I screamed at the top of my lungs from so much frustration. Lumabas siya ng kotse at hinayaan lang ako. Napa-upo ako sa hood ng kotse niya sa sobrang pagod.
"I'm sorry." Iyon lang ang sinabi niya.
Umupo siya sa tabi ko and he patted my head.
"I don't want to play mind games anymore. We're too old for it, Joni." I calmly said.
"I'm not with Trish. I never was if that's what you want to know."
I looked up at him. I was searching for his face the truth. I badly want to trust him.
"D-did you ever love me?" Garalgal kong tanong.
Hinarap niya ako sa kanya. He held my face. He looked at me with sincerity in his eyes.
"Ever since I met you, Lourie. Kahit iniwan mo ako that never change."
"Did you just hooked up with me that time I confess kasi naawa ka sa akin at ego boost mo na maikama ako?" I asked him even though it was painful to remember that time.
Hind ko napigilan tumulo ang mga luha ko. He quickly wiped off the tears that rolled down my cheeks.
"Fuck. Baby, please don't cry. That night was spontaneous. I swear to God I did not even know you were going to be there. Balak ko through my graduation speech ako magtapat sayo. Inunahan mo lang ako. I was caught off guard that night." He confessed.
"Really? You're not lying? Trish implied ever since na there was something between you two."
"Everything's a big misunderstanding. Nagpatulong ako kay Trish for you to like me but she had other plans in mind. After the graduation ceremony, Trish confessed to me what she has done."
"Pero hanggang ngayon nasa tabi mo pa rin siya?" I asked him accusingly.
"Lourie, nawala ka na sa akin. Nabulag lang si Trish ng pagmamahal niya sa akin but she was still a good friend. I will be honest with you kasi ayoko maging issue ito in the future. I slept with Trish, but I don't feel anything for her. That time she was just conveniently there. Lourie, ikaw ang mahal ko. Please believe me." Joni begged desperately.
I felt hurt that something happened between them, but I understand Joni. Almost 8 years rin kaming magkahiwalay. Trish is there for him all the time. It's unfair to accuse Joni of cheating cause he has the rights to sleep with anybody if he's single. Ako naman, I have my fair share of relationships with other men.
"I understand. Pero kung hindi ba ako umuwi, would you forget about me?"
That's when I saw the hurt in his eyes again.
"You cut us off, Lourie. You deleted your social medias back then. I tried international calls, but you never answered them. You didn't even answer my emails. Good thing, Jen kept me updated. I was worrying for you halfway across the world. I almost gave up."
"Almost?" Pagtataka ko.
"I was going to surprise visit you in the US, three years ago. I was asking Jen to set us up but that time you were busy. Because your career as an influencer was just starting to take off. You were also dating someone that time. You look so happy without me. Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko hihintayin ko na maging ok na ang career mo at single ka na ulit." He smiled after.
I was taken a back. Hinintay niya ako. My heart was filled with happiness.
"Hey! Paano mo alam na single ako?" I playfully pushed him at napasinghot.
