The Notes I Never Asked For

Prologue

Prologue

I don't know exactly I started feeling like this, yung feeling na parang dapat natatakot na akong magmahal ulit.

It didn't happen all at once. Almost unnoticeable. People came into my life, stayed for a while, then left in ways I still can't fully understand. And somewhere along the way, I stopped expecting anyone to really stay.

Now, I feel like I'm always waiting for things to end, even when they haven't even started yet.

That's why I ended up here inside a cafe because the noise is just enough to drown my thoughts. I sit in the corner, pretending I have something important to do, when in reality I'm just trying not to fall apart in public.

Then suddenly, my chest felt heavy in a way i couldn't explain.I remember staring at my drink for too long. It was already cold, but I still didn't touch it. My hands were shaking under the table, and I kept telling myself to breathe normally. To act normal. To not let anything show.

Then I felt it, someone near me.

Hindi ko napansin kung kailan siya dumating. I was too lost in my own head.

Until I saw it.

A tissue, placed gently on my table.

Natigilan ako.

I didn't look up. I just stared at the tissue in front of me. But I knew it was a boy because of the scent of his perfume.

He didn't say anything. He just pushed the tissue a little closer to me, like he already knew I wouldn't ask for help even if I needed it.

And I just sat there, frozen, like my body didn't know how to react to kindness anymore.

Until I noticed something on the tissue. A small folded note and I opened it.

" I don't know what you're going through, but I think your coffee's getting lonely from all that staring. Kidding aside, it's okay to be sad. You don't have to have everything figured out right now. It'll get better, one day at a time."

No name. No number. Just that.

I looked up, but the guy is gone. Napalingon pa ako sa paligid, hoping I'd catch a glimpse of him. Pero wala. I looked back at the note in my hands. No name. No number. Just a few words from a stranger who somehow noticed what everyone else didn't.

I stared at the tissue for a moment before carefully folding it. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe he was just being nice. But somehow, those simple words reached me more than all the advice people had given me before. And for the first time in a long while, hindi ko naramdaman na mag-isa ako. Just for a moment, the heaviness in my chest felt a little lighter.

And somehow, that was enough.

"Hindi mo talaga nakita ang mukha ng guy, te?" tanong sa akin ni Aliah. Nakuwento ko kasi sa kanya ang nangyari kahapon. About sa tissue guy.

Umiling ako. "Hindi talaga. By the time I looked up, wala na siya."

"Ano ba 'yan!" reklamo niya. "If that were me, hinanap ko talaga siya sa buong café."

Napatawa ako. "OA mo."

"I'm serious! Imagine, a random guy notices you, leaves you a sweet note, tapos biglang mawawala? That's literally straight out of a romance novel." Sabi niya.

"Or a creepy story." Sagot ko naman.

"Girl, stop ruining the moment." Umirap siya sakin.

Umiling na lang ako habang inaayos ang mga gamit ko. But honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about it either. A complete stranger. No name. No number. Just a few words written on a tissue. And somehow, those words stayed with me.

"Do you still have the note?" Aliah asked.

I hesitated before nodding.

"Aha!" Agad siyang ngumiti. "I knew it. Kung wala lang meaning sa'yo 'yon, matagal mo na 'yang tinapon."

"It's not like that." Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Sure." Tumango siya pero alam ko naman na may meaning yun. Napairap ako, but I couldn't deny it.

The tissue was still inside my bag. Folded carefully. As if I was afraid of losing it.

Or maybe...

I was afraid of forgetting how those words made me feel.

Aliah suddenly leaned closer and smirked.

"What if destiny niyo 'yan?" Aliah teased.

Umiling ako at Umirap. "Please stop."

"What? I'm just saying. Baka main character era mo na."

Napatawa na lang ako. But deep inside, a small part of me wondered the same thing.

What were the chances that I'd ever see him again?

"Ako na nagsabi sayo te, baka sign na 'yan."

I shook my head and laughed. "You already know I don't believe in things like that anymore."

"Why not?"

I looked away.

"Look at me right now,"

Nikunot iyang noo. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I let out a small laugh.

"The reason I look this miserable? Love."

"Girl—"

"No, seriously." I smiled weakly. "I mean, I enjoyed being single. I really do. No drama. No stress. "

"Then what's the problem?"

I stared at the table for a moment.

"The problem is... even though I enjoyed being single, there are days when I still feel sad."

Aliah didn't say anything.

"There are days when I still feel lonely."

The words came out quieter than I intended.

Maybe because they were true.

"I think I'm just unlucky when it comes to love." Sabi ko

"Don't say that." Sabi niya.

"But it's true."

Aliah sighed and shook her head.

"If this is because of Marcus, grabe ka na rin."

I looked away.

"Aliah—"

"No, hear me out. I know what he did hurt you. Sobra. Two years, tapos iiwan ka lang para balikan yung first love niya? That's messed up."

I stayed silent. Because no matter how much time had passed, it still hurt. Maybe not as much as before. But it hurts.

"Pero hindi lang naman si Marcus ang lalaki sa mundo." Sabi niya

I let out a dry laugh. "Easy for you to say."

"I'm serious." Seryosong sabi niya

She leaned forward and pointed at me.

"I know there's someone out there who's really meant for you. Hindi pa lang siya dumarating."

I rolled my eyes. "Wow. Destiny believer ka na pala."

"Maybe." A playful grin appeared on her face.

"Or what if dumating na?"

Napakunot-noo ako. "Huh?"

"What if tissue guy na 'yon?"

I rolled my eyes. Napatawa siya habang ako naman ay napailing na lang.

But despite myself, I felt a small smile tug at my lips.

Because as ridiculous as it sounded...

For the first time in a long while, the thought of meeting someone new didn't seem so impossible.