COMPILATION of ONE SHOT STORIES

Paralleled

"You promised me that you will always be with me. But, why?" Yan ang tanong ko sa kanya nang muli kaming magkita. It's been two years, at ako naman itong patay na patay sa kanya, patuloy pa ring umaasa na darating din ang araw na babalik siya sa akin.

"I, di ko makayanan ang long distance relationship, Yana. I just want a normal relationship. I just want to see the woman that I love, hold her hand, go out on a date with her on saturdays. Pick her up in her school, surprise her. Hug her, kiss her. Whisper her I really love her. And with you, I couldn't do that. You had me wishing that we could be together, together. Pero hindi eh, hindi talaga pwede." He said that and he is not looking at me. I can sense that he is guilty. He made me fucking believe that he will always be there for me. When in fact, he just left me. No, he vanished on me.

"Di mo kaya? Bakit? Eh ikaw naman pala itong mahina eh. You are so weak. A coward." I concluded. And I saw how he clenched his fists into a ball. Naging mahina siya. Hindi niya napanindigan ang kanyang pangako.

"I am not weak, okay? Pagod lang ako sa mga taong hindi ko naman nakakasama. I am a guy, I want you to be by my side. Pero paano? You're still at school, you can't just leave your life in the city and be with me right? Paano naman ako?" Tanong niya sa akin. Napatawa ako ng pagak. Paano siya? Paano naman ako na handang magsakripisyo para sa kanya?

"Natanong mo ba ako? I already have told you that I can come and visit you in Bacolod once in a while. Pero anong ginawa mo? Diba ang sabi mo, ayaw mo? Dahil ano? Dahil hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta? Na baka mapahamak ako? I am so touched with those, David. I offered you money, just for you to come here dahil hindi mo naman ako pinapayagan na ako ang pupunta sa iyo. But you turned it down. And now, it's my fault? That is bullshit." I turned my back at him. Wishing that he would ran after me dahil gusto ko ako naman iyong hahabulin. Pagod na akong maghintay at maghabol sa isang taong hindi naman iniisip kung anong nararamdaman ko.

"I know I've hurt you Yana. But believe me, I did that just for you. Please let me explain. Nandito naman na ako oh, hindi na kita iiwan." Pagpigil niya sa akin. Naipikit ko ang aking mga mata, sana'y noon niya pa ito sinabi sa akin. Noon pang kaya ko pang lumaban para sa aming dalawa.

"You ruined me, David. You ruined me." And I shrugged off his hand and took my leave.

Fucking shit naman oh, kung hindi niya pa talaga ako hahabulin ngayon, if he'll give up without trying to fight for me. Then it is over. Nasayang lang ang dalawang taon ko na paghihintay sa kanya.

Pero nakarating na ako sa sasakyan ko at naghintay ng isang oras, ay hindi niya nga ako hinabol. Napahikbi nalang ako. I am so hurt right now, akala ko hindi na niya ako iiwan ngayon? Pero hindi niya nga ako magawang habulin.

"Putang inang pangako iyan, isaksak mo sa dibdib mo iyang pangako mo David." Galit na galit kong sinabi. Napahampas ako sa manibela at pinaharurot ang sasakyan. I am so mad that I am breaking traffic rules. I am so mad that I could not care less if I would hit something or someone. Mabuti nang ma-hospital. Para naman mapunta sa mismong katawan ko ang sakit na dinadala ng puso ko.

As I was beating the red light, there's a light coming from my right side and a deafening sound. I looked at my right and stepped at my brakes. I was blinded by light and the last thing I remembered was a screeching sound and when I hit my head in the steering wheel.

DAVID'S

I was just looking at where Yana had left. I hurt her. Alam ko naman na kasalanan ko iyon. Pwede ko naman siyang puntahan sa Cebu but I didn't. Hindi ko alam pero hindi ko talaga magawang lumuwas at mag effort para makasama siya. I want to, but there's something in me that is stopping myself.

I stood up and went out. Ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon? Paano ko naman siya kukunin? She's scared and I know she's so fuming mad right now. Nawala ako ng bigla, at makalipas ng dalawang taon ay magpapakita na lang ako bigla sa kanya. Ni ha o ho ay hindi ko nai-send sa kanya sa loob ng dalawang taon. Alam ko, wala akong balls to do that.