Till They Take My Heart Away [COMPLETED]

Chapter 18

8 years later......

"Sunshine Roxas!"

"Enzo Joseph Natividad. What?"

"No no no. You are not kidding right?" Hinawakan pa ni Enjo ang pisngi ko ng di makapaniwala.

"Does this face looks like joking to you." Tinuro ko ang sarili.

"Yes! Atlast Sunshine!", matapos ay niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "I love you Sunny."

"Oh I love you Enjo!" Buong puso kong ginantihan ang yakap niya.

Andito kami sa apartment niya sa Madison Avenue New York City. We are having our dinner kung saan nilutuan ko siya ng paborito niyang Mushroom Florentine Pasta. Yap, I can cook now. I can also do house chores now. I'm 24 years old. Currently living alone in my apartment few blocks away from Enjo's apartment. Umalis na ko sa bahay ng tita ko after I finished my degree because I know kaya ko ng mag-isa. I finished my studies at Devry University few years ago. And currently employed in a law firm.

Since umalis ako ng San Concepcion 8 years ago never na kong bumalik ulit. Nagbago na nga ang ihip ng hangin. Dati kating-kati ang daddy ko na paalisin ako. Ngayon naman ay kada tatawag yan di siya papalya ng tanong kung uuwi daw ba ako. Pero binibisita naman nila every other month. They already met Enjo and they like him for me. Lumago narin ng tuluyan ang branch nila daddy. We have now 2 restaurants in Manila Area.

I met Enjo in school. His also a Filipino kaya nag-click kami. Siya lang nag-iisang kaibigan ko dito sa New York. Hindi parin kase nawawala yung bad attitude ko. I can say that I'm independent now. Pero yung kamalditahan ko andito parin. At siya lang yung nakakatiis sa ugali ko.

Enjo look and act like a matured guy. He's masculine and moreno. Had a dark expression kaya mas gugustuhin mo na lang lumayo. Taliwas sa totoo niyang ugali na napaka soft. Sa kanya ako natutong maging independent. Siya rin nagturo saking magluto.

Wala naman akong ma ipintas kay Enjo. He's just a man every woman can wish for. He's always there when I needed him. He is now employed in a restaurant as a manager.

Enjo courted me 2 years ago. At first, I was hesitant but his persistence and perseverance change my mind. I think kaya ko naman na. Ready na ko to start a relationship. So now sinasagot ko na siya!

At di nga ako nagkamali ng nagtiwalang muli. He was a nice and caring guy. I also met his family and they also liked me. Parang wala na akong mahihiling pa. Maayos na ang lahat.

I can say that I'm living peacefully and contently until one day I recieved a fone call that shattered my heart. My Lola Anita died last night from heart attack. It was a sudden death but a peaceful one. Namatay siya sa pagkakahimbing. She's also very weak and very old. But still hindi ko matanggap ang nangyare sa kanya. Kausap ko lang siya sa fone last week. Nagtatawanan lang kami dahil sa mga joke niya. After I left hindi na niya nakalimutan kung sino ako. Ako daw ang maganda at paborito niyang apo. I cried the whole day after hearing the news which lead me to a big decision.

I and Enjo are having our dinner in a restaurant. I already booked my flight in the Philippines and I'm leaving after 2 days. Hindi siya makakasama sakin pauwi dahil last month lang ay umuwi siya ng Pilipinas ng ikasal ang panganay niyang kapatid. What he don't know is that I only booked a one-way ticket.

"I'm still worried. I know you're not yet okay. Gusto talaga kita samahang umuwi. But I can't. I'm sorry." He held my hand as he whispered.

"Hey, it's okay. I understand and I know my parents can too. Don't worry." I assured him.

He smiled at me before sipping on his wine glass.

"When will you come back? Right after the burial or will you be staying there for awhile to take a vacation?"

Huminga ako ng malalim. Nilapag ko ang kubyertos.

"I have something important to tell you."

He laughed. "Ang seryoso ng mukha mo hindi ako sanay."

"Enzo, I resigned in the firm. I'm leaving and I don't think I can come back here. I've just......." kumurap kurap ako para mawala ang nababadya na namang mga luha.

"I've just realize that I don't have all the time in the world. I lost my lola and I'm mourning right now but what hurts me most is that I wasn't there. Ayoko ng malayo sa pamilya ko. I'm planning to stay there for good."

Saglit siyang nanahimik. Pinagsalikot niya ang kamay sa lamesa.

"I'm trying to understand. But I just wanna ask. Pano na tayo."

Napayuko ako. "If you think we can't continue anymore...."

"What? We've only been together for a month then yan yung sasabihin mo sakin. After all this time Sunny. Kaya mo kong bitawan ng ganon ganon na lang."

"Why ? Can you stay commited with me even when I'm away?"

"That's my plan. Why ? Don't you want to chat or video call?"

"Oooh, Enjo," I stood up and hugged him. "Can you really do that?"

"Ofcourse. I will not let you go that easy. We will stay together until we find a way to make this work okay?"

Tumango ako. I believe in him. Kapag siya na yung nagsasabi parang hindi impossibleng mangyare. Kaya lagi akong naniniwala sa mga salita niya.

Pinatakan niya ko ng mabilis na halik sa labi.

"I love you Sunny hindi ako papayag na mawala ka sakin ng gano ganon na lang. Lalo na ngayon."

Humalakhak ako.

Bakit ko nga ba naisip yun. Na basta basta na lang bitawan ang lalaking ito.

Wearing my black fitted dress, aviators and a black boots lumipad ako sa NAIA 3 around 1 in the afternoon. I know my father will fetch me. Hindi na sumama si mommy at naiintindihan ko yun. I just can't wait to go home.

Nasisiyahan ako na nalulungkot ako.

Dumungaw ako sa cellphone ko para inform si Enjo na nakalapag na ako ng Manila. And then I looked for my dad. When I saw him I embrace him tightly.

"Daddy!" Ito yung mga pagkakataong namimiss ko. Yung nayayakap ko siya ng ganito kahigpit.

He's wearing a red polo shirt and a black pants. Mas naging visible na ang wrinkles niya kesa last time na nakita ko siya. At may mga puting buhok narin. His on his middle 40's now.

I haven't told them that I resigned on my work. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanila kase gusto ko kapag sinabi ko may plano na ko. Sa ngayon wala pa kong plano sa buhay ko. I just want to rethink and reprocess things. What's the best thing to do and what will truly make me happy.

"Ang prinsesa ko. Sa wakas dumating ka din anak." He held my cheeks as he stares at me.

"I'm sorry I was very late. Wala ako nung mga panahong....."

Naiiyak na yumuko na lang ako.

"Okay lang yun anak. Ang importante andito ka na. They are all waiting for you. Mahaba haba pa ang byahe natin. Let's eat first before we go home."

At syempre ang nirequest ko kay daddy. Ang na miss ko after 8 years! Ang jollibee!

On the way home I just can't help but think. Ito yung mga pagkakataong iniwasan ko. Ang isipin ang San Concepcion. Ang isipin ang mga tinakasan ko. Before I left I deleted all my social media accounts. Until now I still have no contact with my old friends. How are they ? My old school? Gusto kong dalawin yun. Pero kaya ko kaya? Kaya ko kayang balikan yung mga pinilit kong kalimutan noon.