i'll Learn to Love Again

EPILOGUE

"The Last Goodbye"

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ARA
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"Anak ano? ready kana ba for tomorrow?"
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Sabi ni mama habang nag iimpake kami ng mga damit dito sa dati naming bahay kung saan siya tumutuloy simula nung umuwi aiya dito gawa ng naaksidente ako. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at ewan ko ba pero pakiramdam ko hindi tama ang desisyon kong pag - alis ng bansa. Lalo na't may mga tao akong nasaktan.
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***Flashback***
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"Bes totoo ba?!"
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Padabog na sigaw ni daks pagkapasok niya ng kwarto namin sa dorm at halatang tumakbo dahil magulo ang buhok niya, kasalukuyan akong nag aayos ng gamit ko. "Ano?! sumagot ka!" pagalit niyang sigaw pero di ko siya magawang sagutin.
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Naramdam kong bahagyang lumubog yung unahang parte ng kama ko si daks nakaupo sa harapan ko. "Bes" panimula ko "Sorry pero this is for the best, eto nalang ang naiisip kong paraan para mawala lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon" sabi ko habang umaagos ang mga luha ko.
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"H-hindi k-ko n-na a-alam bes," sabi ko habang humihikbi "K-kung b-bakit k-kailangan ko pa maranasan to" sabi ko sabay punas ng mga luhang ayaw paawat sa pag agos gamit ang kaliwang braso ko. "Ang sakit sakit na kasi eh" sabi ko saka ko sinakop ng mga palad ko ang mukha ko saka umiyak.
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Naramdaman ko namang may bisig na yumakap mula sa harapan ko ng ilibot ko ang tingin ko andito na lahat ang mga bullies at si bes ang nakayakap sakin ilang araw naring kaming hindi nag papansinan dahil sa lihim na pilit kong tinatago.
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"Bes, ano ba kasi talagang nangyari?" bungad ni bes sakin habang yakap ako "Oo nga arabebe ano ba kasing nangyari?" tanong ni cams napapikit ako at nagdadalawang isip kung sasabihin ko sakanila ang totoo.
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"DaughterF pano ka namin tutulungan kung di mo kayang sabihin samin ang totoong nangyari? hindi ka naman matatakot na sabihin ang totoo kung wala ka talagang kasalanan diba?" napadilat ako bigla ng marinig ko ang boses ni MotherF na nakabihis pa ng office attire niya.
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"MotherF!" sabi ko at bigla siyang lumapit samin ni daks at niyakap ako "Group Hug!!!" sigaw ng bullies at ng iba kong team mates.
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"Now Spill" seryosong sabi ni MotherF naka upo kaming lahat ngayon sa kwarto. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at kumpleto kaming lahat.
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Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsalita "Yung tungkol sa pag - alis ko, yes totoo yun, 3days from now aalis na kami ni mama papuntang italy," sabi ko at nakita kong nalungkot naman ang mga mukha nila.
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"Eh yung sa inyo ni Torres, yung narinig kong sinabi ni Gab na niloko mo lang daw siya?" singit ni Carol, "Oo nga arabella totoo ba yun? hindi kasi kapanipaniwala eh diba?" singit naman ni Kimmy at tumango naman ang ibang spikers.
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"So ano ba talagang nangyari daks? Ang tagal ko ng gustong malaman ang totoo kasi pilit kitang pinagtatanggol kay Je kasi bespren niya yung taong nagsasabing niloko mo, pero di ko alam kung pano at saan dahil wala ka namang sinasabi" dagdag ni daks na ngayoy nakatingin sakin, lahat sila nakatingin sakin at naghihitay ng sagot sa mga tanong nila.
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"Kasi---" panimula ko "Ako I know exactly what happened" napalingon kaming lahat sa pintuan at nagulat kami ng nakita namin si Ate Mich. "Ate Mich?" gulat kong sabi at ngumiti ito ng pagkalaki laki at yumakap sakin.
