Wreck Me, Cia Clemente

Epilogue:

"Tigilan mo ako. Tama ka na. Ang dami mo nang pangloloko ngayong araw." I said. "Nasaan na ba mga pinamili mo?"

I asked him while walking to his car. To my surprise, sobrang daming laman ng loob ng kotse niya nang makarating ako roon. Parehas na parehas lang kami ng reaksyon ni Haze na ngayon ay animo ba ay nagdiving sa umpok ng mga gamit. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, there are more than twenty paper bags, two massive stuffed toys, one is a pig and one is a bunny, two more little bouquet of flowers, balloons, letter balloons, and confettis. Nangungunot man ang noo ko ay alam ko na ang nangyayari. He told me we will celebrate bestfriend day. I am in awe that he spent so much today just like how he always spoils me with love, physical touch, words of affirmation, gifts, and acts of service. Lahat yata ng love language ay mayroon siya. I couldn't ask for more. We helped him get all the things he bought and put it inside the house. Nang makatapos kaming tatlo ay pare-parehas kaming nakatingin sa sala na punong-puno ng mga gamit habang nakapamaywang at hindi makapaniwala sa dami ng pinamili ni Puso.

"What are all these?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Bubuksan ko na rin sana lahat ang ilan sa paper bags pero pinigilan niya ako.

"Gifts, mahal. Gifts. Lahat 'yan regalo ko sa inyo ni Haze. Mamaya n'yo na buksan. Well, puwede pala 'yong dalawa. Iyong nasa green na paper bag sa'yo tapos 'yong nasa blue, sa kaniya. Dali na buksan n'yo na."

Haze and I followed what he told us to. Nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Haze pareho nang mapagtanto na dress iyon na magkaiba ang style pero magkaparehas ng kulay at design.

"I know you will like it." He said. "Parehas kayong maarte e kaya parehas n'yo 'yang magugustuhan. Suotin n'yo 'yan mamayang gabi. Set-up ko lang garden mamayang four o'clock para hindi mainit. Wait. May kulang pa pala. Don't touch anything."

Binalaan niya kami as he goes to his room and quickly got back. May dala-dala siyang dalawang ballpen at dalawang blankong papel. Binigyan niya kami ng tig-iisa.

"Gratefulness. Write your own today." he said.

Iyon lamang at saka nagtungo na siyang muli sa kwarto niya dala ang ilan sa mga paper bags na itinabi niya sa loob. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Haze at kumibit-balikat na lang. Haze started writing and so do I. I was supposed to write but caught between reminiscing.

Kanina nang dumating si Puso at nakangiti, I knew he was troubled. His hands were cold and almost trembling. I am sure he had anxiety attack on the way home. The way he breathes on his last phone call, I know he was fighting his thoughts, yet when he kissed me, he never talked about it. He chose not to. Malamang ay iniisip na naman niyang nahihirapan lang ako kapag inaalagaan siya pero hindi iyon totoo. I sighed. I couldn't write so much so when I saw him going out of his room and walked to the kitchen, I did not have any second thoughts of following him. Sobra iyong ngiti ko habang sinusundan siya at napansin niya iyon.

"What? Tapos ka na? Ang bilis naman."

Umiling ako.

"Oh, bakit nandito ka kung hindi ka pa pala tapos? Papagtripan mo lang ako rito, e. Doon ka na muna, mahal. Magluluto ako ng pagkain natin para mamayang gabi. I also bought some wine and non-alcoholic drink for Haze. It's our date. All three of us."

Hindi ako sumasagot sa kaniya bagkus ay dumiretso lang sa kaniyang harapan. Ipinulupot ko ang braso ko sa kaniya at ngayon ay nakangiti lang na nakatingin sa kaniyang mga mata. Nakikita kong nagtataka siya sa inaasal ko kaya naman natatawa siya.

"What is it? Anong gusto mo?"

"Label. Gusto ko ng label, mahal."

He smiled.

I don't know how much longer you'll fight this trauma and when it will end, but I know I will always be here for you. I have been a bad best friend most of the times, I have been a bad woman to you, too. I made mistakes that is quite unforgivable, but you embraced me with open arms and not a single judgement was seen from your eyes. I am not the perfect best friend, yet I always have your back.

I will be forever your best friend. I am forever grateful to be your woman.

Sasamahan kita sa habambuhay, Heart Lucas Hidalgo.