Paradise (Book One)

Someone Like You

I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now.
I heard that your dreams came true.
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
I'll remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

You know how the time flies
Only yesterday was the time of our lives
We were born and raised
In a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
I'll remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Nothing compares
No worries or cares
Regrets and mistakes
They are memories made.
Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
I'll remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead".

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
I'll remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

 
 
Back to "Breathe Easy"...
 
"Gerald?"
 
Lumingon siya sa tumawag sa kanya.
 
"Hey, Cristine!"
 
"You're drinking alone?"
 
"Yeah. My friends just left. Ikaw, may kasama ka?"
 
"Yeah, my girl friends. We're having an "all-girl" night adventure. Ikaw, what's with an "all-alone" party?"
 
Itinuro ni Gerald ang pinapanood niya.
 
Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ni Cristine sa nakita. "Can I join you in your misery?" tanong nito pagkatapos.
 
"You're most welcome."
 
At nagkuwentuhan sila habang patuloy ang walang humpay na pag-inom.
 
Pagkaraan lang ng ilang minuto, "You know what, we're acting like fools here. Bakit ba natin masyadong pinapahirapan ang sarili natin? Tara, let's go somewhere else," yaya ni Cristine.
 
"Ohhkay," nagpatianod na lang si Gerald.
 
Sa sobrang kalasingan niya, hindi na siya makatayo ng maayos. Ngayon lang niya naramdamang lango na pala siya sa alak.
 
"Eh lasing ka na naman pala eh. Tara na, uwi na lang tayo." And Cristine tried to help Gerald. "Ang bigat mo naman! Teka lang, you wait here. I'll get help."
 
"Ohkay." Isinandala niya ang ulo sa sofang inuupuan.
 
"Asher...." ungol niya.
 
Pati ba naman sa pagpikit niya, mukha pa rin ng babae ang makikita niya?
 
Nakatulog yata siya sa paghihintay na bumalik si Cristine dahil ang sumunod na lang niyang naalala, may anghel na humaplos sa mukha niya. Ang kanyang anghel, si Asher.
 
"Ih lohve yhou, bhhabe!' nakangiti niyang sabi sa kaharap niya.
 
At pumikit siya para namnamin sana ang haplos ng angel pero wala na siyang maalala pa kundi ang pakiramdam na may umaakay sa kanya papunta sa kung saan.
 
Nagising siya kinaumagahan na parang pinupukpok ng martilyo ang ulo niya. Pero hindi niya ininda ang sakit. Wala na siyang nararamdamang sakit. Tuluyan na siyang naging manhid.
 
Bumangon siya at naupo sa gilid ng kama. Si Asher pa rin ang unang pumasok sa isipan niya.
 
"...Asher is the target as his future wife..."
 
Future wife. She'll be a future wife but not his future wife. Someone else's.
 
Future. There's no more future for him. Asher was his future, but was taken from him because of his stupidity and greed for revenge.
 
He has to make a decision about his future.
 
He's letting her go.
 
She found someone new, even considering getting married, so that means she's happy with her current love.
 
Paano siya?
 
He'll get by. And if he's lucky, he'll have someone like her. He will look for someone like her.
 
And then he cried. For the first time since his father died, he cried hard. Nakasubsob ang mukha sa palad, he poured out all his emotions by crying.
 
Parang yung panahon na inihahatid niya ang ama sa libingan nito, ang bigat sa dibdib. But this time, its his future being buried. His life going six feet under, or deeper.
 
Ilang sandali pa siyang nanatiling nakaupo sa gilid ng kama.
 
After a while, he stood up, took a quick shower and brushed his teeth. He did not even bother shaving. Took the first set of clothes he saw from his cabinet, put them on, searched for his car keys and left his condo.
 
But once he was in his car, he stopped. He started the engine, but did not go. Napasubsob siya sa manibela.
 
"Die, Gerald! Just die!" sigaw niya sa sarili.
 
Saan ba siya pupunta? Ah, he doesn't care anymore.
 
"Ganyan nga pareng Gerald. Sabi ko naman sa yo, bata, ikamamatay mo lang yang lintik na pag-ibig na yan. Kung naghiganti ka na lang, eh di sana ngayon nagsi-celebrate ka na! Nagsi-celebrate tayo. Pero di bale, nabigo ka naman, kaya nasa akin ang huling halakhak! Bwaahahaha!!!"
 
"Gerald, don't lose hope. Huwag mong hayaang kainin ka ng guilt feeling mo. Ang kailangan mong gawin ay kausapin si Asher. Lakasan mo lang ang loob mo. Mahal ka niya at maiinitindihan ka niya."
 
"No, she won't. She'll hate me more and I don't want to see that hatred in her eyes," sunud-sunod na pag-iling niya.
 
"Tama ka, p're. She'll hate you pag nalaman niya ang lahat. Kaya tama ang desisyon mo. Kaya tara na, let's enjoy your freedom!"
 
Nagising siya sa katok sa bintana ng kanyang kotse.
 
"Sir, okay lang po kayo?"
 
"Ha?....Yeah. Salamat."
 
"Eh sorry po. Ang tagal nyo kasing naksubsob diyan. Akala ko may nangyari na sa inyo."
 
"Wala. I'm okay, salamat sa concern, Mang Paulo." sagot niya sa guwardiya ng building.
 
"Sige po, sir." At umalis na ang guwardiya.
 
Gerald put the gear to drive mode, pressed his foot at the accelerator and off he went to celebrate his death.