Reveal the Remedy (SharDon)

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As I was staring out of Donny's car window, I have this giddy smile plastered on my face, I am radiating happy aura as we pass by establishments. We are now heading home from our date. Buong araw kaming magkasama, buti na lang at wala akong pasok ngayong araw at wala rin akong importanteng lakad, biglaan kasi ang pag-aya niya sa'king mag date kami ngayon.

"Sharlene" pagtawag niya sa atensyon ko nang magpula ang traffic light. Agad ko naman itong nilingon nang may ngiti pa rin sa aking mga labi, when he saw me looking at him with a smile on my face, bigla ay umiwas siya ng tingin.

"Bakit, ano yun?" I asked when after a few seconds he didn't say a word.

"Coffee tayo?" He asked and I enthusiastically nodded. Hindi pa naman gaanong late kaya okay lang.

I see beautiful days with you
I feel beautiful ways of loving you
You've touched my heart so deeply
And I can't thank God enough
For all the beautiful days with you

Pagsabay ko sa kantang tumutugtog. I looked over him and smiled. Everything with him is really beautiful. I thought to myself.

Nang makapasok kami sa coffee shop ay agad akong naghanap ng mauupuan namin habang siya naman ang umorder ng drinks namin. I found a table at the corner, konti lamang ang tao sa area na 'to, mostly students who are studying. After texting Donny kung nasaan ako naka pwesto, I looked outside and watched vehicles pass by through the glass wall.

Nawala na lamang ang tingin ko sa labas nang marinig ko ang paggalaw ng upuan sa harap ko't umupo na si Donny. Inabot niya sa'kin ang hot vanilla na drink ko.

"Thank you." I told him and took a sip from my cup. He smiled weakly at me and stared at his cup. "Babe, are you okay? Something's bothering you."

He took a deep breath first before his eyes landed on mine. I can't decipher the emotion that he's showing, suddenly I feel nervous about what's coming.

"Is there something wrong with your job? Your family?" I asked again. Umiwas siya ng tingin sa'kin.

"It's neither of that..."

"Then what is it? Tell me how I can lessen your burden"

"It's... It's about us" he uttered. Bigla ay natigilan ako. Ibinaba ko ang cup sa table at tinignan siyang maigi. About us?

"What about us?" I hesitantly ask. Naguguluhan ako kasi masaya naman kami kanina. Maayos naman kami kanina. O baka ako lang.

"Remember noong bago pa lang tayo? You asked me a question about Monique." He started. Monique, the woman who came before me. His almost. Monique and his family migrated to the states when she was 16 years old. Ang alam ko wala silang relasyon noon pero parehas sila ng nararamdaman.

Suddenly, a scene came to me, almost 4 years ago.

Nakaupo kami ni Donny ngayon sa isa sa mga swing set ng school. Kakatapos lamang ng klase ko at sinundo niya ako sa classroom.

"Babe, can I ask you a question?" I asked him.

"Sure, what is it?" He asked as he gave a kiss on the side of my head.

"What if biglang bumalik si Monique? What will you do?" I curiously asked him, I even leaned away from him to look at him. Halatang nagulat siya sa tanong ko. I've been wanting to ask this question to him, but because of fear, I can't.

"Are you serious with that?" He asked which I answered with a nod. He heaved a deep sigh and looked far away. "I honestly don't know. It never occured to me actually. Maybe..." His words were cut when my phone rang. It's my mother calling. Nakalimutan kong maaga pala niya akong pinapauwi dahil may mga bisita kami.