Just the start (One-shot compilations)

Chances

Story posted: August 21, 2014

In the end, we only regret the chance we didn't take.

"Baby, nasaan ka na? Nandito na ako sa labas ng department niyo kanina pa." napasapo ako sa noo ko ng wala sa oras. Paano ko nakalimutan na susunduin niya ako? Naku naman. 

"Baby, I'm so sorry. Nakalimutan ko kasi nagmamadali ako dahil gusto ko ng matapos ang thesis ko. I'm sorry." napakagat ako sa labi ko. Tumingin ako sa wall clock ko na nasakabit sa itaas ng pinto at napamura na lang sa isip ko. 5 na ng hapon at ang uwian niya ay 2 kaya kanina pa siya nandoon pero bakit ngayon lang siya tumawag? Huwag muna ako tawagan, okay? Lalabas naman ako eh. Baka maistorbo pa ang klase. Inuntog ko ang sarili ko sa dulo ng kama ng maalala ko ang sinabi ko sakanya noong isang araw.

"No, it's fine. Uuwi na lang ako." malaumanay niyang sabi. Hindi siya nagalit. Hindi siya nagtanong pa. Kaya napangiti na lang ako. Kaya mahal ko ang boyfriend ko eh.

"Text mo ako kapag nakauwi ka na, huh? I love you."

"I love you more." nakangiting binaba ko ang phone ko saka muling nagsimula sa thesis. 

Nagulat ako ng biglang magvibrate ang phone ko habang nagsusulat ako ng conclusion. Napatingin ako sa phone ko at nakita kong nagtext na si Ghio. 

Baby: Hi baby! I just got home.

Me: Really? Good then.

Binaba ko na 'yung phone ko pero wala pang isang minuto nagring nanaman ito.

Baby: How are you? Me? I'm so happy today!

Me: Good for you. Wait. I'll text you later. Busy pa ako sa thesis baby. Mamaya na lang okay?

Ibaba ko pa lang sana ang phone ko ng magring nanaman ito. Argh! How can I finish my thesis when he's pestering me?

Baby: Can you do it later? Le's talk first, please? Hindi kita nakita maghapon and I miss you so much baby.

Me: I have to finish this tonight because the submission is tomorrow afternoon and it can't be late, you know that right?

Baby: Just this once baby, please? You can finish that tomorrow morning and I'll help you.

Nagulat ako sa text niya at agad uminit ang ulo ko. HOW SELFISH!

Me: What? Alam mo ba ang hinihingi at sinasabi mo? This is my project! It's a thesis!! A key to my graduation and you just told me to stop doing it because you're having this some issues about your happy day!! You want me to listen to you? Well, you listen to me first. THIS IS MY LIFE AND PLEASE STOP TEXTING ME! 

Hindi ko na hinintay ang reply niya at hinagis ko na ang phone ko sa kama saka pinagpatuloy ang paggagawa ng thesis ko. Napatingin muna ako sa cellphone ko saka muling nagsulat. Nakakaguilty pero kung hindi ko iyon gagawin babagsak ako at parehas kaming mahihirapan. Mamaya ko na lang siya itetext.

Finafinalize ko na ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Hindi ko ito pinansin pero ayaw tumigil kaya agad ko itong kinuha.

What the!? 10 messages and 3 missed calls. Get a life! Agad kong binasa ang mga text niya.

Baby: I'm so sorry baby. I love you so so so much. I'll just text you later.

Baby: Hi baby. I know you already told mo to stop texting you but I can't stay that long not to text you. I just wanted to talk to you... I'm sorry I just want us to be happy again please forgive me.

Baby: Hi baby. I still got no response from you. How's your thesis?

Baby: Are you okay? Please text me I'm kinda worried.

Baby: Baby, it's already past 9 and you're still not respondng to me. I miss you already. I love you so much!

Baby: Uhmm.. baby I love you so much and I'm always here for you. The time is almost up but we'll always be together.

Baby: I love you and I'll never get tired of saying that to you every minute of my life.

And goes on and on. I found it sweet at the same time annoying. Siguro kung hindi ko ginagawa ang thesis ko baka kiligin na talaga ako pero.. I hit reply.

Me: Didn't I tell you taht I'll text you after I am done with my thesis? Can't you understand? Why is it so hard for you to understand that I'm busy and I'll text you after? What in the word 'busy' you don't understand? We have tomorrow. You're overreacting! WILL YOU JUST SLEEP??!

Baby: Sorry baby. I love you and I'll always be here to guide. I promise I'll never leave you. I'm just here for you. i love you.

Hindi na ako nagreply at tinapos ko na ang thesis ko.

Nagising ako ng biglang tumunog ang alarm clock ko. Nakatulog na pala ako kagabi pagkatapos kong gawin ang thesis ko. Hindi ko na natext si Ghio. Nag-ayos na muna ako saka siya tinext.

Me: Goodmorning baby. I'm sorry about my attitude last night and for all that I've said. I'm just too busy. Wake up and eat your breakfast I'm off to school now.

Tapos na ang una namaing subject pero hindi parin siya nagrereply. Baka nagalit kasi hindi ko na siya nareplayan kagabi. 

Me: Hey, why are you still not texting me? Are you still in your bed? Get up. You have classes to attend too. Do you skip your class? Are you angry at me? I'm sorry. Please text me back.

Hindi parin siya nagrereply kaya naman pumunta na ako sakanila pagtapos ng next class namin. Bumukas ang pinto at sumalubong sakin si tita na iyak ng iyak. Bigla akong kinabahan lalo na nung niyakap niya ako.

"He's gone. He left us. He left you. Your boyfriend left you." hindi ako nakapagsalita sa sinabi ni tita. Nanigas ako sa narinig ko. Left? Gone? Boyfriend? Sunod-sunod na pumatak ang luha ko.

"Didn't he tell you? He's 3 years sick at binigyan na siya ng taning at ito na ang huling taon na iyon. Noong una hindi kami naniwala kasi naman sinong tao ang nakakaalam kung kailan mamatay ang isang tao hindi ba? But to our suprise his heart didn't make it too. We tried to wake him up this morning but he di-din't respond." hindi ko alam kung paano pa ako nakakahinga sa sinasabi ni tita. Parang sasabog na ako sa sobrang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Pinapasok ako ni tita sa kwarto ni Ghio saka binigay skain ang phone niya at umalis na. Pupunta pa raw sila sa hospital. Hindi muna ako sumama dahil hindi ko alam kung kaya ko na.

Tiningnan ko lang 'yung phone ng ilang minuto saka ito napagdesisyunan na buksan. Tiningnan ko ang messages at nandito pa ang text ko sakanya kaninang umaga. Binuksan ko ang conversation namin at hindi ko na napigilan ang hagulgol ko ng makita ko ang failed messages niya sana para sa akin kagabi.

Take care of yourself always, I'm happy where I am going  so please, don't cry I hate it when I saw you crying. It's breaking me into pieces. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my condition I don't wan't to bother you because I know how busy you are with your thesis I don't wanna add up to your worries I'm not sure if I'm lucky enough to still have a chance to wake up tomorrow but I'm always praying that He'll give me a chance to see you and be with youeveryday of my life. I love you so much. I regret that we didn't have achance to talk longer today but I understand you, you might fail on your thesis if you won't be able to finish it I'm really really sorry and I love you very very much. Please, promise me you'll be strong I'm by your side now I'll always be here.

_______________________________________

This story is inspired by a short story that I've read in facebook. Credits to the owner of the gif and video at the multimedia side. Vote and comment will be super highly appreciated. God bless!