"Julie, I need you, come over please?"
It was him. Over the phone.
Walang hello-hello. At, as usual, ang bilis magsalita.
I think he's drunk. But, I'm not sure. He ended the call immediately.
Gago talaga.
"Bakit ka ba nagwo-worry, Julie?" Tanong ko sa sarili ko.
Minutes passed, nag-iisip pa rin ako. Until I received a text message.
Of course, from him.
From: Elmo Magalona.
"Julie, please." Sabi sa text.
While on taping for Sarap Diva with Rita and Sir. Jay Durias, I texted Dad.
"Pa, I'll drive. Puntahan ko lang si Elmo." I hit sent.
As if on queue, Dad replied. Agad-agad.
"Anong nangyari?" I read.
I replied, "I don't know po. All I know is he's drunk. And, he need me daw po."
"Can I go?" Pahabol ko pa.
"Okay. Ako na magsasabi sa Mom mo. Pati sa driver. Ipapauwi ko na yung isang kotse." It was his last text. Tinago ko na yung phone ko.
"Huy. Bakit bigla kang natahimik?" Rita asked.
"Him again."
Rita didn't say a word, but looked at me as if telling me, "Haynako Julie."
Old friends knew my old habits.
He's an old habit that I can't break.
"Rita, please tell me this is wrong."
Again, she didn't say a word, but sing a song, instead. "Love is all that matters."
"Ingat, Julie." Dagdag pa niya.
And I found myself knocking on a familiar door.
The place is seemingly familiar, but the feelings felt unreal. Siguro kase, hindi na ako sanay. Maybe because, hindi na sanay yung puso ko sakanya.
Have I moved on? Finally?
"Julie!" He said, as soon as the door opens. He seem happy to see me. Pero, may kakaiba eh.
Malungkot siya.
Bukod sa he looked drunk.
His eyes are sad.
This was too familiar. This look on his face. This was the same look, when I ended everything between us.
Between us.
I don't want to see him like this. Hindi ko kaya. Ang sakit-sakit.
"Elmo." Sabi ko. It's as if, wala ng ibang gustong lumabas na salita sa bibig ko.
"Julie. Thank you for coming." He smiled.
When he did that. Bumalik ako ulit sa umpisa. Wala na. Talo na
Ngumiti lang, nagpatalo ka na.
He lead me para makapasok sa loob ng condo niya. Nilibot ko yung paningin ko. Walang ibang tao.
It's just me and him.
Just like the old times.
Ayan na naman si tanga. Nagpapadala sa nakaraan.
"Julie, kalma." Bulong ko sa sarili ko.
"You're saying?" He asked. Narinig pala ng hinayupak.
"Ah, wala. Sabi ko, bakit ka naglalasing?"
