Behind Every Regret (The Untold Tales Series #1)

3 | If this is fate

I woke up at around 10 in the morning. I usually wake up early pero nanood pa ako ng series kagabi pagkauwi kaya late na ako nakatulog.

Nagbanaw ako ng kape bago umupo sa sofa. I opened the television.

Druglord gets caught by Prosecutor Santillan.

My mom was once again in the headline of the news. She caught a big time drug lord this time. I opened my laptop to look for job vacancies na related sa tinapos kong degree though hindi ko pa balak magtrabaho.

I plan to work at a broadcasting station or a newspaper company. Pero sa ngayon, I want time for myself muna.

Nag- vacuum ako sa condo at nag- order ng food for lunch. Wala na akong gagawin nung gabi kaya I decided to go out for a drive.

I just saw myself driving towards the beach.

I sat there for about an hour and when no one came, I went home.

That was my routine for the whole week. Pupunta ako sa beach sa gabi pero wala siya doon.

Kean.

I saw him only twice but sometimes, I can't stop thinking about him. Just like what I said to him before, if the universe wants us to meet again, we will meet again. But a while ago, I whispered to the waves to let me meet him again.

I have never liked someone. I ignored this feeling when I was in the university. Because I want my first to be my last. I am a firm believer that you will only love one person in your life. Kapag hindi mo siya nakatuluyan, ibig sabihin ay hindi pa siya ang love mo.

I also believe that you should date someone for marriage because if not, then you are dating for heartbreak. Dito kami minsan nagtatalo ni Indira. She believes that you should also date for experience, which is in contrast to what I believe.

Two days after, I decided to go to the Home for the Aged Facility. Sinalubong agad ako nung mga matatanda pagkapasok ko.

"Nandito ka!" sigaw sa akin ni Lola Iska sabay yakap.

"Opo lola," sabi ko sa kanya sabay ngiti. Yumakap din sa akin yung ibang matatanda.

"Ang tagal mong hindi dumalaw dito ineng," sabi naman ni Lolo Jose.

"Nako sorry po, medyo naging busy po sa school eh,"

"Ah ganun ba, oh ito ang tinapay kumain ka muna," kumuha ako doon sa tinapay na iniabot ni Lolo. Pagkatapos ay bumalik na sila sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

Sila yung mga matatanda na iniiwan na dito ng mga anak nila because of some reasons. Minsan ay dahil walang mag- aalaga o 'di kaya naman ay dahil walang pantustos sa mga pangangailangan nila. This place is one of my comfort places aside from the sea.

Sometimes I think about Dad. Paano kaya kapag siya na ang matanda? Sinong mag- aalaga sa kanya? Is it me or my brother? I just shrugged that question.

"Palambutin mo muna itong karne," sabi ni Lola Iska habang inaalayan niya ako sa paglalagay nung kaserola. Nagpapaturo ako sa kanya kung paano magluto ng caldereta. She's already 82 years old pero hindi pa siya ulyanin.

"Ano pong sunod na gagawin?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Gayatin mo itong sibuyas at bawang." Sinunod ko lahat ng sinabi niya. Ginayat ko pagkatapos yung carrots, patatas at bell pepper.

"Ayan igisa mo na yung sibuyas at bawang," Pagkalagay ko sa mantika ay napasigaw ako.

"Lola natalsik!"

"Ano ka ba naman hindi ka naman mamamatay diyan! Mas masakit pa rin yung sugat dito," sabi niya sabay turo sa dibdib sa tapat ng puso niya.

I sauted the garlic and onion.