Leaving on a jet plane

chapter one

One year later

"Hi ma'am April. Welcome back to Philippines." Ani ng aking sekretarya. I took a deep breath as I look at the airport. I'm so proud of myself because I leave this country heartbroken, but now i'm good in my own. Kamusta na kaya sya? Tanong ko sa aking sarili. Napailing ako.

"Natalia, let's go." At lumakad na ako palabas. Pumasok na ako sa kotse at pinahinga ang aking sarili. I look outside the car, same old Manila. It was so nice to be back in this country. I've been going from different countries for the whole 1 year and I admit it I miss Philippines and him. Dagdag ng aking utak. I do miss him, but i'm not hoping that he'll welcome me like nothing happened.

"Miss April are you listening?" Tanong ng aking sekretarya.

"Listening to what?" Am I spacing out?

"Miss April i'm reading your sched for today. Please listen." Ani ng aking sekretarya tinignan ko sya na para bang inuusisa ang buong pagkatao nya.

"C'mon Tals you're not like that." Ani ko.

"April i'm being professional here. Hindi dahil kaibigan kita ay hindi na ako magiging professional sa trabaho ko." Tinawanan ko sya sa kanyang sinabi.

"I want to rest Tals. I'm tired." I said and looked at the rearview mirror just to see the serious face of my secretary.

"C'mon miss secretary. Let's have fun in my house." I winked at her.

"Fine. Let's go." Ani nya. I smiled at her sweetly.

After we go in that long ride finally i'm home.

"Hey April." Tawag sakin ni Natalia, I looked at him with my arched brows.

"Are you fine now?" Tanong nya sakin. Ngumiti ako at nilapitan sya. I hugged her.

"Yes i'm fine pero may kulang parin sakin. Gusto ko sya makita Tals pero natatakot ako na baka kung ano ang sabihin nya sakin. Natatakot ako na baka hindi na nya ako mahal." Sagot ko. She faced me and cupped my face.

"You really love him that much?" She asked and I nodded.

"So much Natalia. But i'm scared to love. You know how hard it is for me. He's too good." I said.

"I know it's hard for you pero wala naman syang ginawa sayo nuon e. He's calling me just to check up on you." She said.

"I can't love him, Natalia. Natatakot akong masaktan. Hindi ko kayang masaktan, hindi ko kaya." Ani ko at niyakap si Natalia ng mahigpit.

"I know but give him a chance. He wants to talk to you." She said, I looked at her with confusion.

"Yeah he's in your office. Waiting for you. I mean he's always there waiting for you." She said.

"What do you mean?"

"He said na baka one of this days bumalik ka. And he'll going to wait until that day happen. Nakakaawa na sya April." She said. I felt a pang in my heart. Guilt is eating me.

"Let's go. I wanna see him." Aya ko.

I was waiting in her office when someone came in. Natalia.

"Hey Oct. Uhm-"

"If you're going to say go away, I won't. I'm waiting for her." I cut Natalia off.

"About that. She's waiting for you in the cafè." Ani ni Natalia. Nagulat ako sa kanyang sinabi.

"Who's she?" Tanong ko.

"April." After she said that I run as fast as I can just to go to the cafè. I can't wait to see her, my sweet April.

I was in the cafè and fix my self. I'm finding her and at the back part of the cafè I already see her. She's looking at me. My heart is racing, pinagpapawisan ako ng malagkit. It's like the time that i'm going to court her. Ah nostalgia.

"Love." I said when I'm already in the front of the table.

"Hi Oct." She greeted me and smiled to me. A little smile. I took a seat. I cleared my throat.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm good. How 'bout you?" She asked me. I looked at her deeply.

"I missed you." I said. She looked at me as if I caught her off-guard.

"Oct, don't be like that."

"Why? You left me. I believe it is normal to miss you." I said. "I never imagine that this will be our set up after that. Talking in a cafè and act like nothing happened. I thought I will be allowed to hug now."

"Oct please understand." Mahinahon nyang sabi.

"Understand what? We never broke up, April." I said.

"Oct stop being like that. I already ended our relationship." She said.

"Hindi pwedeng ikaw lang ang mag desisyon sa relasyon na 'to April." I said. "Pinakawalan na kita noon, hindi ko na gagawin yon. Pinabayaan na kita na umalis noon April. Pagbigyan mo naman ako ngayon. I'm sorry for my shortcomings as your boyfriend, give me a chance to be better just to deserve you, April. I'll try my best to be the best for you. Just give me chance. One chance, hindi ko sasayangin yon." If someone will heard what i've said they'll say that i'm desperate. Well yeah, I can be desperate just to have her.

"Oct, you're more than enough." She hold my hand and squeeze it. I get her hand and kissed it. I saw one droplet of tear came out from her eyes. And another, and another. Until she cried. Tumayo ako at lumapit sakanya, dinala ko ang aking upuan at humarap sakanya.

"I'm sorry." She said. I hugged her and rub her back.

"Shh, don't cry my love. It's fine. You don't have to be sorry, I understand. Shh, don't cry, i'm here. I'll never leave you nor let you go." I comforted her.

"Do you still love me, Oct?" She asked and looked at me. I smiled at her.

"I always do. I always love you, My April. Always." I said and touched her face. So beautiful.

"I love you." She said. I looked at her shocked.

"I love you, Oct. I'm scared." Ani nya at niyakap ako.

"Wag kang matakot hinding hindi kita sasaktan." I assured her.