One More Yesterday (Minor Changes)

Chapter 27

A/N: Not revising, just minor changes. Can't salvage the story anymore. Read at your own risk. Author apologizes for bad taste, gender-insensitivity and misrepresentation

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It has been a long day for Kathryn. Kahapon ay umamin sa kanya ng pagmamahal si Dominic. She let him, dahil sa katuwiran na nais na niyang bigyan ng pagkakataon si Dominic. Or much more like, gusto niyang bigyan ang sarili ng pagkakataon. And Dominic was her chance of getting that. But now she's thinking if she made the right choice to let Dominic in. Because she knew in herself that it's not that easy. And she doesn't want to use Dominic.

She expelled a heavy breath before welcoming the sea breeze to her little arms. Kung sana lang nga ay ganun kadali ang bagong pagkakataon para sa kanya. Kung ang bagong pagkakataon lang na iyon ay si Dominic, she should've tried to love him the day he showed up in her house to comfort her about the break-up with Daniel. She should've tried to care for him beyond friendship, given that they've been best of friends for the last four years. Pero hindi. Hindi kahit kailan sa hinagap niya sinubukan ang mga bagay na iyon.

Dahil alam naman niya eh. Kahit kailan at kahit anong mangyari, si Daniel at Daniel pa rin ang mamahalin niya. It sounds stupid to everybody. Nasaktan na siya't umiyak ng paulit-ulit. Pero ang puso niya, paulit-ulit ding babalik kay Daniel.

Siguro, maraming hindi makakaintindi sa akin. Ang daming nagsasabing tatanga-tanga na lang ako. Naghihintay sa wala. Naghahanap ng batong ipupukpok sa ulo. Martir. Makasalanan at kung ano-ano pang tawag. But I just can't ignore this voice in my heart. I can't ignore everything that pulls me back to him. Hindi ko kayang talikuran ang pagmamahal na ito na nagbigay sakin ng kasiyahan, ng sakit, ng pag-asa, ng buhay.

And I know it's long gone, and that magic's not here no more,

And I might be okay, but I'm not fine at all.

Hanggang ngayon, sariwa pa rin sa alaala ni Kathryn ang lahat ng pinagdaanan nila ni Daniel. The rainy day cuddles. The late night conversations. The morning kisses. The soft lips on her breasts. The arguments. The tears. And all those times they run to each other back again. Those were great memories she can't bear to get rid and loose. They were too beautiful. They keep her intact and sated.

You taught me 'bout your past, thinking your future was me.

And that special memory in Subic. The night they went on for their last midnight trip. That special night they spent at the back of his SUV. The night they dreamed about their dreams. The night of their future. That special night she got engaged in her sleep. Inilabas ni Kathryn ang isang pulang kahon. Pinunasan niya ang iilang butil ng luha bago inilabas mula sa kahon ang isang kwintas.

Well, maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much,

But maybe this thing was a masterpiece 'til you tore it all up.

Sa bawat araw na dumadaan, nakabisado na ni Kathryn ang kwintas na iyon. The pendant glistened. It was her ring. A solitary diamond ring that defied all her fears. Pero kasabay din noon ay ang pagkawarak niya. Katulad ng pagwasak ni Daniel sa pangako niyang kasal sa kanya. It was a masterpiece. Their love was a masterpiece until things tore it all up.

But she kept the ring. Like how she kept the memories and how she kept the love.

Tumingala siya sa buwan at mga bituin. Tsaka ibinaba ang tingin sa kaliwang bahagi ng dalampasigan. And there she saw Daniel looking at her. She smiled and pocketed the necklace. Guess it's still the heart who wins by the end of the day.

'Cause there we are again, when I loved you so

Back before you lost the one real thing you've ever known

It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well.

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Hinanap ni Kathryn kung saan niya nakita si Daniel. Ang bilis naman mawala nun. She whispered noong hindi na niya makita sa pinagkitaan niya ang lalaki.

"Daniel?" she called. Hindi rin sila nakapagusap mula kahapon hanggang ngayon. Parehas silang busy sa mga takes at kung may libre man silang oras, palagi siyang hinihila ni Dominic sa kung saan. Kagabi naman sa kwarto, hindi na sila nagpang-abot. Nakatulog na siya bago pa man pumanik si Daniel at paggising niya ay wala na rin agad ito.

"Nasan naman kaya yung lalaking yun? Nakakastress ha." Hinawi-hawi niya ang mga halamang tumatabon sa daan. Nagsisimula na rin siyang kagatin ng mga lamok.

"Kathryn pumanik ka na sa kwarto." An earthly voice ordered. At first ay natakot si Kathryn pero nawala ito noong maaninag niya si Daniel, nakatayo di malayo mula sa kanya.

"Nandiyan ka lang pala." She walked towards him with a smile. "Hinanap kita eh. Bakit hindi na tayo sabay pumanik sa kwarto?"

Daniel hissed when her palm went around his wrist. Bumilis ang kabog ng puso niya. But he doesn't like it. "Hindi na Kathryn. mauna ka na doon." He said coldly.

"Sabay na tayo." Kathryn pouted as she pulled him. "Sige na please, Daniel?"

"Hindi na sabi!" His voice rose several tones. Agad niyang nakita ang gulat at takot sa mata ng dalaga. "Sige na Kathryn." Naguiguilty niyang sabi. Gusto niyang layuan ang dalaga. Pero ayaw niya itong matakot at masaktan sa proseso.

"Galit ka ba? May nagawa ba ako? O baka may problema ka, pwede akong makatulong." Subok uli ng dalaga.

"Hindi na Kathryn. Wag nang makulit. Pumanik ka na, hayaan mo muna akong mapag-isa dito." Layuan mo ako Kathryn. Kasi baka hindi ko makaya, bigla na lang itakbo. Baka itanan kita. Kasi hindi ko na yata kayang pigilan to.

"Pero kaibigan mo ako..." She held his hands again. Naramdaman niyang ikinuyom iyon ni Daniel.

"Layuan mo ako, Kathryn. Ano bang mahirap intindihin don?"

Tumalikod ang dalaga. She wiped a single drop of tear away.

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