One More Chance

XIII

Uuwi na si Cayla mamaya, pero hindi na sila magkikita ni AJ dahil aalis siya ngayon for a business trip in Japan and he'll be back in 3 days. Nalulungkot nga siya dahil hindi siya makakapagpa-alam ng maayos kay Cayla bago ito umalis, at hindi man lang niya ito mayakap at mahalikan. Gusto man niyang bisitahin sa kanila ni Thirdy, pero he doesn't have much time kasi ang dami pa niyang aasikasuhin before he leaves.

AJ: "Have Mr. Armani scheduled on Monday. I already informed Mr. Yap that I can't meet him tomorrow because I'm going on a business trip. Okay okay. Thank you Paula." he ended the call at napaupo lang siya sa kanyang swivel chair. I can see na he's very stressed lately, he doesn't get enough sleep dahil palaging subsob sa trabaho. Nilapitan ko siya at minasahe ang kanyang ulo.

Issa: "Don't stress yourself too much love." Sabi ko sa kanya. Napabuntong hininga lang siya.

AJ: "Am I also stressing you? I'm sorry love. I don't have enough time for you and Cayla, I'll make it up to you. Promise." Sabi niya and held my hands. Kumandong naman ako sa kanya and cupped his face.

Issa: "Don't be sorry, naiintindihan naman kita and I'm sure Cayla understands you as well. I'm just worried dahil palagi kang puyat the past days, baka magkasakit ka pa niyan." Sabi ko habang tinitingnan siya.

AJ: "Ang dami lang talagang kailangan asikasuhin the past days. Pero don't worry love, after Japan magpapahinga na ako." Niyakap ko lang siya.

Issa: "What time's your flight? Baka maabutan ka ng traffic." Tanong ko sa kanya.

AJ: "3PM pa. I'll miss you love." Sabi niya habang siniksik ang mukha niya sa leeg ko.

Issa: "I'll miss you more love." Sabi ko sa kanya while cupping his face. Nilapit naman niya ang mukha niya sa akin at hinalikan ako. Napayakap lang ako sa leeg niya until our kiss got deeper.

**

AJ: "Take care love. I'll see you in a few." Sabi niya at hinalikan ako sa noo.

Issa: "Call me as soon as you land okay? Huwag masyadong subsob sa work love, pahinga ka rin minsan. And since you're in Japan, might as well enjoy your stay there, pasyal ka." Sabi ko habang inaayos ang ang kanyang kwelyo.

"Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to Tokyo, Japan. We are now inviting those passengers with small children, and any passengers requiring special assistance, to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will follow shortly. Thank you."

AJ: "That's our flight. I'll go ahead na love." Sabi niya. Niyakap ko naman agad siya. "I love you."

Issa: "I love you." Sabi ko at hinalikan siya sa labi.

After kong ihatid si AJ sa airport, naisipan kong bumisita muna sa puntod ng parents ko. Last time I visited them was after graduation. My mom died when I was 7 years old, she had leukemia while my dad died in a car accident when I was in 4th year high school. Masasabi talaga ng iba na ang lungkot na buhay ko dahil I lost my parents at a young age and that I'm an only child, tama sila malungkot nga pero I have my friends and team mates na I also consider my family. And Thirdy's family made me feel that I'm one of them, parang anak na ang turing  sa akin ni Tita and Tito kaya I'm still thankful na I have them.

Pagdating ko sa puntod nila dad, di ko mapigilang maiyak. Ngayon ko lang na realize na sobrang miss ko na pala sila.

Issa: "Hi mom, dad. I missed you both po, so much. I'm really sorry if it took me a while to visit you again, things have been really crazy the past years kasi. Ang dami pong nangyari sa mga taong lumipas. May anak na po ako, her name is Cayla and she's turning 5 this year. Sabi nila kamukhang kamukha ko po raw siya. It's just sad that you didn't have the chance to meet her. And you know what mom, dad, I'm also married pero hindi po kay Thirdy. Akala ko nga po na siya na yung pakakasalan ko pero I guess iba talaga yung nakatadhana sa akin, si AJ yun. Masakit pero I have to accept na our love was never meant to be. But I'm happy right now." I said while wiping my tears. "I miss you both, so much. I miss the way you hug me everytime I feel so down. I miss your kisses, our late night movie marathons. I miss everything we do together. It still hurts knowing na hindi ko na kayo makikita at mayayakap ulit, it's sad that you have to leave so soon pero alam kong God has a reason." Nilapag ko ang bulaklak na dala ko at nagsindi na rin ng kandila. Then I offered a short prayer before leaving. "Mom, dad, I have to go na po. Kailangan ko pa kasing sunduin si Cayla, I'll bring her here next time so you can meet her. I love you both." Sabi ko at umalis na.