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"Oo baby Ara alam ko ang nangyari," umpisa niya "Pero gusto ko, sayo nila mismo marinig" sabi niya at tumingin ako ng diretso sa mata niya at tumango naman siya sakin na nagsasbabing I got your back.
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***Flashback 2.0***
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A month after ko makalabas ng hospital, may unknown number na nagtext sakin at sabi niya Meet me at Café Bene libis at 4 o'clock habang naglalakad ako papuntanh agno dahil nagugutom ako tinignan ko ang wrist watch ko 2:30 palang.
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Text Convo:
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Me: Who's this and why should I go?
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Unknow: We need to talk, it's about your relationship with my son.
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Bigla akong napatigil sa paglalakad ng mareceive ko ang huling text niya. Nanginig bigla ang mga kamay ko at hindi ko alam kung itetext ko pa ba muntik ko ng mabitawan ang phone ko ng magring ito.
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Phone Convo:
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Me: H-hello?
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Caller: H-hello is this Ara?
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Me: Y-yes po, sino sila?
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Caller: It's victorino torres, thomas's dad I wanna to talk to you in person, i'll wait you here in cafe bene libis until 4:00pm.
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Me: P-per--(call ends)
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Eto naba yung sinasabi ni Papa na mag - ingat ako sa daddy ni Thomas? Pero bakit parang ang gulo, siguro ito ang sagot sa tanong na bumabagabag sa isip ko ng matagal na panahon na, bakit biglang umayaw ang Daddy ni Thomas sa arranged marriage namin.
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@Café Bene, Libis : 3:30pm
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Pagpasok ko sa coffee shop ay agad kong nilibot ang tingin ko, wala akong idea kung anong itsura ng daddy ni Thomas, pero siguro may resemblance naman ang mag ama.
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"Ah miss ara galang?" sabi nung isang crew sa shop "Yes po bakit?" tanong ko naman sakanya "This way po," sabi niya at inakay ako sa may dulong table kung saan may lalaking nakatalikod at nag babasa ng dyaryo habang nag kakape.
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Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang papalapit kami ng papalapit sa taong yun, "Ahm, Mr. Torres," sabi nung crew biglang tumigil sa pagbabasa ang lalaking nasa harapan namin at unti unting binaba ang dyaryong tumatakip sa mukha niya, napalunok ako habang hinihintay ang reaksyon niya.
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"Thank you, you can leave now" pormal na sabi nito at tumango at ngumiti naman ang crew na naghatid sakin "Take a seat if you want, I dont mind if you'll stand up the whole time that were gonna talk" sabi nito sabay hawak sa dyaryo at mulang binuklat nito.
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Intimidated, at natatakot yan ang nararamdaman ko ngayon habang nakaupo kaharap ang taong pinagbinalaan ako ni Papa na mag ingat sakanya.
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"Good after--"
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"So how are you and my son?" sabi neto habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo "A-ah eh okay naman po" sabi ko hindi talaga ako komportable nakakatakot siya kausap.
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Tumango tango naman ang daddy ni Thomas "Do you love him?" tanong niya ulit "Y-yes po" sagot ko tumango ulit siya "Does he loves you?" tanong niya ulit muntik akong mahulog sa kinauupuan ko ng tanungin niya sakin yun.
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"Y-ye--"
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"I dont think so," pag putol niya sa sasabihin ko "P-po?" tanong ko at tumawa naman ang taong nasa harapan ko. Binaba niya ang dyaryong kanyang binabasa saka tumingin ng diretso sakin.
