Chapter 24
Gabi-gabing laman ng bar si Elmo. He drowns himself with liquor just so he can forget all the pain he feels inside. Masakit. Sobrang nasasaktan siya that Julie decided to break up with him.
“She gave up on me. Alam mo ba how painful that is?” he was drunk already at kausap niya ang bartender na naging kaibigan na rin niya. “Mahal ko siya eh. Kaya lang gago ako. Gago ako.”
"Eh sir, malay mo naman kaya nagawa niya lang yun kasi ayaw na niya na parehas kayong masaktan?"
“Ha. That’s what she said. Sabi niya kailangan namin to. Kasi daw nasasaktan lang kami pareho and she doesn’t want to come to the point na di na niya ako mahal…” umiyak nanaman siya. “Ang sakit. Ang gago ko kasi, Chuck eh. Gago ako. Di ko inisip na I’ll be having a family already. I took her for granted. I took my family for granted. Hindi ko sila inisip. All I ever think about was myself. Ako. Ako. Ako. Kasi gago ako.”
After niya sa bar ay umuwi na siya. It was 6am when he arrived at his condo. Yes. He was back in his condo dahil ayaw din naman niya na madagdagan pa yung sakit if he insists on staying in Julie’s unit. Before he entered his unit, matagal muna niyang tinitigan ang pinto sa unit ni Julie. He wanted to knock on her door. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was. He wanted to tell her how much he loves her and how painful it is that they are not okay.
“I miss you, Julie.” he said. He wiped a stray tear from his eye and took a deep breath as he entered his home. He can’t even call it a home dahil nga wala naman dun si Julie. He went to bed and again, cried himself to sleep.
*****
She wanted to open her door and hug the guy outside. Oo. Nakasilip siya through the peephole and she saw that Elmo was staring at her door and was crying. Alam niyang galing nanaman ito sa bar. Lagi kasi itong wala kapag gabi and umaga na uuwi. Lasing pa. Pero kahit gaano niya kagustong yakapin ito at patawarin, kailangan pigilan niya ang sarili.
“You have to grow up, Moe. You have to be more responsible.” she said. Pinunasan niya ang luha na kunawala nanaman sa mata niya. “Mahal na mahal kita. Pero ang sakit-sakit na kasi.” sabi niya. Nakita niyang pumasok na si Elmo sa unit nito kaya naman lumayo na rin siya sa peephole. She looked around her unit and napaluha na lang siya. “Miss na miss na kita Moe.”
Her home. Simula nang maghiwalay sila ni Elmo, nawalan na ng buhay ang condo niya. She could imagine him sitting on the couch while watching NBA. Or him sitting in front of his drafting table looking oh so cute habang nagddraft. Naiyak nanaman siya. Masakit para sa kanya that she has to break up with him pero kailangan nila yun. For him to grow up.
“Julietaaaaaa!!” nagulat siya nang marinig ang boses ni Sef. She looked at the front door and saw him standing there with paperbags in hand.
“What are you doing here?” she asked habang nagpupunas ng luha.
“Ay. Di na ko welcome ditey? Ay. Okay fine. Gorabambam na lang akiz somewhere. Mamamalimos siguro akiz ng attention and everything. Tapos magiging poorita ever na ko. Tapos I’ll die because of hunger.” pagddrama nito.
“Ang arte lang? Hahaha. Joke lang bakla. Nagulat lang ako na andito ka. I thought may class ka pa kasi.” Sef looked at her na para bang isa siyang unknown species. “What?”
“Okay ka lang girl? Mej Linggo kasi today. Tapos waley pasok.”
“Really? Sunday ngayon?” she asked.
“Ewan ko sayo. More pa sa crying lady. Kalurkey ka.” sagot nito at saka pa umupo sa sofa. “Tama na nga kakaiyak. You look ugly na oh. Ay. Panget ka na nga pala. Ako nga pala pinakamaganda. Bwahahahaha.” he said. Napailing na lang si Julie at napaupo sa tabi nito.
