The Candle of Love

Chapter 26: Don't Know

"Kailan balik mo ng Pinas?" tanong ko kay Dylan nang minsang bumalik ulit siya dito.

"Next week. Bakit?"

Tumango ako. "Sasabay ako."

Natigil siya sa pagla-laptop at tinignan ako.

"Magbabakasyon ka?"

"Hindi ko alam."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll try a career there, if it will continue, more likely, I'll stay there na lang."

"Broadcast media pa rin?"

"Of course."

Ngumiti siya. "Sure you'll get a career there?"

"Bakit hindi?"

"You have an accent now, Zeph."

"And so?"

"The main news language there is Filipino. Straight Filipino."

"What do you think of me? Hindi ako malansang isda 'no!"

Tumawa lang siya sa sinabi ko. Pero agad ding ulit nagseryoso.

"You sure about that? Pagbalik mo, hindi imposibleng makita mo ulit... siya."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "I know. Don't worry, Dy. Naka-move on na talaga ako. It's been years already."

He smirked. "What about Blaine and Alondra? You also moved on from them?"

Ngumuso ako roon. "Of course not. They would remain as my friends. I just don't know how I'll face them."

"Talk to them. They will understand."

Will they?

Truly, sumabay nga akong umuwi sa kanya nu'ng sumunod na linggo. I told my mother about it. Well, sabi ko sa kanya ay magbabakasyon lang muna ako. Hindi ko pa naman kasi alam kung mananatili ako roon. Kaya hotel room lang muna ang ni-request ko sa kanya.

Before I got into my flight, nagpaalam din muna ako sa team ko from my previous company. I didn't tell them the reason why I resigned. Baka kasi hindi iyon pwedeng i-disclose ng HR. You know, telling it to others might hamper their investigation. They were sad that I left, so am I. But that's what I really think the best decision is.

"Sigurado ka bang hindi ka pa mananatili roon? Ba't mukhang inimpake mo na lahat?"

"Siyempre, Dy. Kung doon na nga ako makahanap ng career, hindi ko na kakailanganin pang bumalik dito para lang balikan 'yung ibang gamit na iniwan ko."

Tumango siya. He's the one who paid my plane ticket. Hinayaan ko na dahil marami naman siyang pera.

Nagising ako sa ingay ng pa-land na eroplano. For some reason, nagsimula akong kabahan. I told myself that it's normal because after 6 years, ngayon na lang ako bumalik.

Sumilip ako sa bintana, I remember myself leaving this place with so much pain and hatred. But now, being here again, I feel nothing. Kaba na lang talaga na hindi ko alam kung para saan. Well, it's true that time heals wounds.

Nu'ng tumama sa akin ang mainit na hangin ay kinilabutan ako. I couldn't deny that I really missed my home country. The weather, the people's face, the noise,... everything.

"You hungry? Saan mo gustong kumain?"

"You have a business meeting, right?"

Tinignan niya ang kanyang relo. "Mamaya pa naman iyon. I can eat lunch with you."

"Sa hotel na lang siguro ako kakain. You should rest for a while."

"Sure? You know, pwede naman talaga kitang samahan."