Live, Love, Longer

CHAPTER 19

Reasons

I was looking at the man sitting in front of me. I can't still believe that he's necklace boy and also Alex cousin.

Ang buong akala ko ay si Alex iyong kaibigan ko noon. I remember when I saw my pictures in his drawer when I was still a kid. Hindi ko pa naitatanong sakaniya kung bakit nasa kaniya ang mga 'yon, also when he said that he was looking for his long time friend. Noong napagkamalan kong si Ava 'yong long time friend niya. Nalaman ko na hindi pala siya 'yon noong nakasama ko sa bar sina Luke noong gabing nalasing ako.

I snapped back in the present ng biglang tumawa ang lalake sa harapan ko or should I say ng tumawa si Shawn.

"Why?" Nakakunot noong tanong ko.

"You're looking at me like you're memorizing my whole face" He said then chuckled kaya naman din ako natawa. Iniwan kami ni Alex kanina para makapag-usap at makapag-kamustahan.

"I'm sorry I'm still shocked"

"It's ok, nagulat nga din ako ng sinabi ni Alex na nandito ka. I thought kapangalan mo lang ang sinasabi niya. I didn't know that it was really you" He said then genuinely smiled.

"I didn't really recognize you dahil nag-mature talaga ang ityura mo and medyo tumangkad ka ha!" I said kaya naman siya natawa.

"Ikaw lang naman ang hindi tumangkad" pang-aasar niya kaya naman ako napasimangot.

"So... what's your job?" I asked.

"I became a Pilot" He proudly said then smiled, napatango naman ako.

"I'm sorry, I didn't become the best cardiologist or even become a cardiologist"

"What? No, no.... It's fine. It's your life and that was just a silly promise" I said then laugh a little. I stopped because he was just looking at me.

"You know I also became a pilot because of you" he said then smiled, I was staring at him.

"Why?"

"Noong umalis ka, I wanted to see you but my parents said I can't because we can't afford a plane ticket" I was staring at him, shocked.

"You know.... my parents business went bankrupt kaya parang back to zero lahat. In high school I changed my dream, I suddenly wanted to become a pilot to be able to ride a plane or fly a plane rather.... papunta sayo" natatawa niyang sabi.

"Cheesy right?" He laugh "You where my first love ry, kaya naisip ko ang mga bagay na 'yon"

"But now...." he tooked a deep breath then smiled at me "now I have a Family" he said then smiled. My tear dropped, medyo nagpanic siya ng makitang may luha sa mata ko.

"I'm sorry ry, but I'm not the right person for you" He said, I stopped wiping my tears and stared at him saka ako tumawa.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"Tanga ka! Hindi ako naiyak dahil may pamilya kana!" Natatawa paring sabi ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko.

"Naiyak lang ako dahil ako pala ang naging inspirasyon mo kaya ka naging piloto, and I cried because I was happy for you" I smiled.

"I'm happy that you're with the person you love or should I say the right person for you" I said, he smiled then stood up saka lumapit sa'kin. Nagulat ako ng niyakap niya ako bigla.