A Glimpse in Paradise

Prologue

Prologue

Before on my way here at school, I saw so many couples near the plaza. 'Yong iba, mga anak siguro ang kasama. Though I was a bit jealous of them. I never regretted any of my decisions in life. For me, it was my best choice.My last boyfriend was way back four years ago, five? I lost count maybe because I'm getting old asf!

"Good morning, ma'am."

"Good morning."

"Magandang umaga miss Carrel."

The first week of school again after summer and I was a bit devastated because of my new advisory, new pain in the ass students. They keep on ditching classes and I don't know what to do anymore.

"Class dismissed. Deritso uwi ha! Ayokong mag report na naman sa 'kin ang mga magulang ninyo kung 'di ko ba kayo natuturuan nang maayos o kung saan kayo nakakarating kahit class hours. Ano sila, reporter? Hala uwi na." I said after ko mag-sermon. First week pa lang ay nakaka-stress na!

I just realized how hot-headed I am. My mom expects too much from me in everything —love life included. But until now, I don't know. When they were asking me what happened almost five years ago, I just shrugged. Maybe it's my fate and I have no choice but to accept it.

Afternoon came...

"Ma'am Carrel, di ka pa ba uuwi?" tanong ni Miss Aga. 'Di pa ba obvious? Kung gusto ko'ng umuwi ay e 'di sana kanina pa! I smiled and shook my head. "Later ma'am. Mauna ka na. Ingat po," I replied. 'di ko sinabing mauna siya sa hukay ha! Charot.

Early dismissal ngayon dahil may practice ang mga junior high para sa mga clubs na sinalihan nila but I have lots of work to do kaya mamaya pa ako uuwi.

From afar, I saw some parents fetching their children. Ilang dipa lang naman kasi ang pagitan ng building ng school namin sa mga classroom ng mga pre-schools. Nice, 'di ba? Ang lapit! I felt so damn tired, so I decided to pack up my things and go home. I wanted to go to the mall, but I need to rest first. Kailangan ko rin ng pahinga. After work ay lumabas na'ko ng school. I was about to pull the handle of my car when I heard someone sobbing. Nang lumingon ako ay may nakita akong bata na umiiyak. I saw a child sitting right next to the corner, hugging the steel of the shed while crying. It's almost 5 in the afternoon. Nasaan ba mga magulang nito? Apaka uyaya ha! Kaya agad ko siyang nilapitan.

"Hi baby, stop crying," I said while kneeling and caressing his back.

I checked his I.D.

Val Isaac Vallejo.

Pakshit!

I can see Cyrus on him. Di kaya...omg NO!

"Baby, tahan na. Maybe your mom and dad are on their way here na. Stop crying na ha." but he couldn't stop crying.

"Daddy. I- I want t-to go home," he said while crying. He kept on calling his dad's name. After a while, I heard a car stopped by near us.

"OMG kiddo. I'm sorry." That voice.

I froze.

I didn't look back. Nakaluhod pa rin ako hanggang sa lumapit siya sa bata na panay ang iyak. Sa bilis nang tibok ng puso ko ay parang gusto ko na lang magpalamon sa lupa nang buhay. Bakit ngayon? Bakit ngayon pa? Kung kailan tanggap ko na ang lahat? Bakit ganoon, ano? Kung kailan nag-mo-move on ang isang tao, saka naman may bumabalik. Kaya nag exist ang mga marupok eh!

"Thank you," he said.

He touched my shoulder. "Miss, I'm sorry for..." Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin niya nang magka-titigan kaming dalawa dahil lumingon ako. We looked at each other for a while before he talked again. "..Carrel?" he asked. "Ikaw nga!" he added. Walang bahid nang gulat sa kaniyang mukha noong makita niya ako.. Putek naka move on na nga ang mokong. 'Yong siya naunang nagloko tapos siya pa naunang naka-move on! Hanep Lord ah!

Agad naman akong tumayo at inalis ang alikabok sa tuhod ko mula sa pagkakaluhod kanina."Hi." Pilit akong ngumiti. And he smiled, too, confidently while facing me. There are still some sort of things that aren't meant to change. He still smiles genuinely."Kamusta?" he asked. I just smiled and replied, "I'm okay. Doing fine, I guess? How about you?" I asked too but he didn't answer. He just shrugged instead.

"Kahawig mo siya." I complimented. Para silang pinagbiyak na bunga. Wala man lang bang nakuhang features yung bata sa nanay? O baka naman sa tatay ang mukha, sa nanay ang ugali? Hays 'wag naman sana ganoon ang ugali ng bata. Kawawa siya paglaki. He snapped his fingers on my face. "Hoy!" pukaw niya. Agad naman akong nakabawi sa pagkatulala. He still does that, huh? Shit.

"I said kamukha mo talaga siya," I reiterated. Unli ka te? He just smiled. Ginulo niya ang buhok ng bata tsaka nagpaalam sa'kin na aalis na sila. "It was nice, seeing you..again." sabay talikod papuntang sasakyan nila. I just nodded and merely smiled.

He acted like he didn't love me. He acted like he didn't hurt me. He acted so fine in front of me. Seeing him again after all these years made me reminisce our past. Andito pa rin pala 'yung sakit. Masakit palang makita siyang nasa iba. But seeing him happy with his own family, parang ayoko na lang sabihin sa kaniya ang totoo. Alam kong may karapatan din siya but that's not an excuse for me to forgive him and forget everything.

No. I can't.

Time changed him. Time changed us. So, since that day, he became someone I knew. Akala ko okay na 'ko. Akala ko lang pala. Since we broke up, I promised myself that I will never fall in love, ever.

TINATAGA KO SA BATO AT SA LAHAT NG SANTO. NA HINDING HINDI NA'KO MAGMAMAHAL NG KAHIT SINO, IKAMATAY MO MAN.

He deserves to know the truth. But, not now...