Hindi na nagawang pumasok ni Elmo sa school. Sobrang nag-aalala siya where Julie would be. He was cursing himself for being a jerk at sobrang nagsisisi siya for making her wait until dawn.
"Come on, Jules. Pick up the phone." he said repeatedly. Ilang beses na niyang tinatawagan si Julie but he got no answer. He tried texting her but still, no replies. “Shit ka, Elmo. Gago ka kasi." he said. “Ngayon, nag-aalala ka kung nasaan yung girlfriend mo. Eh it’s your fault naman." nang walang mapala sa pagtawag kay Julie, he decided to call his father-in-law. 1…2…3…4 rings but his calls were also ignored. Nawawalan na siya ng pag-asa pero kailangan masuyo niya si Julie ngayon. Kailangan magkabati na uli sila. Dahil hindi niya kaya. Dahil mahal niya si Julie.
He sat on the couch para mag-isip. Kung nasaan si Julie. Kung saan ito pwedeng magpalipas ng init ng ulo. And then Maqui came to his mind. Hindi na niya ito tatawagan. Pupuntahan na lang niya ito dahil paniguradong itatago rin sa kanya si Julie if ever he tries to call her.
"Oh. Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Maqui asked na halatang galit. “If you’re looking for her then I’m sorry Elmo. She’s not here."
"Maq please naman. Pakausap mo naman siya sa akin."
"Wala nga dito Elmo eh. And why would I allow her to talk to you? Para ano? Susuyuin mo tapos kapag naging okay na kayo uulitin mo nanaman yung ginawa mo? Yung totoo Elmo? Ano ba talaga si Julie sa iyo?" dire-diretsong tanong ni Maqui.
"Maq, mahal ko si Julie. I can’t afford to lose her again. Please naman Maqui. Pakausap mo na siya saken." naiiyak na sabi ni Elmo. “I’m begging you Maqui… Please." he said as he knelt down and cried in front of Julie’s bestfriend.
"I’m sorry Elmo. But Julie is not here. And I don’t think she would want to talk to you. Please, Moe. Give her space kahit ngayon lang." and Maqui closed the door leaving him in tears.
*****
"Gusto mo bang sumama sa amin? Sef and I will be going to the mall." Maqui said.
Weeks passed and still di pa rin siya umuuwi sa condo niya. She decided to stay in her parents house at kinausap na rin niya ang mga ito na wag siyang ipapakausap kay Elmo if ever he decided to look for her there.
"I think I’ll just stay at home, Maq. You two enjoy." matamlay na sabi niya. The truth is, she wanted to see her friends pero dahil nga nasasaktan pa rin siya kaya she opted to stay at home and take care of herself dahil masyado na siyang nasstress and she fears that her babies might get affected kung pababayaan niya ang sarili.
"Sigurado ka?"
"Yeah. Enjoy kayo ni bakla ha?"
"Fine. We’ll drop by later. Okay?"
"Okay. Ingat kayo."
"You take care of yourself too. Bye dear. We love you."
"And I love you guys too. Bye." the call ended and so she decided to take a rest.
"He called to check up on you again." her dad said as he entered her room. “I wanted to tell him that you’ve been crying yourself to sleep pero I don’t want to worry him as much as I want to make him suffer." he added.
"Thank you, papa."
"Talaga bang di mo na siya mapapatawad?"
"I wanted to forgive him, pa. Pero I think this is not the right time." she answered.
"Hay Julie Anne. Basta you know us naman. Kung nasan ka, susuportahan ka namin ng mama at mga kapatid mo. But please anak, wag masyadong patagalin ha? Kawawa ang mga apo ko."
