"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
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Dash's POV
Our landing was smooth. Almost 30 Lang ang itinagal namin sa ere. Darwin is a skilled pilot.
"Win, una na ako ha. Dito ka Lang ba?"
"Uuwi ba kayo ng Bacolod agad?"
"Di ko pa sigurado. I'll have to check on Steph."
"Wala naman akong pupuntahan bukas. Sa bahay Lang nman si ninong. D2 na Lang ako matutolog. Para kung uuwi kayo ngayong." Binigay ko ang susi ng bahay sa kanya.
"Salamat pare." I ran to the garage.
I found a Rav 4 and a CRV. I checked the keys. Toyota. I went inside the rav and drove like a madman. Nasa bandang taas ng bundok ang rest house. I've been here with Steph before it's about 30 mins drive without traffic. I arrive in less than 20mins wala ng gaanong sasakyan. It's almost 10pm after all.
Room 523...
"Hi sir. Good evening. What can I do for you?" The girl in the reception greeted me.
"Hi. Room 523 they're expecting me."
"Oh. Kay Mr and Mrs. Gruenberg? I'll let them know you're coming sir?" Mapatay ang kilay ko. Mr. And Mrs. Huh?! Eh obvious naman na bata si Steph.
"No that's fine. I know my way." Sabay kindat. Buti na Lang pogi ako lusot.
Hinabol ko ang pagsara ng elevator. Kasabay ko si manong na nakasuot ng housekeeping na uniform na may logo ng hotel at may dala dalang madaming tools.
"Magandang gabi sir. Anong floor po?" Bati nya sakin.
"Magandang gabi po. Fifth po." Nakailaw na ang button ng fifth floor.
Tinanguan ko na lama ng sya.
Nauna nang lumabas si manong. Mukhang nag mamadali sya. Hinanap ko naman ang room 523. Aba! sakto
dun lumiko si manong sa arrow na nag tuturo ng 520-530. Sunundan ko naman ang mga numero. Napansin kong ang bilang ay salitan 520 ang punto sa kanan at 521 ang halos katapat na pinto binilang ko kung pangilang pinto ang suite nila Steph. Abot abot ang kaba ko ng makita kong nag mamadaling pumasok si manong sa pintong dapat ay pinto ng kwarto nila Steph. Napatakabo ako at dahan dahang sumilip. Dumoble ang kaba sa dibdib ko, walang kahit isa furniture and buo sa loob ng kwarto. Parang dinaanan ng sampung delubyo ang loob ng kwarto.
"Manong please. Open the door! Steph! Steph! Please answer!" Kinakalabog nya ang pinto. Napatakbo ako papasok ng marinig ko ang basag na boses ni Tim. Mukhang galing sya sa pag iyak at puno ng pag aalala syang nagsalita.
"Anong nangyari?!" Napataas ang boses ko sa takot na naramdaman ko ng makita ko ang hindi mapantayang takot din sa kanyang mata.
"She has not been answering since she went in. I heard things breaking and vomiting." Wala sya sa sarili nya. This is not the Timothy I know. He was all over the place. Ang kamay nya punong puno ng sugat. Ang paligid nya at puno ng mga kagamitang sira. Mukhang inihagis nya ito sa pinto base sa mga marking naiwan. I suspect he tried breaking the doorknob with these too. He was shaking and trembling. He was biting his lips and walking back and forth. As the maintenance guy worked his way through the locks. Mahirap distrungkahin ang klase ng doorknob na ito dahil nabubuksan lamang ito galing sa loob. Parang nawawala na rin ako sa ulirat. Lumapit ako sa pinto at sinubukang katokin.
"Stephanie, it's me. I'm here to take you away. Just take my hand. I won't let go. Ever." Sunod sunod ko kinatok. Napansin ko ang marka ng dugo sa pinto. Alam kong kay timmy ito galing. He's knuckles were bleeding which is probably from punching the door.
