Back To December (SharDon)

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"I will always be here for you, no matter what happens. I love you, Sharlene"

After two weeks of staying here in the Philippines, I will finally see him. Complete reunion ng barkada namin, and according to Sunny, pupunta raw siya. I'm both excited and anxious. Pero mas lumalamang yung kaba, four more days before the scheduled reunion.

Three years since I left the country to broaden my knowledge with my career. Three years since I made the decision I regret the most. Three years since I left the man that holds my heart. Three years since I ended our story. Three years since I broke him. Three years passed, but the memory of that fateful event is fresh in my mind.

I heard from Arturo that he is now the Vice Chairman of their engineering firm. Even though they own the company, I know he earned his way to his position. I've seen how passionate and dedicated he is with his works, and how much effort he exerts with his projects. How he would meet his client's expectation and would exceed it.

I'm currently at the grocery to buy some stocks para sa bahay. My parents are both busy with their works. Dapat si manang Josie ang bibili, pero nag volunteer ako na ako na ang bibili since wala rin naman akong lakad ngayon at gusto kong lumabas ng bahay.

I was at the baking aisle nang may bumangga sa cart ko. I was shocked to see the person pushing the cart who bumped to mine.

"I'm so sorry. Hin-"

Natigil ito sa pagsasalita nang makita ako. Ate Ella.

We were both immobile for a while. Kapwa kami nakatingin lamang sa isa't isa. I don't know how to approach her. Not after what I did to her brother. I know how much Ate Ella loves her siblings, and how she would do anything to defend them.

"Ate I got the coffee. Let's go pay" Hannah said from behind and walked pass me to place the coffee in their cart. She only noticed me after she put down the coffee on their cart. She looked at me then smiled after she recovered from her shock.

"Sharlene? Hi! Kumusta? Kailan ka pa umuwi?" She asked while hugging me. I hugged her back, too. Once in a while nakaka-chat ko si Hannah. Simpleng kumustahan o di kaya kung nagbabatian, o kung may kailangan tanungin.

"Hi Hans, Ate Ella" lumapit din ako kay Ate Ella para mag beso at yakapin siya. "Two weeks na akong nandito at ayos lang naman ako. Wala ring sobrang interesadong nangyari sa buhay ko" sagot ko sa kanila. Odd, but, this is not as awkward as to what I expected it to be. Or maybe it's because nandito si Hannah.

After paying our groceries, they both dragged me to an Italian restaurant. And as if I would run away, sumakay si Hannah sa sasakyan ko.

"Solana will be with us in an hour. Kakatapos lang kasi ng klase niya. And she said you should stay until she gets there or she will really go to your house." Hannah said while I was driving. Solana, I miss that kid. Every time I'd visit their house, palagi siyang nakadikit sa'kin. She treated me as her big sister. "Na-miss ka talaga niya, Shar" she added. I nodded at that.

"After a few years of working there, I decided to just come home for good and help with the family business" said ate Ella after we gave our orders. "Ikaw ba? Babalik ka pa bang Australia? Diba you said hindi ka na nag-renew ng contract mo dun?" She continued.

"Well, that depends ate. Hindi pa ako makagawa ng desisyon ngayon"

"So hindi mo rin alam kung hanggang kailan ka dito sa Pinas?" Asked Hannah.

"Yup. Hindi ko alam. Malay niyo, next week babalik na akong Australia" at tumawa ako.

"Kung ganun, edi let's plan an out of town trip. Like before, diba? Kapag nakauwi na sina Mommy and Daddy, let's go somewhere. Family outing. You up for that?" Just like before. Noong kami pa ng kuya niya.