Choices

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ni TheOneWhoStayed

ni TheOneWhoStayed

"The problem Julie is, choosing is just a part of the big process of loving. Hindi porke't pinili mo ang isang tao para i-zoom ang focus mo, e do'n nalang nagtatapos lahat. Prologue lang 'yan ng istorya." litanya ni Maqui habang ngumunguya ng cucumber. Nasa bahay nila ito ngayon at nagsleep-over. Kakatapos lang nila manood ng Leap Year at magfangirl kay Matthew Goode.

"What do you mean?" natatawang tanong n'ya rito.

"I mean, you met someone. You're interested. Suddenly you're drawn into that person. Hindi mo mapigilan na tingnan s'ya. Tapos nakakaimagine ka na ng dates at wedding bells. Pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n, he's the one. Kasi kung gano'n nga, then everybody that can pick our interest can bE called 'The One'.."

"Hmmm.." tumatango s'ya habang nagpapaliwanag ito.

"Sabi ko nga, prologue. Intro lang. The next thing to happen is you'll get to know that person more, deeper, down to his bone marrow. You discover things. You wisk away all those magical dusts around to see the reality. And that's where everything will start to be crucial." pagpapatuloy pa nito.

"Make or break, gano'n?"

"That's an understatement, my dear. Making and breaking are weak words. I said crucial because that's the turning point. Either madiskubre mo na 'yong bagay na kinaiinisan mo, gustong gusto pala n'ya. Pa'no na? Most of the people will start to drift away once may bagay na makapagpa-turn off sa kanila. But some, they manage to accept everything, the flaws and shits. Because you know what? Everything is a two-way street. Hindi dapat tayo maging mayabang na para bang tayo lang ang may karapatang mamili sa mundo. Our dreams can be somebody else's nightmare. Oo nga, you chose him, but hey, pinili ka rin n'ya among others."

"Ang heavy mo Maq. Ano ba kasi ang point? Happy ending naman ang Leap Year ah? Ba't bitter?" biro n'ya dito.

"All I am saying is, nakalagpas ka na sa crucial point Juls. And I'll be the saddest one ever if the two of you give up. There's more to your story than that choice the two of you did. 'Wag ka masyado magdwell do'n. It's all for the show. 'Di ba?"

"Yes. We're okay naman Maq. Don't worry. I know him more than he knows himself."

"So you are choosing to stay, no matter what?"

Nginitian n'ya lang ito ng makahulugan.

*********

"Ugh, finals week and hell week na naman. Alam mo ba, kanina we're supposed to present our magazine show tapos biglang nacorrupt 'yong file! Buti nalang mabait prof ko. Tapos 'yong isa kong kagroup nagkabulutong. Tapos ang dami dami kong kailangan gawin. Arrrrgh." sumbong n'ya dito no'ng hapon na dumalaw ito sa kanila.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. Baka ikaw naman magkasakit n'yan." sabi nito.

"Ewan ko. Choice ko naman 'to kaya dapat kayanin ko. But this day is really terrible." humilig s'ya sa balikat nito at niyakap ang braso ng binata. Kailangan n'ya itreasure ang mga ganitong pagkakataon na wala itong taping at wala syang commitment na kailangan gawin.

"Elmo, ikaw naman magkwento. Tell me something beautiful, para naman mawala stress ko."

"Hmmm.." humawak pa ito sa baba na tila nagiisip. Tinitigan n'ya ito. Naalala n'ya ang naging usapan nila ni Maq no'ng nagsleep over ito sa kanila.

And the moment he said her name to answer her question, she realized something.

She made the best choice when she chose to stay.