It's been five long years.
Limang taon na ang lumipas since Mika and I left Zamboanga City and go back to our own worlds of reality.
Limang taon na ang lumipas pero hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang mga ngiti ni Mika – especially when I have food with me. Oh boy, that girl loves anything edible.
Limang taon na ang lumipas mula noong umalis kami sa siyudad na 'yun, pero parang hindi pa rin ako nakausad, hindi ako nakaalis – naiwan ako sa lugar kung saan ko naramdaman ang kakaibang saya habang kapiling si Mika.
Hindi ako nakaalis sa mga alaalang dinadalaw ako tuwing gabi, kung kelan tahimik na ang mundo at wala na akong naririnig kundi ang laman ng isip ko.
Hindi ako nakaalis sa mga masasayang araw kung saan kasama ko siya, wishing that I could relive those moments again. How I wish.
It's been five years but it felt like I just fell in love yesterday.
- - -
"Huy," Ara poked my shoulder, "Ba't ang tahimik mo? Nasaan na ba 'yung babaeng tinutukoy mo?"
"Wala na," I said weakly.
"Anong wala na? Nabuntis mo ba at iniwan mo na agad? Lupet mo ha!," Ara joked.
I glared at her before smacking her head, "Gago ka talaga."
Ako nga ang iniwan, di'ba?
"Aray!," Ara exclaimed, "Para saan naman 'yun?"
I rolled my eyes at her, bago ko siya inakbayan at hinila papunta sa kotse niya, "Wala, namiss lang kita. Umuwi na tayo, pagod na ako."
Ara rubbed her head, "Ewan ko sa'yo, tara na nga, sa condo ka na magkwento."
- -
I told them everything.
Since the very first day I helped Mika on the plane, until we parted ways at the airport. Nagulat silang lahat sa mga sinabi ko, besides, who would expect that I'll fall in love with just a matter of days?
I know some of you won't believe it, but if I wasn't in love with her, why does it hurt me so much?
I think it is very rare these days, ni hindi nga ako naniniwala sa ganyan noon eh, but look at me now.
Baliw.
Hindi ko inakala 'yun. No one, even my friends, expected it.
After telling them my story, our story, they gave me a sympathetic smile. Wala naman na akong magagawa, I told them how it ended. As much as it hurts, I told them how we ended.
How she was taken away from me by a guy she doesn't even love. How I didn't look away when the car drove in front of me; hoping for even a subtle glance from her – pero wala, hindi siya lumingon because I know it hurts her, too.
And lastly, how I wished I have the courage to grab her hand and runaway.
But even if it hurts like hell, even if there seems to be no other way – life must go on.
- -
"Alam mo, Ly, I think kailangan mo na talagang magpahinga," Ella said randomly nang mapadaan siya sa table ko, "Ang haggard na ng feslak mo, besh. Ang layo na sa beauty ko oh."
