Girlfriends 2: Rescued Hearts (To be published under PHR)

Chapter Thirty-Six

CHESCA smiled when she felt the tingling and warm sensation of the white sand that touches her bare feet. Napakagandang tingnan ang kalangitan na nagsasaboy nang pinaghalong kahel at pulang kulay dahil sa unti-unting paglubog ng araw. This day would definitely be one of her most treasured moments in life. Hindi man happy ending katulad nang pinapangarap niya, still she was already contented with this.

“We’re going back in Manila in a bit, Chesca,” Sinikop ni Chesca ng maayos ang kanyang buhok upang makita nang mabuti si Caige na noo’y sumusunod sa kanya. Hawak nito ang sandals na hinubad niya kanina.

After spending few hours at “Queen”, hindi inasahan ni Chesca na dadalhin siya ni Caige out-of-town. Ni hindi niya napaghandaan ang biglaang pagtungo nila sa isang beach resort sa Matabungkay, Batangas. They spent the whole afternoon watching the shore and the people passing by. Nag-rent lamang sila ng isang floating cottage at doon nagpalipas ng oras. They seldom talk pero tila ba sapat na ang katahimikan at kaalaman na magkasama sila upang punan ang nakalipas na limang taon. Caige was being so accommodating like he was before. She was sure this was the Caige she had fell in love before and is still loving now despite all the differences.

And she knew exactly what they are having now. Ito iyong punto na mararanasan niya na maramdaman si Caige nang sa kanya lamang ito at walang kung anuman ang nakapagitan sa kanilang dalawa. Ito iyong pagkakataon na bibigyan siya ng isang magandang alaala na tatabon sa lahat ng sakit na naranasan niya. At ito ang panahon kung saan kailangan na niyang matutunang tanggapin sa sarili na dito na nagtatapos ang lahat. They should go on their separate ways and she knew that is what exactly she needed. Masakit man, kailangan pa ring intindihin. Some things are supposed to be taken up that way. Caige wasn’t hers anymore. This was just a “stolen” moment of them. If things didn’t end, they would be like this or even more than this. Pero, hindi na maaari.

“I’m sorry, Caige. Hindi ko alam kung pang-ilang beses mo na itong narinig pero hindi ako magsasawang humingi ng tawad sa’yo. For causing you pain, for planting a hatred inside you, I’m sorry. But you know what? I don’t regret leaving you before. I want you to pursue your dreams even before the time you had met me, Caige. Gusto ko malaya ka. Ayokong mag-iiwanan tayo ng pangako dahil gusto kong gawin mo ang ibang bagay na wala kang ibang isasaalang-alang kundi ang sarili mo. I told you before, we needed to grow. And I can see it from you. You had been so independent, Caige. You did man-up for all your decisions and I’m proud of you. Nasaktan man ako, umiyak man ako, I’m proud of what you had become. Anu’t-anuman ang mangyari, you’re still my Caige I knew,” malumanay niyang sinabi habang nakamasid sa papalubog na araw. Umupo siya sa buhanginan at naramdaman ni Chesca na ginaya siya ni Caige.

“I don’t want to bother your life anymore. Ang gusto ko ngayon, ipagpatuloy mo ang lahat nang nagawa mo bago pa ako bumalik at muling nagpakita sa’yo. Kunwari, walang ganoon. It’s all part of your dream. Hindi ako manggugulo, Caige. And I don’t want you or anyone else to suffer because of my selfishness. Dahil alam kong kapag ginawa ko iyon, hindi rin ako magiging masaya. I can’t take away what you have right now. Miley is the best for you. I am sure she’ll be a great partner. You should love her completely,” pagpapatuloy niya.

Bigla siyang napaisip. Some people said that if you love someone, you would lay all your cards in the line and never set them free. Mahal mo nga, eh, bakit mo papakawalan? Pero para sa kanya, it wasn’t true. Loving someone comes with a great deal of sacrifices. Hindi mo masasabing pagmamahal ang nararamdaman kung hindi mo magagawang magsakripisyo. Letting go isn’t always leaving everything behind until the right one comes along. Sometimes, it was all about how you take the pain alone for someone to be happy. Hindi madali pero kailangang matutunan ng isang tao ang bumitaw sa isang bagay na hindi talaga para sa kanya. It was one of the universal rules.

“Do you think I’ll still be able to do that, Chesca?” kalmadong tanong ni Caige. Pinaglalaruan nito ang mga maliliit na bato pagkuwa’y iniitsa iyon sa dagat. “I was never complete the day you had left me. Maybe I was able to stand up again, but I never felt whole again.”