Chasing Mr. Right [Complete]

Fifty-ninth Chase

Because what Jasper said all those months ago was true. "That's the point. Pinanghahawakan mo 'yan tulad ng pagkapit mo sa inyo ni Kuya Zeke. That bracelet is the symbol of what you two had together. Let that gift go, and the next step is to let him go."  

"You know, when you gave me that bracelet six years ago? Nung December 24 noong third year high school ako. That night, sabi ko sa sarili ko, tayo na hanggang sa huli. We're unbreakable, kakayanin nating lagpasan lahat ng pagsubok na dadating sa'tin. And someday, we'll get married. That night, I imagined a future for us. And that bracelet is a symbol of what I felt that night. So I can't keep it." Tumango si Zeke.

"Do you regret that night?" Tahimik niyang tanong.

Agad akong umiling. "And I don't regret anything that happened between us, either."

"Even the messy, painful parts?"

"Even that. Even the times that I was chasing you. Even the times na nagpakagaga ako. Because I learned a lot from it. I grew up. I will never regret that you're my first love." Kasi, dahil sa pagmamahal ko kay Zeke, natuto ako kung ano ba yung tinatawag at kinababaliwan ng mga tao na 'love'. Natuto ako na dapat ipaglaban yung pagmamahal mo. Natuto ako na minsan hindi sapat yung pagmamahal lang, kailangan mo ring magtiwala sa taong mahal mo. That first never really dies, and your first love is irreplaceable. Pero magbabago yung puso. Matuto kang magmahal ng ibang tao, higit pa sa first love mo. And this time, you now know the right recipe for a successful relationship. Konting tiwala, konting pasensya, konting tapang, at maraming pagmamahal.

"You'll always be important to me, Charm." Zeke said sincerely.

"Like you are to me, Zeke."

"We're still friends, right?"

"Kung gusto mo pa."

"Syempre, gusto ko. Punta ka sa airport bukas pag-alis ko ah? Gusto kong magpaalam sa inyong lahat ng maayos sa pagkakataong 'to."

I nodded.

"Sige. Bye, Charm." He smiled na para bang alam niyang may iba pa kong hinahabol ngayon. He's still the same. Kilalang kilala pa rin niya ko. Alam pa rin niya kahit yung mga bagay na hindi ko sinasabi sa kanya.

I smiled and walked away.

5:54 pm, I ran again. As fast as I could. As hard as I could. I ran as if my life depended on it. I ran even though I hate running. Nagsimula nang umambon at nawala na kanina pa yung mga sapatos ko. Maputik na yung paa ko pero tumakbo pa rin ako.

6:09 pm, nine minutes after six. I was nine minutes late and he's gone. Wala nang tao sa amphiteather. Hindi ko na naabutan si Jasper doon.

Pagod na ko, madumi na at basa pa. But I can't stop right now. I can't give up. I won't give Jasper up. I may be too late pero hahabulin ko pa rin siya hanggang sa  maabutan ko siya.