Before We Begin

how it all came down

July 16

She was pushing her shopping cart to the milk aisle when her heart stopped beating for a split second that she had to hold on to the shelf next to her for support.

There stood the handsome, bedimpled RJ on the other end of the aisle, focused on choosing between two brands of sterilized milk. She took a step back to hide herself from view and quietly observed him. She already accepted the fact that she might never see the man who gave her the best kiss she has ever had and seeing him standing just a few feet away from her only made her confused. Should she approach him? What would she say to him? And why in the world does he look so damn good?

But before she could make up her mind, the Universe already decided for her.

A very pregnant woman approached RJ and hooked her arm around his muscled bicep and she sighed in defeat. She took a deep breath and counted in her head to steady her heartbeat.

“You two-timing bastard. How dare you kiss me when you already have a very pregnant girlfriend?” She thought as she clenched her jaw in anger. She battled if she would approach the couple, but she looked at his girlfriend’s very pregnant belly and realized it might not be a good idea to cause a scene.

She chose to leave her already full push cart and briskly walked away from that part of her past instead.

****

“Kuya, there’s a pretty girl checking you out, nasa kabilang end nitong aisle.”

“Naku Riza. Ayan ka na naman. Baka naman may hinahanap lang na item sa aisle na to.”

“Hindi, Kuya, promise. Dali na, go get her number. Ay, nakaalis na tuloy.” She said as she pulled her brother towards the direction of where the girl was. “Dali kuya, hanapin natin, baka nasa kabilang aisle lang sya.”

“Hoy, Riza. Kung makapagmadali to akala mo hindi buntis. Kabuwanan mo na, uy.”

“Kuya, gusto ko lang naman sana bago ipanganak tong si Nathan e may matatawag na syang Tita.” She gently rubbed her swollen belly and smiled.

He wanted so much for that to happen too, if Riza only knew. But before he could even begin working on giving his unborn nephew a Tita, he needed to find Maine first. She’s the only one he wanted to fill that role in his nephew’s life.

Come to think of it, he could have just easily let it go. After all it was just one night, but he just couldn’t. It was one amazing kiss he could never forget. Not when her lips still haunt  his every waking minute, not when in the few hours that they were talking (in between kisses) under the stars on the night of his birthday, warmed by the bonfire they made together, he knew he needed to get to know her more.  So much so that he offered to teach her how to surf so he could find an excuse to spend more time with her, even beyond surfing, beyond her stay in Zambales.

He was pushing their cart towards the cashier when he thought he saw her retreating figure walking out of the store, her hair billowing behind her as she pulled the glass door of the store open. No, that couldn’t have been her.

For some reason though, the rest of his body didn’t believe him. His feet were already walking towards the door, his eyes fixed on the woman’s familiar shoulders as she forcefully opened the door and marched out of the store.

© 📷 papixure_ne