I woke up at around 3 pm. Pagkalabas ko ng room ay naroon si Kuya habang nanonood ng tv.
"I'll go out today," paalam ko sa kanya.
"You always go out," sabi niya sabay irap. Hindi ko na lang siya sinagot at pumunta na sa cr para maligo.
Three years have passed and I think I have moved. Time really did its work of healing. The distance between us made me forget him, or at least make me not think of him from time to time. He must probably be happy with Andrea and their child. I know I will be happy again, hindi nga lang ngayon.
I shrugged all those thoughts at nagbihis na. I just wore a yellow summer dress and hat kasi medyo mainit pa sa labas.
"Your red hair looks good on you!" Hugo, our neighbor shouted when he saw me by his window. Medyo makulit siya, always asking if I'm single.
I am single but the past still haunts me that I think I can never be ready again for a strong emotional connection.
I hailed a cab at nagpahatid sa El Retiro Park. Whenever I feel lonely, dito lagi ako pumupunta. I rented a rowing boat doon sa artificial lake. May mga kasama akong tourists since five passengers ang minimum. I took out my phone para makuhanan ng picture iyong monument ni Alfonso XII.
"So cute!" a girl, around three years old said when she saw the ducks paddling by the lake.
If only she's alive, I think she's the same age as her. I wiped the tears which were about to fall from my eyes. Moving on doesn't mean forgetting. She will always be a part of me.
"Can I have some?" kinulbit niya ako habang inilalahad ang kamay. Itinuro niya iyong hawak kong fish feeds.
"Sure, it's yours na," then she smiled at me. Pinalapit niya ako sa kanya then she kissed my cheek. My heart melted because of what she did.
After, lumapit ako roon sa crowd. May mga nagro- roller blading. This was actually one of the things in my bucket list, matutong mag- skate. Pinanood ko lang sila noong may lumapit sa akin.
"Do you want to try that?" tanong nung lumapit sa akin.
"Who would not want to try that?", sumagot ako sa kanya na hindi tumitingin.
"Then let's try it, Kylie," napatingin ako noong binanggit niya ang pangalan ko. My eyes widened in disbelief because of the person I am seeing in front of me. After three long years, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng kakilala mula sa Pilipinas.
"Rocco?" I asked. He is Indira's older brother. We're not that close but we kind of know each other kasi I briefly lived with them noong bagong hiwalay ang parents ko. Also, we were helping each other before noong may problems si Indira.
"Yeah, you still remember me?" he asked.
"Should I call you Atty.?," he was still in law school when all of those things happened.
"I passed the Bar but just call me Rocco," he said, smiling. This was the only time I saw him smiling. Noon kasi, lagi lang siyang seryoso. "Let's try them," tapos hinila niya ako papunta sa pila.
We wore the skating shoes. Nakahawak ako sa likod noong guide dahil hindi pa ako marunong. Even the guide laughed noong natumba ako. I am wearing a protective suit kaya hindi ako nasugatan. After a few minutes, hinayaan na kami noong guide.
"Hey slow down! I might fall again," I told Rocco because he was going too fast. I don't know if I should call him Kuya or what because basically, he was years older than me. Hindi ko rin alam pero sobrang komportable ako sa kanya.
"It's not bad to fall again," he then held my hand para sabay kaming mag- skate.
After skating ay nagpahinga kami. We sat at a bench while eating something. I suddenly felt shy because we weren't really that close. It was kind of awkward.
"Why are you here?" I asked him. I don't want any news from the Philippines but I guess it's okay to ask that. Besides, updated din naman ako sa mga importanteng nangyayari sa Pilipinas because lagi kaming magkausap ni mommy. Hindi pa siya makakasunod dito dahil nagbago ang isip niya sa kanyang retirement. We will wait for another years pa.
"Indira," he said. Napatingin ako sa kanya. My bestfriend. It has been so long ever since I last heard from her. Apat na taon na ang nakararaan noong huli kaming nag- usap.
"What do you mean? She's here?" I asked. If she's also here, I think fate is playing with us.
"Something happened in the Philippines. I assume you don't know that," he answered.
"What?" three years is a long time. Alam kong marami nang nangyari.
"Are you sure you want to know?" that must be huge kaya hindi sa akin sinasabi ni mommy. My curiousity even go bigger.
"Tell me,"
"The Atienzas," that surname. "They were ambushed," the cup that I was holding almost fell from my hands. Does it mean?
"The whole family was on their way to the oath- taking of the youngest Atienza. Then, things happened,"
"Is Indira included in the ambush?" I was able to ask my first question.
"Andrei. He was there but Indira wasn't. We don't know where she is. She could still alive or dead a long time ago," may kinuha siya sa wallet niya tapos ibinigay sa akin.
"Three days after the ambush, someone sent this to us," kinuha ko iyon sa kanya. It was Indira's picture with a child who is probably around four years old.
"It's Indira," she looks different in the picture. Her previously straight hair is now curled.
"According to an investigation conducted by someone we know, this place is here in Spain," small world. Indira and I have been breathing the same air for years now.
"That's why you're here?" I asked.
"Yes, we believe na buhay siya, with her child," I stared at the photo. She was pregnant noong bigla silang nawala ni Andrei.
I was debating if I should ask Rocco the question that has been bothering me a while ago. He was part of the Atienzas so there is a possibilty that he was included in the ambush.
"How about Andrea?" I finally had the courage to ask.
"I knew you'd ask that, she died," he paused first then he looked at me. "Don't worry, he is alive. Only he and the child survived,"
This is not the time to be happy about what I heard. Kahit na gaano kasama ang ginawa nila sa akin, hinding- hindi ako matutuwa sa nangyari. Kean lost Andrea! The child lost his mom! I felt my tears falling from my eyes.
"Why are you crying?" he lend me his handkerchief. It smelled like him.
"I just feel sad for the child," I answered. He'd grow up without a mother.
"Can I ask for help?" he asked after a minute of silence. I know what he's going to ask.
"What?"
"Help me find Indira," I can almost hear his sobs. He must really miss her. I know they are close to each other ever since they were kids so Indira drifting away from the family really took a toll on him.
"I will even if you don't ask me, Atty.," I gave him a reassuring smile. Tumayo siya kaya tumayo na rin ako.
"Where do you stay?" he asked.
"I'm staying at my Kuya's house. It's just around the corner,"
"Ayaw mo bang ihatid kita?"
"Ah, I have my bike,"
"Okay, then. Here's my number." he gave me his card para matawagan ko siya if ever I have things to say about Indira.
I was about to walk away when he called my name again.
"Kylie,"
"Yes?"
"It's not bad to fall again," he said then he walked away, living me there not knowing what he means.
BINABASA MO ANG
Behind Every Regret (The Untold Tales Series #1)
Romansa(The Untold Tales Series #1) Reinn Kylie Rivera. She once believed that it is better to bid goodbye to love before it could even say the same thing to you. She doesn't like taking risks because she's afraid she will be falling for the wrong person...