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"You know what Ms. Galang your dad and I are used to be good friends" panimula niya saka humigop ng kape "Until I found out that you are his second family" pagkasabi niya nun para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig at pakiramdam ko inapakan niya ang pagkatao ko,
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"Well I do like your mom she's nice and she is a friend of mine as well" sabi niya ulit "Pero alam mo hija, kung tutuusin lang if its not that my company needs help that time, I wouldnt have agreed to that stupid idea" sabi niya ulit na ikinagulo ng isip ko nahalata niyang naguguluhan ako sa reaksyon ko at bahagya siyang natawa at umiling iling lang habang nilalapag ang tasang iniinuman niya,
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"Ok"Okay to make it clear, It was your fathers idea that if he will help our company you and thomas will get married" sabi niya sabay tawa yung tawang nakakainis "But I learned that Lorie your dad's first wife has been looking for him, of course I wont just sit alone and have my son pay and save my own company which is going to be his someday, so I have to make own move" sabi niya sabay higop sa kape niya.
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"H-how c-can you do this to my dad?" nagpipigil kong sabi "I-i t-thought you were friends?" medyo nakakainis na yung mga naririnig ko sa papa ni thomas ha, biglang sumeryoso yung mukha niya.
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"Yes, we were friends" sabi niya sabay lingon sa labas "Until I found out the scheme he was up to" sabi niya sabay tingin sakin ng diretso sa mata.
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"A-a scheme?" nagtataka kong sabi "h-hindi magagawa ng papa ko yun" buong tapang kong sabi sa papa ni Thomas na ikinatawa naman niya.
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"Oh victonara tama nga si Thomas, you will defend that person who's near your heart and I totally adore that" sabi niya sabay ngiti sakin "But your dad was a very wise man, if ever that you and thomas will be married our companies share will be put under your name and of course I dont wanna do that, so I think of a plan because i've already signed up with that contract" sabi niya sabay himas sa baba niya, bawat bitaw niya ng salita nakaka-kaba at mas lalong tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko sa mga nalalaman ko.
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"So I looked for your dad's legal wife, Lorie and asked her if she wants to know where your dad is right now," huh? si tita lorie "so she said that she wants to know, but of course on a businessman's way do not give your ace not unless there is a king at stake, so I asked her if she knew someone that can help our company on a reasonable way, and thats where the Reyes Group of Companies came into the picture" sabi niya sabay ngiting tagumpay.
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"You're willing to let your son marry a girl that he barely know and he doesnt love at all?" sabi ko with frustration hindi hindi maari to, "Haha clever girl, but you were wrong Fernando Reyes, Chane's my son's future wife her grandfather is my dad's bestfriend and when they found out that our company needs help they didnt even think twice to lend out a hand without anything in return, " he said confidently sabay ngiti.
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"Eh yun naman po pala eh, bakit nasangkot pa po si Thomas dito? eh wala naman po palang kapalit saka si Chane --" tanong ko pakiramdam ko di na ako makakatagal sa mga naririnig ko "Well just to let you know hija, Chane is my son's ex - girlfriend, Thomas broke up with her kasi she's gonna continue her studies in the states na and my son cant accept that but now she's back you cant stop them" sabi niya biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko sa narinig ko, a-akala ko ako ang una ni Thomas? p-pero.
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"P-pero pano po yun eh diba? --"
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"As I expected you'll gonna ask that question," sabi niya sabay higop ng kapeng kaka serve lang sakanya "Well I should thank your tita lorie because of her, I got an excuse to get out of that stupid contract, when you and thomas was involved on that accident 11 years ago, it was the time that I already signed up the contract with Chane's dad regarding the merging and the arranged marriage with Thomas so after it happened I blamed your dad for the negligence that happened and I told him that Im going to cancel the contract because of what happened" sabi niya sabay ngiti.
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"I thought everything was going in my way so Jane, Thomas and I flew to the US to have my son recovered, but when he woke up, he cant remember anything I thought that it was a blessing in disguise but two days after he kept on asking for you, but the good thing is he cant remember your face and he know you as Ara so I asked for a favor with your dad and lorie to ask if we can use your step sister Arra as a replacement for you because victoria hid you for a long time so your dad agreed that until Thomas finish his studies in highschool they will keep Arra away from him so Chane can step in, but I was wrong Thomas already regain his memories and he knows everything that happened 11 years ago and he wont accept chane because you're already his girlfriend that time." may inis niyanh sabi grabe hindi ko na kaya ang mga naririnig ko.
