Romantic Short Stories [DUBREDO]

Vii. Back to Basics

She dialed Digong's number as she went upstairs back to her room after spending almost the whole day trying to rebook her return flight, however, she failed.

He picked up her call, "hello?"
"Hello sir. Busy ka?" A smile became inevitable to bloom on her lips upon hearing his voice.
"Hindi naman, ma'am. Kamusta ang lakad mo?" He asked with a weak voice.

She was too happy to speak to him that she barely noticed his unusual soft voice, "okay lang naman sir. Medyo fail nga lang." She confided hoping she can rant it all to him as soon as they see each other again.

It was late in the afternoon when she arrived home, she was tired. "Sir," she uttered, "free ka ba bukas?" She asked — the memory of him asking it to her before made her blush, she finds it silly that she's the one asking it to him now.

It took him a while to respond, "uh, baka hindi ma'am."

Her heart broke a little, "ay ganon? Bakit po sir? Busy ka ba bukas?" She asked with hopes that he'll make a way to see her.

"Ahm, hindi naman." He replied concisely.

She began to wonder why he doesn't seem to like going out with her that very moment if he's not busy at all, "bakit hindi ka pwede? May gagawin ka ba? May lakad ka?" She interrogated.

He was struggled to respond right away, he stammered, "I just don't think we should continue seeing each other, Leni."

This one broke her heart further. Questions inside her head wanted to go out of her mouth, "bakit naman sir? May problema ba tayo?" Her voice trembled, "may nagawa ba akong mali? May nagawa ba akong hindi mo nagustuhan? Baka mas mabuting mapag-usapan natin sir—"

"No. Wala. Wala kang nagawang mali." He clarified not wanting her to feel bad. "So bakit kailangan may ganito? Anong nangyayari? Ang pangit naman na over the phone lang natin 'to pag-uusapan. Pupunta ako diyan, nasa bahay ka ba?" She suggested, desperate of mending things immediately.

"Hindi na, wag na." He requested. "Ayos lang. Wala rin ako sa bahay,"  he lied. "Ano bang nangyayari, Digong? Bakit nagkakaganyan ka bigla?" She uttered in frustration.

He bowed his head, he could feel her disappointment and frustration but he knew it was just right to stop what's blooming between them before it hurts them deeply. He sighed, "I just don't want to get my hopes high again, Leni," he confessed, "yung huling beses na umasa ako nasaktan lang ako." He followed.

Her heart shattered. She was moved by his confession that she didn't expect she would hear from him. He was known as a tough man, admitting he's worried, hurt or weak was never in his vocabulary but here he is transparently telling her things.

"Digong, hindi naman kita sasaktan." She didn't want such conversation to remain over the phone but she didn't have much choice, he doesn't want to meet her.

A small smile grew on his lips, sinabi mo rin yan saakin noon but turns out you were just intoxicated of the things I do for you. The next day you changed your mind again. He told himself as he reminisced the days he was chasing her so hard.

He hated the idea that they had to talk it out over a phone call but he knew he wasn't ready and strong enough to follow his decision if she would be standing next to him. He was soft and weak for her.

"Digong, pupuntahan nalang kita, sige na naman oh. Pag-usapan nalang natin 'to. Ang hirap kase ng over the phone call lang." She pleaded but he chose to refuse.

She held her head trying to think of an idea to mend things with him despite her limited time in Davao.

"You enjoy your stay sa Davao—"
"Kahit samahan mo lang ako sa Sunday. Please? Flight ko pabalik ng US sa Sunday." She hated to look pitiful but she was desperate this time.

He was silenced, he didn't know she's actually leaving that soon. Maybe it's destiny's way to make this easier, he thought.

"Sige na, sir. Kahit ihatid mo lang ako? Gusto ko ikaw yung huli kong makasama bago ako umalis dito." She pleaded but he was a decisive man and he chose to just end it all between them.

"I'm sorry ma'am." He apologized, she knew he doesn't plan on granting her request anymore. "Mag-iingat ka palagi." He added.

"Sir." She uttered but he remained silent before he finally hung up.

She took her phone off her ears as her arms weakened. Her legs felt like a vegetable, she dropped her weight on her couch as she forced herself to grasp what just ended.

Bakit naman ganon? She asked. Gusto ko lang naman irebook yung flight ko pabalik ng US kanina para mas matagal ako dito sa Davao, para mas makasama ko siya tapos biglang nawalan ng available flights, puro mas maaga. Tapos kung kelan nagiging handa na ako para kay Digong, doon naman biglang nagkaproblema ng ganito. Kung kelan pa paalis na ako doon pa nagkagulo gulo. She complained, she found everything so unfair.

She didn't know what to do and where to start. It was Friday afternoon already and her scheduled flight to US is on Sunday. She only have one day to fix everything up and Digong won't even meet or cooperate with her.

She was irresponsive the whole afternoon. She tried eating her dinner but she couldn't consume much.

She struggled to fall asleep immediately thinking of a way to solve her problem with Digong. It was already four in the morning when she finally fell asleep, she didn't even notice the time anymore.

Digong stayed at his private house in Samal to disconnect from everyone and to avoid Leni incase she suddenly comes to his house in Matina. He needed some space, he needed time to grasp the pain of letting her go so that he'll get numb of it.

But does he really get numb?

The cold breeze rushed through his skin as he looked at a distance facing the sea. He began to weigh things.

He is no longer the president, why would Leni make an effort for him? The fact that she pleaded for his presence is a proof that she values him now. She's full of pride, she doesn't like it when she look like she's all up for him but now she didn't care about that. He began to feel hopeful.

He shook his head. Papano kung nag-aassume nanaman ako na unti unti niya akong nagugustuhan tulad noon? Baka iniisip ko nanaman na may pag-asa kahit wala. What if she's just really intoxicated of the fact that she's in Davao and I was there all along accompanying her? What if she was just overwhelmed by our kiss at the rooftop?

What if I let myself believe on something that will be gone as soon as she leaves again? Ako nanaman ang talo. He reminded himself.

His chest prickled as he thought it through, I never win when it comes to Leni. He slapped himself with the reality.

She was the woman he never had no matter how much effort and sincerity he had for her. He thought maybe she was his karma for all the times he broke and played other women's heart and he has no other choice but to face the agony of not being able to have the woman he wanted to be her last.