"You're what? Ano?" Kath asked in disbelief. She was hoping. She was hoping that this is just a bad dream she could wake up on.
"Kath, please making ka muna sa akin.." hiling ni DJ. Tulala lamang ang kasama niya at hindi siya tinitignan nito. Nagpatuloy siya.
"Nung nagkita ulit tayo, I am already in a 3-year relationship with someone. With Ysabel. Maniwala ka, hindi ko pinlano na patagalin pa sa'yo, I was going to break it to—"
"Ganun katagal, DJ? It took you nine months to finally tell me kung anong klaseng kagaguhan ang ginawa mo sa akin? My God, Daniel, to be a third wheel was never my plan."
"And it wasn't my plan either, but—"
"Pero pinatagal mo! Pano mo nagawa yun?" Her tears rolled down to her cheeks. Inabot siya ni DJ sa kabilang dako ng la mesa at pinunasan ang luha ni Kathryn.
"No. No. Stop. Sabihin mo sa akin." Pigil niya ditto. Huminga siya ng malalim bago magsimula.
"Naalala mo pa ba nung nagkita ulit tayo nung High School reunion natin? Our relationship was on the rocks at that time. Parang, wala na kasi sa akin, 2 years na siya sa US and parang di na kami nagri-reach out sa isa't isa.."
"Cut it, DJ."
"Nagsinungaling ako nung tinanong mo ako kung may girlfriend ako. And then you know what happened."
"I happened?" Tumango si DJ. Kath groaned in disbelief. Wow. Siya talaga ang magmumukhang mali. She wanted to cry on the spot that moment.
"So..etong nakaraan na wala ka, tell me, nagtatrabaho ka ba talaga?" God knows what she would do just so she could hear the answer she wants from Daniel.
Tumango si DJ. "But not for the past days before I flew again." Kathryn couldn't take it anymore but she was craving for the things she should have known.
"Bumalik siya for three days. We spent it together." Oh God. How insensitive could he get?
"DJ.." Kath cried. "Never did I imagine you're gonna put me in a situation like this." Kath said, catching her breath.
"I'm sorry..."
Tumango-tango si Kath.
"Tell her I'm sorry. Does she know?" umiling si Daniel.
"Please do me a favor and tell her the truth. Kahit ako pa yung lalabas na masama." She said before she left the place.
Napasandal si Daniel at nilagay ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha. He and Ysabel were in a good relationship for 3 years until she had to go to the US and work there. A year of being apart have truly set them from each other. Lumilipas ang isang lingo na hindi sila nag-uusap. Until he met his High School batchmate, Kathryn Bernardo on their reunion. Suddenly, Kathryn filled the missing part in his life that he missed in a long time.Until it lasted longer.
Sometimes, when he's with Kathryn, he would sneak in messages to Ysabel when she thought he was busy on other things. Almost a year ago, binalita ni Ysabel na uuwi siya for three days so they could catch up on each other. So he lied to Kathryn, saying that it would take him a week or so before he comes back.
Sa lumipas na tatlong araw ay napatunayan ni Daniel ang halaga ni Kathryn sa kanya. Mahal niya ito. Mahal na mahal at tila nawala na sa puso niya si Ysabel. He did what he thought was the best. Sinabi niya kay Kathryn ang totoo. Nang sabihin niya kay Ysabel ang nangyari, they just broke up. No violent reactions from Ysabel. He knos how much he's hurting the women that had meant everything to him and the one that means the universe to him. But he knows she's hurting. Baka pa nga sinisisi nito ang kanyang sarili sa nangyari.
Simula noon ay hindi na sila ulit nag-usap ni Ysabel. While Kathryn, he would try a hundred times to talk to her and tell her what he really feels. Na mahal niya ito. Pero, just six months ago ay nabalitaan niya na lang na boyfriend na nito ang isa pang sikat na negosyanteng si Dominic. Dominic Roque.
Napa-iling si DJ sa ala-ala. Gago. Isa siyang malaking gago at nilalamon siya ng panghihinayang.
Kung sinabi niya lang agad kay Kath na mahal niya ito. Kung nagging matapang lang siya.
Kung hindi lang siya natakot.
"Oh, diba? Kaya wag ka mag-inarte diyang ngayon. Ikaw naglagaysa sarili mo sa kung ano mang nangyayari ngayon!" Banat ni Pat nang mapansin ang pananahimik ng kaibigan. Nag-pass out na si Diego at alam niyang kargo niya nanaman iyon kinaumagahan.
"Sige, sige na Pat. Ako na dito." Tumayo siya para kumuha ng trash bag. Pagbalik ay niligpit niya na lamang ang mga lata ng beer sa la mesa.
------
Kath decided not to go to the office that day. Parang mas malakas ang gravitational force ng kama niya nang umagang 'yon, isama mo pa na umuulan. So she let it be. Nagring ang kanyang telepono. Si Dominic. Pinatay niya ang kanyang telepono at ipinikit ang mata.
"Dom. Doooom." Sabi niya. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin. She's torn between fixing herself of destroying Dominic. She knew how much he loved her and that makes it harder for Kathryn. How could she hurt someone who did nothing but love her since the start?
Alam ni Kath sa sarili niya na may trust issues padin siya. And she can't be unfair to Dominic. But wouldn't she unfair to herself, then? Although it was clear to Dominic that she cannot fully commit herself to him emotionally, he understood and still pursued her. She thinks it was the best for him and for her. But she was wrong. She was wrong, she IS wrong and she will be wrong as long as this relationship would take longer. Ayaw niyang masaktan si Dom.
Si Dom na umintindi. Si Dom na nagiintay. Si Dom na nagmamahal lang naman.
Sa totoo lang ay kaya niya naman pumasok sa araw na 'yon. Kayang kaya niyang labanan ang tawag ng katamaran sa kanyang katawan, but she thought to give this day just for herself. To think, to feel and be human again. She did a few calls para magbilin sa opisina at muling nahiga. Nakatitig lang siya sa kisame at nag-iisip. Kahit pala pag-iisip nakakapagod din physically.
In life, there are things more than what we see. Sometimes, it's just about letting yourself become fragile, become hurt, and become numb. It's not meant to make you weak, but to become wiser with your decisions and that's what important-- that you learn. Kathryn spent the whole morning in bed, remembering who she really was, contemplating and just thinking. Daniel, on the other hand, let he demons in his head fight that morning. Just like Kathryn, he was no different from those who are accustomed to do certain things only. For the past months, he's been dying to live again. Just like how he was with Kathryn.
---------------
So I did this one around January, April?? I forgot and I was scanning through my files when I saw this! Lol.
