He (COMPLETED)

He Existed

"Drake!" Binitawan ko muna ang maletang dala at malapad kong ibinuka ang mga braso para salubungin ng yakap si Que na tumatakbo papalapit sakin.

She was brightly smiling as she rushes towards me. I knew people were looking at us but I immediately tuned them out as soon as I inhaled my girlfriend's familiar scent.

Tatlong buwan rin kaming hindi nagkita dahil naging abala ako OJT ko. She was still on highschool, I know. I also understand that she's years younger than I am but her warmth filled my life with colors.

Nang mawala si Mama pakiramdam ko ay mag-isa na lang ako. Na wala nang iba pang tatanggap sakin, but Que was different.

She understands me.

She can see through me.

I kissed the top of her head as I felt her arms around me tightened.

"Namiss kita," ani niya habang nakasubsob ang mukha sa may dibdib ko. I chuckled as I gently pulled her away from me so that I can see her pretty face.

"I missed you too," bulong ko sa may tenga niya. Lumapad ang ngiti ko nang makita ang ngiting-ngiti niyang mga mata habang nakatingala sakin. Mahina kong kinurot ang pisngi niya bago siya inakbayan gamit ang isang braso habang hinahatak ang maleta ko sa isa.

"Where do you want to eat?" tanong ko sa kanya habang nakatayo kami sa may waiting area ng terminal. She just shrugged her shoulders before resting her head on my shoulder.

"Kahit saan," sagot niya. I smiled at her before nodding.

"Que?" sabay kaming napa-angat ng tingin mula sa pagkain nang marinig namin ang pangalan niya.

A tall boy, obviously her age stood beside her while smiling widely. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa girlfriend ko at agad na nakaramdam ng hindi maganda when I saw her smile back at him and even stopped eating as she stood up to face him properly.

"Red!" she called out with much enthusiasm.

"I didn't expect to see you here," ani ng lalaki bago bumagsak mabilis na dinaanan ako ng tingin atsaka muling binaling ang tingin kay Que nang may malapad na ngiti.

'She's cheating...'

'She's cheating...'

I shook my head to get that nagging voice out of my head. Lately ay madalas ko itong marinig lalo na kapag tumatawag ako kay Que at hindi niya nasasagot o kaya naman ay maririnig ko ang mga boses ng kaklase at kaibigan niya sa background.

She was enjoying her youth. I was trying to understand that, but today is our day. Ngayon na lang ulit kami nakapagkita pagkatapos ng ilang buwan.

"Que," tawag ko sakanya matapos ng ilang minuto nilang magkausap. I felt like she had forgotten about my existence as her attention was all drawn to this childish boy.

At mukhang doon lang ako natandaan ng girlfriend ko. She looked abashed as she turned to me. She reached for my hand before turning to that boy once again with a smile.

"Red, this is Drake, my boyfriend." The corners of my lips lifted as I saw how the boy's expression darkened after Que introduced me as her boyfriend.

"Boyfriend?" Que nodded before turning to look at me with a proud smile.

"Isn't he too old for you? Ilang taon na ba yan, Que?" Nakangisi ako nang abutin ko ang table napkin at ginamit iyon para punasan ang bibig ko bago tumayo at nakapamulsang hinarap ang binata.

"Drake," rinig kong awat ni Que bago ko naramdaman ang pagpulupot ng braso niya sa braso ko.

"Aren't you too young to talk back to me then?"

"Drake, enough. Red, aalis na kami." Ani Que habang pilit akong hinahatak papalayo sa table namin. I let her do it, pero nakakailang hakbang palang kami papalayo ay muli na namang nagsalita ang maangas na binatilyong iyon, and this time, hindi ko mapapatawad ang pang-iinsultong lumabas sa bibig niya.

"Sabagay, Que. Mas masarap nga naman kung experienced na ano?" I can hear my girlfriend screaming in fright and asking me to stop as I beat the hell out of this asshole!

How dare he talk like that to my woman?

No one can hurt Que. Especially not on my sight!

Not her family, not her friends, and most especially not assholes like him!

"Drake! Please!" Mabilis akong napabaling at nagmamadaling dinaluhan si Que nang aksidente ko siyang maitulak habang inaawat niya kami.

"Que, I—"

"Don't touch me!" tili niya habang pilit na tumatayo habang umiiwas sa hawak ko.

'You're losing her...'

I shook my head as that familiar voice resounded inside my brain again. Wala akong panahon para doon. Que was frigthened of me. Nasaktan ko siya!

"I told you to stop..." umiiyak niyang saad habang patuloy sa pag-atras palayo sakin. Sandali ko lang na nilingon ang mga staff na tinulungan ang lalaking duguan sa sahig.

"Que, let's talk this over—"

"Drake? Something wrong?" ilang beses akong kumurap bago tuluyang nag-sink in sakin ang lahat.

Was I daydreaming just now?

Que stared at me worriedly while the boy beside her stared at me curiously.

"I... I..." kinakapos sa hininga kong saad bago tuluyang tumalikod but I felt Que's hands on my wrist. Habol parin ang hininga na umikot ako paharap sakanya at pinilit na ngumiti.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong niya. Her eyes worriedly scanning my face. I nodded at her and held both of her shoulders firmly.

"I'm okay. I just... I... Restroom lang ako," ilang segundo niya pa akong tintigan bago tuluyang tumango.

"Okay... Are you sure you're okay? You look pale," she pointed out as she touch my cheeks. Wala sa sarili kong iniwas ang mukha ko, making her forehead creased.

"I'm fine. I'll be back in a minute,"

Nagmamadali akong naglakad papunta sa men's room ng restaurant at agad na inilock ang pintuan. Sandali pa akong sumandal sa likuran ng pintuan bago ako tuluyang lumapit sa may lababo at binasa ng tubig ang mukha para mahimasmasan kahit papaano.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago nag-angat ng tingin sa may salamin. But my eyes went wide as I immediately fell on the ground as soon as I saw whose reflection was on the mirror.

It was a reflection of my father staring back at me.