Alaala: Simula

Ikawalo

LANCE POV

She was acting weird this past few days. She became too clingy na kulang na lang maging magnet siya kahit di naman ako metal. She was too baby even simple things pinag-aawayan pa naming dalawa. And now, leaving the door unlock, this woman is making things impossible to figure out. But no matter how it goes, I can't deny my connection to her. She is mine. She is my girlfriend. She is my soon to be wife. Its past 8pm when I arrived home too tired and worn from the realities of life. She was there smiling at me as a greeting that I love from her. Suddenly, she prepared us a dinner that I didn't expect that she will do since staple food namin ang pizza deliveries and other stuff. At parang may nagpapaalala sa akin nang nakain ko ang niluto ni Maggie. Isang alala ng nakaraan.

2002

Denver Orphanage, Washington

"Oh mga bata kain na po tayo." tugon ng isang matanda na may hawak na sandok.

"Opo!" sabay-sabay kaming umupo.

"Dahil sa mababait kayong mga bata ay pinasya ng Kuya Yohan nyo na ipagluto kayo ng pagkain." masiyang balita nito sa mga bata.

"Sana mag.enjoy kayo." Bati ni Yohan.

"Ano po bang tawag dito Kuya Yohan?", tanong ni Gabriella.

"Hanson Rice."

Click! Click! Click!

"Babe, did you cook this?" masayang tanong ko kay Maggie sabay baba ng kamera at kumain.

"Ah eh yeah...you like it?" tugon nito.

"Yeah. Reminds me of Avon. But I forgot na the dish name nga lang." dampot ko sa baso at uminom ng apple juice.

It was one of the specials dinner na kasama ko si Maggie. Its different from the usual dinners na puro lang pizza, burger and all ang kinakain namin. Her efforts were really appreciated up to this point. Pero sa kabilang banda, hindi ko namamalayang bumabalik ang mga paa ko kay Abby. What the heck na si Abby ang naiisip ko habang kasama ko si Maggie? This is crazy but its true.

"You changed the sheets, baby?" I asked.

"Oo. Medyo maalikabok eh." bulalas ni Maggie habang nagliligpit ng pinagkainan sa kusina.

"Who is Yohan, baby? Its sounds familiar." sabay dampot sa sticky note na nasa kama.

"Ehem...Sya ba? Ah.. sya yung kasama kong nagpadala nung Gambas last night, remember?" she answered.

"Ah yeah right. Well, I guess I'll be out again..." paalam ko rito.

"Saan ka na naman ba pupunta?" tanong ni Maggie habang nakayakap sa beywang ko.

"I'll be out to find goods for the outing tomorrow with my nephews." dumampi ng halik sa ulo nito.

"Okay, be safe.."

Why does it feel like an ordinary day when Maggie is around? I know na parang napakastupido ng mga tanong ko pero sa bawat araw na kasama ko siya ay parang nauuhaw ako sa daan kahit na magkasama kaming naglalakbay. It feels so unknown pero tanging alam ko na totoo ang mga nararamdaman kong pag-aalinlangan. I dialled Abby's number and it rang. I heard her speak and it feels like I took a sip finally from a bountiful oasis. However, I still feel that guilt of hurting Maggie. Hurting her without knowing.