"Steph, this is not funny! Open the door!" I tried to listen in. I placed my eyes against the door. Nada, it's too silent. Eerily silent. Narinig ko ang pag click ng pinto. Sa wakas ay nag tagumpay si manong. Halos hindi pa kami nagkasya sa pinto at pareho kaming nagmamadaling pumasok. Basag ang salamin at magulo ang mga gamit. Malaki ang banyo. I tried to check the bathroom pantry. Wala sya I immediately checked blood. Nakahinga ako ng mabuti ng wala akong makita.
"Steph?! Where are you?" Timmy was everywhere.
"Steph?!!!!!!!!!! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck." Nag mamadali akong pumasok sa shower area kung saan nandoon ang bathtub at doon nakasubsob si Tim. Kinabahan ako sa reksyon nya. Alan kong nahanap nya na Steph. Hindi ako makagalaw. Nanatili ako sa pinto naparalisa ako ng takot. Takot na mawala sya sa buhay ko.
He lifted her up as he walks towards me carrying her. "Ask manong to call for a nurse!" Sigaw nya. I hurried out.
"Manong may nurse o doctor po bang pwedeng papuntahin?" Sa kabutihang pala hindi na sya nag tanong pa at agad na lumabas. Palabas ng banyo si tim. Nasulyapan ko ang mukha nyang walang kulay. Basang basa ang puting polo na suot nya na sa palagay ko ay kay Timmy dahil sa laki nito sa kanya. Inihiga sya nito sa Kama at tinapik sa mukha. Her hair is dripping wet too.
"Steph? Steph? Please wake up baby. Please. I can't live without you. Please." She didn't budge. He then proceeded in giving her CPR. Halinhinan sa pag buga ng hangin at pag pump sa kanyang dibdib. Mukhang hindi naman sya nalunod. May palagay akong nasobrahan nanaman sya sa iyak. She might have been so exhausted from the rush of emotions. Looking at how much he loves her kahit gusto ko syang bawiin, kahit gusto ko syang sumbatan hindi ko magawa. I felt a familiar sting in my eyes as tears started to fall. Nakaka gago silang tignan. Para akong kontra bida sa storya ni sleeping beauty. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko ng halikan nya ito sa labi. Nakalimutan na nya ang presensya ko.
"What happened?" My voice mirrored my frustration.
"I'm sorry." Was the only reply I got.
"I don't need your fucking sorry Tim! You know I love her! You know how much I treasure her. I love her so much that I'm willing to get hurt and stay beside her while she fulfills her dreams with you! And then this is what I fucking get in return?!" Hindi ko mapigilan ang magalit I'm still trembling, afraid that I'd loose her.
"I have nothing to explain to you Dash! I am fully aware of your feelings for her but that doesn't change that fact that she loves me. She chose me and that SHE IS MINE! So I have nothing to explain to you!" He looked at me with fire in his eyes. Para akong binuhusan ng yelo.
"I'm sorry." Namagitan ang mahabang katahimikan. Maybe this is how my life will always be. I will always be there for her when she needs me but in the end I would be left staring at them together. Ni hindi ko sya malapitan. Gustuhin ko man hindi ako maaring magtago sa tawag na kaibigan.
I stared at her hopeless. I am undeniably smitten by this girl. From the very first time I saw her. To be fair I met her first. She was still in her mother's womb when I was informed she was coming and for some reason I was so excited. When she was born I was so excited we went to visit her in the hospital. When she was brought by the nurse everyone was at awe. I wanted to see you so much you that I tried to climb at chair as your mom was standing up with you on her arms. I couldn't see your face very well so yanked her the hem of her shirt down to take a closer look. I guess she wasn't expecting that from me cause almost dropped you. Nagkagulo ng mawalan sya ng balanse at pinagalitan ako ng mom. Telling me as a punishment I should be your protector and that one day I should marry you. And I thought to myself what an awesome way to be punished. Hindi naman kasi yun parusa parang nagbukas ang langit at umawit ang lahat ng anghel. Much to my excitement kinwento kita sa best friend ko. I told him he should one day meet the girl I will marry.
Little did I know that I would regret that day for the rest of my life...
BINABASA MO ANG
My Happily Never After (On Going)
RomanceNothing ever happens like you imagine it will... It's always full of surprises and it's not always pleasant. This story is about love,loss, and new beginnings... When your happily ever after turns to Happily Never After how will you survive?