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"So I asked your sister Arra if she wants Thomas back and she agreed, but I guess it was a wrong move and lorie was blaming me for it so I talked to my friend who's a doctor in san diego to take care of Arra, poor girl I told her not to let her emotions take control of her tsk tsk" sabi niya sabay higop ng kape.
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"Thats it!" sabi ko sabay tayo na ikinagulat naman niya "I'm going to sue you and your dirty schemes, we'll see you in court mr. torres" sabi ko at akmang tatalikod na para lumabas ng coffe shop.
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"And who do you think that they will believe you?" sabi niya na nagpatigil sakin sa paglalakad "Si papa" sabi ko ng buong tapang pero tumawa siya ng malakas, na nakakuha ng atensyon ng ibang tao.
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"Dont make me laugh ms. galang, you think that I will lay those plans without having an Ace card in my hand in case these types of situations will come?" sabi niya "At ano naman yang bala mo ha? well whatever it is wala na akong paki alam" sabi ko sakanya at nilakasan ko ang loob kong tumalikod at akmang lalakad na para hindi ako maiyak sa harapan niya.
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"Well, rememer that accident that you and your step sister was involve to?" biglang nanigas ang mga binti ko sa narinig ko "What now?" sabi ko sakanya at tumawa ulit siya "You really are brave girl, so much of arturo's fighting spirit" sabi niya sabay turo dun sa pwedto kung saan ako nakaupo kanina"Sit down i'll tell you, I dont want my guest to stand up the whole time that i'm doing my story telling" sabi niya at parang tangang kusang lumakad ang mga paa ko at saka ako umupo sa pwesto ko kanina.
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"Good girl" sabi niya sabay ngiti "Now to continue I your dad is so hard to deal with, I was trying to cancel the contract but he doesnt want to because you are already in a relationship with my son, so when that accident happened involving the both of you, an idea came into my mind that I can use it to blockmail your dad of course, if it leaks out in the public he's image will be stained for negligence and of course he's family friendly Home and Condo's will be going down as he promotes a family that goes home together stays together, so if it leaks out that he has two family Montemayor Industies Inc. will go down, and of course he doesnt want that to happen so I came back after he said yes and now everythings according to my plan" sabi niya sabay ngiti.
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"A-ang s-sama mo.." yun lang ang nasabi ko at mangiyak-ngiyak na ako sa mga naririnig ko "Hija, sorry kung nadamay pa kayo pero I cant just let my company to die, peroif your dad was an easy man to deal with, we dont have any problems right now, but I guess it was destined to happen" sabi niya sabay higop ulit ng kape.
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"Tapos kanaba mag kwento? may kailangan kapa?" tanong ko sakanya at naputol ang pag-higop niya ng kape "Yes actually hija, " sabi niya sabay tingin sakin at may dinudukot sa wallet niya at inilipag ito sa mess ano yun? r-recorder ba yun?
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"I want you to stay away from my son, I want you to break up with him, I want you to leave him alone" sabi niya ng seryoso "N-no hindi ko magagawa yan, hinding hindi excuse me pero may thesis pa po akong tatapusin," sabi at isinusukbit ang bag ko pero bago pa man din ako makatayo.
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"Well think of this, if you wont agree to my request, expect that tomorrow your dad will be on the front page of every news paper here in the entire philippines, and of course it will include you, your mom, lorie, natalie and that poor arra it will be a big scandal and all of your careers will be ruined" sabi niya sabay tingin sakin "Imagine that Ara Galang a bastard of the famous Arturo Montemayor, I cant even imagine what would be the reaction the of your fans and everyone" sabi niya sabay ngiti sakin
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"Be brave and you what you know it's your choice but once its out, take the risks, be the one to blame, and be hated by those jobless people in your company after this." sabi niya sabay ngiting wagas 'di ko na alam ang gagawin ko sa mga oras na yun kung susundin ko ang puso ko pamilya ko ang apektado kung isip ko ang susundin ko ako lang ang masasaktan.
