Please listen to this song while reading my one shot.
DIANA
I'm here at my school when I was in junior high school. We're here for a reunion.
I saw my bestfriend, Cassy, she is wearing an LV dress with her chanel bag.
"Eyow, doctora!" I said and hugged her.
"We just hang out last night! Miss mo na kaagad ako?" She said and chuckled.
"I am nervous." I said.
"Jusko. Ang rami mo na ngang kaso na napanalo! Makikipag kita lang naman tayo sa mga dati nating kaklase." Sabi niya.
Tumango tango na lang ako. Hindi ko alam bakit ako kinakabhan. I saw our batch. Nasa pabilog kaming lamesa, nakaupo, at nag uusap.
We started to catch up and gave gifts. It's been 14 years the last time we saw each other so it's been so long, we're all now grown up. Iyung iba ay may anak na, iyung iba ay focus sa career.
Not until I saw him again, Achileas Stavros.
"Oh! Ayan na pala ang judge natin." Sabi ni Amy.
Ngumiti ito at tumingin sa gawi namin.
I felt butterflies in my stomach, the feelings I thought that faded long time ago came back. No, hindi siya nawala. Andito pa rin, nakatago, nakasiksik.The feelings they so-called-love.
"Wow! May judge at lawyer pala tayo!"
"Mag ex sila 'di ba? Si Diana at Achi?"
"Nako! Meant to be nga!"
"Are you both working on the same firm?"
Mga komento naman nila.
"Nope. I work in Montreal, Canada. While Achi works in London." I answered.
We played games and all. In the middle of the event, I decided to go to our classroom when we were in 7th grade. I was having alone time when he entered the room.
I was about to leave because I wasn't ready to talk to him. But he spoke.
"Ang rami nating memories dito." He said and smiled.
Tumango ako. "Agree. Good old memories." I said.
"Is it cold in Canada?" He asked.
All of a sudden? "Well... Yeah. It's winter season." I answered.
He nodded. "I had to check our co-firm in Canada. It was in Montreal. I saw you. I watched your case. But seems like you didn't noticed me because you were so busy defending your client." He said.
I was shocked. "Wow. Kelan iyon?" I asked.
"It was like 6 months ago."
I just nodded. Wow.
I grabbed my wine. Silence filled the air.
He suddenly spoke, "Paano kaya kung lumaban tayo dati..."
Nagulat ako sa bigla nyang sinabi.
"Achi." Tawag ko sakaniya.
Maybe it's time. "When we broke up, the feelings never faded. When we enter senior high, it was still you. But I can't just tell you that because you were so happy with Madeline. When we enter college, I went to Canada to study, then you stayed in Philippines. I was about to confessed but I said I will go back in Philippines after years and doon nalang ako mag co-confess." I sighed. "But when I went back home, in Philippines... Walang Achi na nagpakita. Turns out, nasa London ka na pala." I added.
"Achi, I still love you. It takes me 14 years to confess to you... But everything is too late." I said.
"No... No. It's not too late, Diana." He said.
Lumapit siya saakin. He caressed my cheeks.
"I am getting married, Achi..." I said.
He frozed. "Kasi sabi mo nun... Nung nakipag hiwalay ka, sabi mo hindi mo na ako mahal. At hindi na kita napapasaya. Sino naman ako para pigilan ka sumaya, 'di ba? So I let you go... Because that's for the best." I tried not to cry. "And when I saw you so happy with Madeline, those smiles... I saw those a million times when you were with me, but it's just sad kasi sa iba na. Iba na iyung dahilan kung bakit ka nakakangiti ng ganun kaganda. But you know, Achi, thank you. Thank you for letting me love you. Thank you for being my greatest love..." I said and smiled at him.
He is smiling and... crying. "I was a fool back then. I know you are still the one... But I was just too scared to hurt you, na baka hindi ko mabigay iyung future na deserve mo. Sabi ko, kapag okay na lahat, kapag secure na, babalikan kita, ibibigay ko lahat ng gusto at kailangan mo, ituturing kita bilang mundo ko. But when I get back to Philippines, to win you back... Bigla kong nalaman na ikakasal ka na pala. At sa kapatid ko pa." He was a crying mess. I hugged him.
"Let's be together in the next life, Achi... Please. I love you... But this is for the best... Baka nga hanggang dito na lang tayo." I said and kissed his hand. "You will be my forever greatest love, Achileas Stavros." I added.
"For the last time, in the worst time... I will forever remember and love you, Diana Rosé." He said and we get back to our knees and walked away in different paths.
I, Diana Rosé and Achileas Stavros, are now signing off.
