Can I Have You? gxg (Short Story)

I can still smell her scent..

Her looks that can melt..

I still remember her face..

Her touch,

But all of that remained as a memory..

I took a deep breath as I shuffled the sheets of the book I'm holding.

"Twist of Fate." Pagbasa ko ng malakas sa title ng libro.

"Isabel!" My friend Tanya called from behind. "Ano? Dito na lang tayo sa library habangbuhay?"

"Kung gusto mo mauna ka nang umuwe." at tinalikuran ko siya.

"Aba aba. May nakalimutan ka yata." Hinila nya yung hair ko na nakapony.

"Array!"

"Arte ha. Tara na nga." Hinila nya ko palabas ng public library kung san kame nagbabad ng matagal kakahanap sa pesteng libro ng romansa.

Tumakbo kame at dali-daling nagpara ng taxi.

"Wala ka bang naalala ngayon?" Excited nyang tanong.

Napaisip ako. Pero Walang nagTing sa isip ko.

"Hmm? Wala naman?"

"Ano ka ba? Birthday ni Noreen ngayon." Malakas na pagkasabi nya.

As I heard the name, my heart pounded hard on my chest. Then a very familiar face flashed on my mind.

Napansin ni Tanya ang biglaang pananahimik ko.

"Isabel." She touched my hand. "Are you okay?"

Umiling ako. "Nah I'm fine. Hatid mo na lang ako sa bahay."

"Isabel. Si Noreen naman any pupuntahan natin eh. Hindi siya." Pagcomfort niya saken.

"Kahit na. Nandun din siya. Ayokong magkita kame ulit."

"You don't need to hide naman eh. Come and face her."

"I'm not hiding. Umiiwas lang ako sa skit na maari ko namang maramdaman." I looked away.

"Isabel. You need to think about it. It was almost 2 years ago. You need to face her."

"Para ano?"

She looked intently in my eyes. Reading my emotions

"Come to think of it." She finally said.

*****

My knees were wiggling as a stepped my way to Noreens patio. Malayo pa lang tanaw ko na ang mga taong nagsasaya sa loob ng bahay ni Noreen. I entered the house. Agad akong nakita in Tanya at Noreen. They waved at me and I went near them.

"Sabi na sayo eh." Noreen said and nudge Tanya on her arm.

I nervously smiled at them. "Is she here?"

Nagtinginan silang dalawa at dahan-dahang tumango.

Noreen immediately touched my shoulder. "Don't worry. It will be fine." She smiled at me sympathetically.

My world almost literally stop as my eyes hit on a very familiar girl who's busy chatting on a group a people. That smile. That beautiful face. The girl that I've been missing for so long. The girl that I've loved before and still love until now.

She unintentionally looked at my direction and our eyes met for the first time again. At unti-unti nanumbalik ang mga alaala dati na akala ko nabaon ko na sa limot..

........