kung saan ko gusto pumunta. I guess kahit saan naman okay lang sakin.

Ara drove and drove and drove, hanggang sa nakarating kami sa parang row ng townhouses na pare-pareho 'yung model pero iba't iba 'yung style and color nung houses. Sobrang dilim (since it was only 2:03 AM) but the lights of the houses illuminated over the streets. All the houses were not so wide in measure but were really tall, all with a minimum of three floors. We parked outside a certain house with cream walls and brown doors and windows.

"Bahay niyo 'to?" I asked as I got out of the car, and Ara did the same.

"Ko," She corrected. "Sakin lang 'to."

I nodded and followed her as she entered her house.

Pagpasok ko, it was much smaller than I imagined--maybe because ang daming gamit na nakatambak, mostly mga papeles--na nakakalat sa mga sofa, dining table, and sa coffee table.

"Sorry makalat, wala naman ako masyadong bisita. As a matter of fact, ikaw yata ang pinaka-unang bisita ko sa place na 'to," Ara said as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Talaga?"

"Oo... well, except sa mga nag-d'deliver ng gas tsaka ng tubig."

I followed her to the kitchen and sat at one of the stools. Nag-look around ako. May nakita akong mga picture frame sa sides ng TV and may mga makakapal na books na naka-stack sa sa kabilang side. May nakita akong PS3 sa ilalim ng TV at may konting DVDs din dun banda. It wasn't much, but strangely enough, it felt like home.