I Have Loved You

Prologue

Janella's POV

I'm waiting for Meow to fetch me here, from the airport. Kadarating ko lang kasi from a photo shoot in Portugal. Seven days din ako dun nagstay. Seven days away from my family, from my friends and from Elmo. It's kind of sad, I mean, it's really sad but good thing, JV's with me and the Mega team really made the trip memorable. 'Twas fun working with them.

Pero finally, I'm back to my homeland. Elmo promised me na susunduin nya ako. Few minutes ago lang, he said na he's on his way na daw so I'm just patiently waiting here pero I'm feeling giddy na, I really want to see him now. 

"Jea, susunduin ka ni Elmo diba?" JV asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Papunta na ba sya?" Tanong nyang muli.

"Yes. He texted me just a while ago na he's on his way na daw," sagot ko naman, assuring him.

"Okay. Paalis na kasi Mega team eh, they're inviting me to go with them pero wala ka ng kasama dito, baka mapano ka pa. Di ko mapapatawad sarili ko if may mangyari sa'yong masama," sabi nya na puno ng pag-mamalasakit.

"Aaaw, that's so sweet of you naman JV. It's fine if you go with them, it's also fine if you stay with me. I'd appreciate it so much, but if not, I still appreciate your concern," I said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll stay," he uttered beaming.

"Eeeh JV, you're so sweet, pero if you're getting bored na or you really need to go, you can leave me here, okay? And if andyan na si Moe, promise me you'll go with us, please?" I pleaded.

"Ano ka ba, kahit di ka nag-offer, sasabay talaga ako sa inyo ni Moe! Talaga 'to si Jea! Hahayaan mo ba akong magtaxi mag-isa?" Tanong nya na tila ba di na nangangailangan pa ng sagot.

We laughed and continued waiting for Moe.

It's been 45 minutes since his last text, I'm getting worried na tuloy. I'm just thinking na baka traffic kaya nalate sya. Pero kasi he's not replying sa texts ko. So iniisip ko na lang din na baka wala na syang load. Pero yung puso ko eh...kanina pa ang bilis at lakas ng tibok. Kinakabahan na ako.

"Jea, wala pa ba si Moe?" tanong ni JV na kagigising lang. Ganun na pala katagal na pati sya, nakatulog na.

"Wala pa eh," I answered him with a streak of worry on my face.

"Darating pa ba sya? Mag-taxi na lang kaya tayo?" He concerningly suggested.

"Darating yun. Hindi pwedeng hindi. Nagpromise sya eh. Promises are supposed to be fulfilled. Kilala ko si Elmo," I tearily protested. 

"I know, but sometimes, promises are meant to be broken. Jea lumalalim na ang gabi, kailangan na din natin magpahinga from a very exhausting week," he explained.

"If you want, I told you naman kanina, na you can go, you can leave me if you really need to," I reminded him.

"Sorry Jea. I'm really tired lang talaga. Sige I'll stay with you. Wake me up na lang if andyan na sya, okay? I'll just take a nap." he quietly responded.

"No JV. I don't want to bother your resting time. You can go. I really appreciate you. I'm so blessed to have a friend like you. Thank you," I said squeezing his hand.

"Jea, sabi ko I'll stay," he protested.

"No, you go now. Or else...di na ako magpapaayos sa'yo," I jested.

"Jea naman eh, let me stay"  he begged.

"I'm serious," I growled. But I didn't mean what I said, I just really want him to go for his own good.

"Jea kasi eh. Sige na nga. Bye na. Mag-ingat ka dito, ha," he acquiesced patting my shoulders.

"Yes po. Bye JV," I assured him and hugged him.

He started arranging his baggage then my phone rang. It's Elmo.

"Oh my gosh. Elmo, where are you? We've been waiting for you for so long!"  I complained angrily.

I looked at JV and he mouthed, "Elmo?"

I nodded.

"Hi Miss Janella Salvador, this is police officer Santos, I just want to inform you that Mr. Elmo Magalona had a car accident here in EDSA. He's currently at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, we're sorry to tell you this," the policer officer empathized.

I was left in shock. I want to cry.

I was still not in my senses when I received a consecutive call. This time it's from Tita Pia. My heart is beating much faster than ever. My nerves are cracking. I'm going to faint. But I still encouraged myself to answer the call.

"Hello Tita Pia? How's Elmo?" I sniffed nervously, tears continuously flowing.

"Jea...," she mumled, "Elmo left us," after she said those words, I heard her sob.

At that very moment, I don't want to believe what my ear had heard. I don't want my mind to process what Tita Pia just mumbled. I don't want my head to think what happened, what's happening and what will happen after this. I don't want my heart to feel the pain, the anger, guilt, depression, and my longing. I just want to feel numbness. I want to be numb for a moment. But my senses were there again, locking me in this situation.

I didn't get to respond nor asked her for further questions, my phone fell on the floor and I heard it crashed. 

I fell too, but JV was there to catch me. I didn't know what to do but to mourn. 

He left me. I loss him. 

Another man in my life has left me.

I was all alone again.

...