Romantic Short Stories [DUBREDO]

Vi. Back to Basics

Eleanor furrowed her eyebrows upon seeing his little brother sitting alone with his cup of coffee in the living room. "Aba himala hindi mo kasama ang babae mo?" She remarked.

He knew she was referring to Leni, "wala, manang. Naga-ayos siya ng papers for her passport, parang ganon." He explained.

"Bakit di mo sinamahan? Ano ba namang klaseng boyfriend ka?" He teased. He suddenly felt bad for not insisting to join her on her agendas that day. Bakit nga ba di ko naisip yon? "Hindi ko man siya uyab." He clarified, "hindi pa." He followed with a hopeful smile.

She scoffed and shook her head taking his attention, "ano man yan?"

"Ang alin?" She replied. "Yan." He copied her mocking gesture.

She scoffed again, "ayan ka nanaman kase diyan sa Leni na yan. Hindi ka na natuto. Pag sa babae talaga kulang ka sa ganito," she pointed at her head implying his dumbness in love.

"Ngisi ngisi ka diyan, palagay mo ba seryoso na siya sa'yo ngayon dahil lumalabas kayo?" She questioned. "Hindi naman. I'm just enjoying her company—"

"Enjoying her company pero umaasa ka ulit." She interrupted.

The bright smile on his face slowly faded as his elder sister began lecturing him with the painful truth. She was his ate, his manang and his living guardian angel for a reason.

Eleanor sat opposite his seat engaging in a deep talk with his little brother. She couldn't favor anyone whom she think could hurt him.

"Naglabas labas kayo ulit ni Leni lately sabi ng anak mo," she began, he nodded to confirm. "Okay lang yan, masaya ka but guard your heart Digong." She advised.

"Ang puso mo ingatan mo wag masaktan ulit." She stressed, "minsan ka nang nagexpect kay Leni. Minsan ka nang naniwala, you believed what you had was special but she's indecisive." She reminded him.

He remained silent. "Sa kwento mo noon, ngayong araw mahal ka niya, makalawa president ka nalang ulit. Enjoy the moment with her, sige, pero mahirap mag-invest ng pagmamahal sa taong una palang alam mong hindi na sigurado sa'yo." She warned him.

Her words hit him like a huge rock that helps him to wake up into the reality. As he listened to her words, he began to recall his old days with Leni during their terms.

Their first kiss at his office after their meeting. It was late at night and it was just them. He thought it meant so much to her as much as it meant a lot to him but after being treated like a stranger the next days after that incident, he knew she wasn't serious about him and of whatever they had. No matter how hard he tried to justify her treatment, the discreet disgust on her face when they are being teased to each other, he just couldn't be blind of the fact that he was her past time, a boss she would flirt with if she needs to seek assistance.

The second kiss they shared was when she was extremely happy about the relentless success of her programs. The fact that he was there supporting her the whole time gave him a reason to figure out why they had that intimate kiss. She was intoxicated with happiness and he was the only one consistently cheering for her.

As he returned to reality, he realized it's not far that she's just being intoxicated by the fact that she's in Davao and he's also there. He might have misinterpreted her intoxication again with maybe she loves me again, he thought.

He sighed, a prickle dwelled in his chest as he thought it through. What if it's true that tomorrow, she'll change her mind again and here I am putting my hopes so high again? He didn't see much difference from their situation before.

"Mahirap mag-invest ng pagmamahal sa taong una palang alam mong hindi na sigurado sa'yo." Her sister's voice echoed in his ears.

He continued reminiscing things, a small smile grew on his lips as he realized things: she was never really sure about me, she never was.

All he could feel was pity for himself for allowing himself to look stupid for her for years. He really didn't mind because that's how he expresses his love.

His heart bounced after he shared a kiss with her again. He couldn't stop smiling but now that he's having a slap of reality, all the happiness began to vanish. It could just be another intoxicated Leni along his way.

He suddenly asked himself:
Mahal mo ba siya?

But instead of answering, he thought of a better question:
Mahal ka ba niya?

He sighed the pain off his chest because after all the years of effort, he was still never certain of the answer and after thinking it through, it only leans to one response.

No, she doesn't.

"Tsaka isipin mo," no she wasn't done lecturing him yet, "si Leni nabyuda ng asawa niya noon, kung maging okay kayo maipapangako mo ba na matagal mo siyang masasamahan? Ilang taon ka na?" She argued — slapping him with the reality again. "Pareho lang kayong talo. Kung iwanan ka niya ulit, ikaw ang masasaktan. Kung maging okay kayo at abutan niya yung pagtanda mo, may mangyari sayo — h'wag naman sana–" she knocked on the wooden coffee table, "masasaktan mo lang rin siya."

They looked at each other after such discussion. "Spare yourself from the pain, spare her from the pain. Habang maaga pa, hangga't hindi pa lumalalim ulit, pigilan mo na." She advised.

"You've lived long enough. Okay na yan. You have fulfilled enough." She added.

—

"Ganon? Wala na bang ibang later schedule na pwede?" Leni asked. "Wala na po ma'am," the attendant responded, "we can rebook po pero these are the only schedules available." She flashed the screen to her.

Friday, September 22

Available schedules:
Saturday, September 23, 16:00
Saturday, September 23, 9:30
Sunday, September 24, 13:45

She wanted to rebook her return flight the next week instead of Sunday. She wanted to spend more time with Digong before she goes back to US so she would have enough time to strengthen their bond before she leaves because it might take a while for her to come back again and she didn't want to make him feel left behind after that one special kiss.