The Song's Memory (Engineering Student #2)

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16

His reaction changed. Mas lalong dumoble ang kaba ko dahil sa naging reaksiyon niya.

"What?" he said.

I parted my lips. Bakit ganoon, habang patagal nang patagal mas lalong bumibigat ang nararamdaman ko? Mas lalo rin akong kinakabahan.

"Do you have plans on leaving?" I looked him straight in the eye.

"...here in Philippines?" I almost whispered.

His lips parted. It looks like he wanted to say something but he couldn't say it. My heartbeats doubled the moment he went closer to me to reach my elbows. I refused. I stepped backward to keep our distance. I saw him stiffened.

"Is it true?" I asked again. Nangingilid ang luha sa mata habang tinititigan ang mga mata niyang malungkot at mapupungay.

He didn't mutter any words, but enough for me to answer my question. My tears started to pool down on my cheeks. Why? Bakit siya aalis? I thought... I thought... he will not leave me?

"Kaye..." he tried his luck to reach me and this time he succeeded. Nawawalan naman na kasi ako ng lakas para gumalaw.

Akala ko magsasalita siya pero nag-umpisa na siyang maglakad habang hawak-hawak ang kamay. Wala akong nagawa kaya nagpatianod na lang ako sa gusto niyang mangyari. We reached to the parking lot then we go inside his car. Uuwi na ba kami? Bakit hindi kami mag-usap? Bakit ang tahimik niya? I want to speak but I can't. I want him to speak first.

We are heading to different direction, not the direction to our house. Saan kami pupunta? The car stopped and we are here at the place we usually go. Sa may harap ng sunset at sa malawak na lupain.

Hindi pa rin kami nagsasalita kahit nakababa na kami sa sasakyan. Magkaharap kami, siya ay nakayuko habang ako ay nakatingin sa kanya. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Ayoko siyang umalis. Siya na nga lang ang meron ako ngayon eh. Siya lang ang tanging kasama ko.

Finally, he lifted his head to face me. His jaw tightened. It looks like he's mad or is it me? I don't know.

"Who told you that?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter." I bit my lip.

"So totoo?" I probed, almost a shout.

"Kaye—"

"Aalis ka? Sabi mo sa akin hindi mo ako iiwan?! Akala ko—"

"Hindi pa naman sigurado, Kaye," he said that made my knees weakened. So it's true.

"Naghihintay pa ako ng confirmation galing sa... school na papasukan ko," he almost whispered. My lips parted. So he will leave? At... doon siya mag-aaral? I don't get it! Nag-aaral na siya rito ah.