Letters to Joe (An Epistolary)

30

(You can read this while listening to While We Were Young by Adele. Happy reading!)

When we got at the plaza, Mr. Ramirez told me to not get out of the car. I wondered why?

Mabilis siyang bumaba at umikot papunta sa aking pintuan. He then opened the door and offered his hand to me. Tinanggap ko naman ito. 

The cold breeze embraced me as soon as I got out.  He held my waist and guide me to where we will go. 

My eyes winded when I saw a huge red flamingo statue in the middle of the plaza. Umiilaw ito at napaka-ganda. 

I took out my phone and excitedly took a picture of it. Hindi ko na napansin si Patrick sa aking gilid. 

"You're so excited Mae. Halika, I'll take a picture of you." he offered. Ibinigay ko naman sa kanya ang cellphone ko. 

He saw my wallpaper, a portrait of our little family. Me, Calli and Joe. 

He didn't speak, he just took a picture of me. I smile widely, ipapakita ko ito kay Calli pag-uwi ko. 

"Let's take a picture naman." inilabas niya ang kanyang cellphone. 

Lumapit naman ako sa kanya, pagbibigyan ko na. Ano ba naman ang isang picture kasama siya diba?

Luminga siya sa paligid at may hinanap. He then approached an old lady. 

"Hello Ma'am, can you take a picture of us?" he politely asked. Ganon pa rin siya, he's well mannered and respectful especially to elders. 

"Sure thing." 

Ibinigay niya ang cellphone sa matanda at tumakbo papalapit sa akin. 

"1,2-3" 

At inakbayan niya ako. 

I was shocked for a minute. Nabigla lang ako sa ginawa niya. 

Nagmamadali siyang tumakbo sa matanda at tiningnan ang aming litrato. He looked so happy, like a child who gets a candy. 

"Enjoy your honeymoon stay here. Hoping for lot of babies." the old woman chuckled. 

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya, nang sasabihin ko na sa matandang hindi kami mag-asawa ay nagpasalamat na si Patrick. The fudge?

Sinapak ko siya ngunit itinawa niya lang ito. He then excitedly looked at the pictures. 

"Ang ganda, tingnan mo Mae oh." 

I looked at the photo. And yes , maganda nga. The lights of the sculpture complemented our background well. Bagay na bagay rin ang suot namin, a champange dress paired with formal tuxedo. 

Upon looking at the photo, I can't help but to notice. Parang may mga butil na unti unting bumabagsak mula sa langit. I zoomed it in, and to my surpirse, it was droplets of snow. 

Napatingin ako sa paligid, unti unti na ngang bumabagsak ang nyebe. 

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at hinintay ang pagbagsak ng mga butil nito. 

"Patrick oh, my snow na." I excitedly told him. 

He looked at me, hindi ko mawari kung anong iniisip niya. Basta ang alam ko ay nakatitig lang siya habang naglalaro ako ng mga nagbabagsakang nyebe. 

Sa di kalayuan ay may narinig kaming tugtog. When we were young by Adele was played by the band in front of us. 

Napansin ko na lang na lumapit sa akin si Patrick. 

"May I have this dance?" there's a flickering hope in his eyes. I saw it sparkled as he asked me. 

Dahil sa tuwang nararamdam ko ay inabot ko ang aking kamay. 

We danced through the rhythm of the music as the snow continues to drop. 

"I hope you're happy Mae. I remembered one of your dream date before, to dance in the middle of the snow with the person you love the most." 

I stopped as he mentioned that. My mind rushed back into a memory of a little lady whose dreaming and romanticizing snow and love. 

"I-" 

"I hope na kahit ako ang kasama mo ay naging masaya ka. I know all the things that we had was all in the past now, but still, I wanted to apologize for leaving you behind before. I'm sorry Mae, I am sorry for hurting you." his eyes was almost filled with tears. I felt his sincerity, kahit naman noon, alam kong sincere siya sa akin. 

"I do hope too that you will give me a chance again. I'll do everything to win your heart again, but if only you will let me." 

Naramdaman ako ang mainit na yakap mula sa kanya. This warm embrace give comfort from the cold and snowy night. 

Then my heart beats faster.