Romantic Short Stories [DUBREDO]

Vix. Back to Basics

Leni went back to the hotel alone with so much weight on her chest. She did speak to Digong but they failed to resolve their problem. She wanted them to be okay but turns out destiny just ended what was just starting between them.

She took the stairs as the elevator went under maintenance. Her body felt numb, she couldn't feel anything aside from misery. It seems like she was floating, she wasn't herself that moment.

Digong's face kept flashing on her head, his sad eyes and weak smile. Her heart broke for every time she thinks about him.

She finally reached her room's floor at the 5th. She looked at the stair's trail and remembered when they had their date at the rooftop. It was such a happy memory but now it just makes her heart break. She exhaled heavily and continued going up to the rooftop to feel the wind of the night.

The moment she laid her eyes on the area of the rooftop, she couldn't help but remember every bit of details during her rooftop date with Digong. A fainted smile grew on her lips as she recalled seeing him all surprised with her efforts that day.

She strode towards the parapet and inhaled the fresh cool breeze of the city. It was the view she was looking at while the man who deeply loved her stood beside her.

Sana maulit ulit. She wished.
Sana pwede ko mabawi lahat ng sakit na naiparamdam ko sa'yo noon. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she reminisced their time together.

He walked towards her and placed his jacket on her to keep her warm. "Uy, mas kailangan mo 'to." She remembered her responding to his sweet gesture.

"No, you're cold. Ayos lang ako." He insisted but she knows how weak he was with low temperature levels but he prioritized her.

"I'm from Davao. Sanay ako sa weather dito." She remembered him saying. He frequently lie to keep her from worrying so much about him. Behind those white lies is the concern and caring Digong that a lot of people miss to see.

"Pero kapag yung buto buto mo sumakit ha?" She remembered the sound of his laughter and it echoed in her ears. She wanted to hear it again but with their situation now?It seems unlikely already.

She went down to her room and began to fix her luggage, packing her things back inside it.

She arrived at the airport at four for her flight at five. Each minute she looks around hoping Digong would run after her and ask her to stay but as time passes by, she became more and more hopeless.

She sat silently alone waiting for the call to the cabin. Her soul felt empty leaving Davao knowing she's not okay with the man she thought she would be with.

PR 120, flight to Los Angeles from Davao City now boarding.

The speaker announced. She glanced at her watch, 4:42AM.

She had her last look around the waiting area hoping for Digong to come but then she realized it only happens in movies. She sighed the pain off her chest and finally proceeded inside the cabin.

She spent her 16H45M flight at her chosen window seat thinking about Digong. All her regrets went in front of her. She couldn't stop thinking what to do to earn his trust again and win him back.

—

She sat at the porch's step and wrapped her palms around her hot cup of tea. The surroundings start to feel cold. September is about to end and in a few more months the year will end.

She suddenly thought about Digong again. It's been a week since she left Davao and every morning she still feels empty knowing she left without ironing her problem with Digong.

September 30, 2023

She glimpsed at her phone's calendar. She saw the mailbox in front of the house and she suddenly came up with an idea.

Hindi ka na nagvaviber, hindi ka na rin nagsosocial media. Nakikilog in ka lang sa facebook ko noon pero never ka gumawa ng account.

"Bakit hindi ka gumawa ng account mo para makatingin tingin ka rin? Kahit hindi mo pangalan para hindi ka dumugin ng mga supporters mo." She suggested a long time ago. He pouted his lips, "no need. Pwede naman makatingin sa imong facebook or kay Kitty." He refused.

"Oo nga pero mas maganda parin kung may sarili kang account. Tuturuan kita akin na yang phone mo." She advised. "Wag na. Hindi naman ako mahilig diyan tsaka baka may magchat saaking girls, sige ka baka mapraning ka." He jested.

A chortle escaped her mouth.

Old school pero ito lang yung naiisip kong paraan para makausap kita. She began composing a letter for him.

Whatever its content is, it's just for his eyes.

Leni continued writing him letters every week and mailing them to the Philippines through the post office. She figured out she'll have 14 letters to compose since the first week of October, she has to make it meaningful.

During her first two weeks of sending out her letter, she became hopeful of Digong's response. Writing letters and composing paragraphs was her thing, she hoped it was enough to make him understand how sorry she is for hurting him and making himself doubt his worth.

"Malou, yung mailbox ba natin diyan nilalagay yung mga padalang sulat at package saatin?" She asked her younger sister who lived in the US first. "Oo ate, bakit? May hinihintay ka ba?" Malou queried.

"Ha?" She panicked a bit, "no, wala naman. Nag-order lang kase ako ng gamit online," lied Leni.

Malou knew she was making things up. It intrigued her what made her sister so interested with the mailbox.

Leni checked the mailbox everyday hoping to receive a letter from Digong in the Philippines but it remained empty the next days. She went home from the post office and glanced at the mailbox again but it was still empty.

She began to feel hopeless. She sat at the porch steps again and had some time with herself. She began to miss him and the things he do for her.

Years ago during their term, he would always stick a note on her folder or cup every cabinet meeting with some enlightening quotes to brighten up her day. He would always send her flowers too during occasions and attach a short letter along with it. She just missed his words and humor.

It's even harder for her now because they are a thousand miles away from each other without any signs of communication. She wanted to know what he is doing that very moment she's thinking of him. She began to feel remorse for the times she didn't care and ignored his updates before.

Noong term pa namin lagi siyang nagtetext kung nasaan siya, anong ginagawa niya bago niya sisingitan ng ingat ka ma'am o kaya I hope you're doing well. She reminisced. She ignored it before, she even ridicules his efforts before whenever his colleagues would see it, "ewan ko bakit nagmemessage lagi, hindi ko naman tinatanong." She would always tell them.

Her younger sister noticed her sister's frequent lonely time. She couldn't find the opportunity to ask but she knew she was sad about something.

Leni bowed her head and fidgeted her hands as she thought about her future with Digong.