Univeristy Confessions 2

[UST FW]

#USTFreedomWall24307

Hi po, gusto ko lang ishare what may be the saddest love story I've ever heard. It was my tito's story. After hearing it, I asked if I could share it, he said go lang basta anonymous, so instead of posting it on twitter/fb I opted to post it here. It helps na lagi akong nagbabasa sa ust fw haha. I also omitted and edited some details in this story.  Warning lang kung ayaw niyo ng mahahabang kwento, or sad posts, skip this one nalang.

Nung bata pa si tito ko, sa probinsya nila, may kalaro siya na babae, around his age rin. Let's call her Shirley. Kwento ng tatay ko (magkapatid sila), they were practically inseparable. Mag best friends sila Kasama niyang kalaro palagi sa labas si Shirley. One day, nung nasa bayan sila, pumunta sila sa perya. May isang stall dun na may matandang manghuhula. They went in and naubos nila halos lahat ng kanilang baon pambayad sa matanda. Hinawakan niya ang palad nilang dalawa, and all she said was magiging masaya silang dalawa, then she cried. Kumuha siya ng rose sa vase na nasa table niya, then gave it to them without explanation. Then she asked them to leave, which they did. Back then daw, my tito says na they have no concept of love since bata pa sila, so they took it to mean na they'll be happy if they remained friends together. Sadly tho, it was not to last. Nag-migrate yung family namin from our province overseas, so di na sila nagkita ulit. Before they part, my tito gave her one half ng photograph nila ni tito and Shirley together. The half he gave her was him, para raw di makalimutan ni Shirley kung sino siya. They parted ways.

It would be years bago sila magkita ulit. They were students here in UST, and ever since first year college crush na raw nila ang isa't-isa. Shirley apparently was interested in my tito kasi he was fil-am and she liked his americanized accent; my tito liked her naman because she was funny and resembled a certain popular movie star in their time. Due to their mutual friends na lagi silang kinukulit, they eventually relented and started dating during their third year. They went on many dates but my tito would always say na the best dates are the simplest ones, nung tumatambay lang sila. Lagi raw silang nagkikita sa field, just hanging out and talking about life. Parehas nilang hindi maalala ang isa't-isa because it was a long time ago. My tito used to tell me na the mind may fade, but the heart will always remember. He insisted na until now, the happiest day of his life was when he found out she was Shirley, his forgotten best friend. It was during the time grad ball nila, nung sinundo niya sa bahay nila Shirley. Yung parents niya, they were the ones that recognized my tito. Ever since then, my tito always gave her one red rose pag valentines, or pag birthday niya, or pag anniversary nila; as their way of remembering yung ginawa ng manghuhula dati.

When they graduated, they promised to save up for 5 years before getting married. Unfortunately, it was not to happen. Kasi you see, one day, Shirley suddenly did not show up for work (same office sila nagttrabaho). . When my tito became worried because she wasn't answering sa pager niya, he decided to call sa bahay nila (At this time, shirley's living in her parent's house). Shirley's mother picked up, crying. She informed him na on the way to work that morning, a bus collided with Shirley's car.

There was nothing he could've done. My tito was devastated. At the time, 2 years nalang before their planned wedding. He attended the funeral, he stayed by her side until she was laid to rest. Shirley's father broke down beside him. He will never forget what he said to my tito. He thanked him for making her happy, and he would've wanted him as his son-in-law.

To this day, my tito loved Shirley all the way. He told me na Shirley loved him until the end, so he will do the same as well. He never married anyone. My dad told me na every year, on her death anniversary, my tito never fails to visit her grave. He used to meet yung parents ni Shirley, but five years ago they migrated abroad na rin, so recently siya nalang yung bumibisita sa kanya. And now na may pandemic, I guess he didn't get to visit.

My tito does not know if yung manghuhula ba saw their future, kaya she was crying that day. Or if it's all just an odd coincidence, But it doesn't matter anymore, sabi niya. What's important is that they met again, and they loved each other as much as they could.

So if ever na this pandemic ends and you find yourself at a certain cemetery, you might see a man all alone, visiting a certain grave. He'll bring out an extremely old photograph na may tape sa gitna. He'll light a candle and say a prayer, then leave behind exactly one red rose.

Submitted:  November 7, 2020 6:20:08 PM HKT