The Epitome Of Me

29

What if I never had to leave. What if I chose to stay. What if hindi kailangang maging ganito. What if hindi ko siya binitawan.

Sa dinami dami ng what ifs ko sa buhay 'ko. Hindi 'ko alam kung alin ba doon ang nasagot na. Some of them maybe will remain as what ifs na lang.

Life is full of uncertainties. Walang sigurado. Kaya you have to make the most out of it. Natutunan ko rin na life doesn't stop after a heartbreak. It goes on. No matter how hard the situation can be. Mahirap pero little by little I'm coping with it.

Its been a month. I haven't heard anything from him. But I still get news about him. I guess its okay to know what's happening to him every now and then. At least alam kong okay siya.

He accepted the offer to train abroad. Ang alam ko'y sa susunod na linggo pa ang alis niya. Samantalang ako'y mamayang madaling araw na ang alis.

Nauna na sila Kuya Rich doon kasama sila Mommy at Daddy. Tinawagan ako ni Dra. Cortez kanina para ipaalam ang mga gagawin namin pagdating ko doon. Binigyan nila ako ng ilang araw upang makapag pahinga at malibot ng saglit ang London. Hindi ko iyon sinang-ayunan. Pinaaga ko na ang lahat ng mga Tests na gagawin sa akin doon para matapos na agad. Then maybe, if the medications will be successful I can roam around London after that.

Juliane called on my phone pulling me out of my reverie. Kasama ko ngayon si Dev sa isang fast food chain. We'll be getting ready for our flight after this.

"Girl," Bati niya. "Saan ka?"

"Nakain kasama si Dev. Bakit?" I said as I sipped onto my drinks.

"A-Ano. Kasi. Sila Brent." Bumuntong hininga siya. "Gusto ka makita kahit ngayon lang daw. I had to say to them na aalis ka na, sorry! They just want to see you."

"Hmm, okay." I nodded.

"Sure ka? A-Andito si R-Ricci" Nauutal niyang sabi. Tila hindi sigurado kung dapat ba niyang ipaalam iyon sa akin o hindi.

"Uh," I cleared my throat. Its been a while since we last saw each other. But I guess seeing him before I go isn't bad. "Just text me the address."

We immediately went out para pumunta sa favorite place namin sa Makati. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko na bang harapin siya. Kasi feeling ko I have no guts to show to him pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa ko sa kanya.

"Kyle. We're here. You sure you can do this?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Dev.

Agad akong nakakita ng pagpapanic sa mga mata niya ng natagalan ako bago sumagot. He just wants me to be comfortable kaya naiintindihan ko siya.

"We can just say that you can't if you're not o-okay with this." I stopped him.

"No. Its okay." I held his hand. "Just for the last time?" I smiled before going out of his car.

Sinalubong ako nila Brent sa labas pa lang ng restobar. Isang acoustic na tugtog ang nagsilbing background namin.

"Aalis ka na!" Pagmamaktol ni Brent at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. I hugged him back. "Mamimiss kita!"

"Mamimiss din kita!"

I did the same for the rest of them. Aljun was there together with Kib and Andrei. Kumpleto sila! Mamimiss ko tong mga to.

Pumasok kami sa loob at iginiya nila ako sa lamesa nila. A familiar figure got my attention. He was wearing his usual clothes. Kaharap niya ang mga bote ng alak na kanina niya pa siguro iniinuman. Nakakarami na siya.

Hindi ako nagpatuloy sa paglalakad papunta sa lamesa. Tumigil ako at bumulong kay Brent.

"I'll meet him outside nalang Brent." Tumango siya at tumuloy sila sa lamesa. I saw him talk to Ricci but even before he could look at the entrance I immediately went outside.