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Sorry Thomas, please forgive me for doing this. Sabi ko sa isip ko at napapikit ako, at ramdam ko ang pag - agos ng luha sa mga mata ko.
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"Sige i'll accept your deal basta promise me that you'll give me those files and those flash drives and everythig will be deleted" sabi ko kailangan kong makasigurado at tumawa naman si tito victorino sa kondisyon ko "What's so funny?" sabi ko at sabay punas ulit ng luha.
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"You really are a Montemayor, smart and wise just like your dad, too bad your sister Arra wasnt able to get that mentality" sabi niya sabay abot sakin ng atachi case at binuksan ko ito andun lahat ng files kompleto totoo nga yung sinabi ni papa na once you agreed on a deal with him his fully confident that you cant say no to his favor.
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"And now.."
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Sabi niya sabay dasog ng recorder sakin nanginginig kamay kong inabot ito "Relax hija I want you to sound natural ayokong makahalata ang anak ko" he said seriously I just glared at him and he laughed at me.
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I press the record button "B-bakit mo hihiwalayan si T-thomas? h-hindi m-mo ba mahal ang anak ko?" nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya masyado siyang sigurista, ng tinitigan ko lang siya ay sumenyas siya na magsalita ako sabay abot ng papel na may script "I-im sorry po tito, n-nakakahiya man po pero o-opo a-ayoko pang umibig pero makulit siya sinubukan ko lang naman kung totoo nga yung love pero ayaw ko talaga sakanya I just used him as a subject for that experiment" sabi ko pinilit kong maging natural kahit umaagos na yung luha sa mata ko.
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"Well in that case you'll be no good to my son, stay away from him now on!" grabe best actor na tong tatay ni Thomas nakakapang galit "O-opo t-tito makaka asa po kayo at sorry ulit, bukas na bukas po hihiwalayan ko na si Thomas" pagkatapos kong sinabi yun kinuha niya yung recorded saka pinindot yung stop at saka ngumiti. Ngiting tagumpay.
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"Tapos na masaya kana?!!" sigaw ko sakanya habang umiiyak wala na akong pakialam "Yes, but I wanna make sure that you'll break up with my son tomorrow or else.." sabi niya sabay ayos ng neck tie niya "Nice doing business with you Ms. Galang you can go back now to finish your thesis" sabi niya sabay tayo at labas ng coffee shop na parang walang nangyari.
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***End of Flashback 2.0***
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"SERYOSO BA YAN ARA?!!"
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Sabay sabay na sabi ng mga team mates ko habang nagpupunas ng luha, tanging tango lang naisagot ko.
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"Sinabi mo na ba sa mama or sa pala mo ang tungkol dito?" tanong ni ate abi "Kay mama hindi lalong lalo kay papa never ko siyang mapapatawad sa ginawa niya never!" sagot ko sabay punas ng luha.
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"So tuloy na tuloy na ang alis niyo daks?" tanong ni bes na nakatingin sa malayo "Oo daks, sor--"
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"Hindi wag kang mag sorry sakin! wala lang naman ako sayo diba? bestfriends tayo ng 5years ara tapos ngayon ko lang malalaman na aalis kana pala kasi nag iimpake kana ng gamit mo? you're impossible! kalimutan mo ng may nagkakilala tayo!" sigaw ni yeye sabay takbo palabas ng pinto ako naman parang binagsakan ng langit at lupa. Una si Thomas ngayon naman si Yeye?
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Hinintay kong magbalik si Yeye hanggang magmadaling araw pero hindi siya bumalik, alas kwatro na ng umaga kailangan ko ng umuwi dahil mag aayos pa kami ng gamit ni mama kaya nag paalam nalang ako kina ate abi at sa ibang spikers at sinabing sila nadaw bahala kay yeye. Pero nag iwan ako ng sulat para sakanya.
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