Nick of Time [COMPLETED]

Stage 3: Bargain

It's not yet too late.

Alam ko na nagkamali ako at handa akong gawin ang lahat para tanggapin niyang muli.

**

Matapos ang naging pag-uusap namin ni Hannah nang hapon na iyon ay hindi na niya ako kinausap o pinansin man lang. Unti-unti rin akong lumayo sa mga kaibigan ko. I felt bad about it but chose not give an effort to fix it. I had to fix my priorities.

That same afternoon, I decided to win Meghan back.

Sinimulan kong ayusin ang buhay ko. After all, my unhappiness with my life was the reason why I thought that breaking up with Meghan was for the best.

Instead of partying with my friends, I started focusing in my academics. Inayos ko ang grado ko na nagsimulang bumaba mula noong nakaraang semestre. Alam kong hindi magugustuhan ni Meg kung malalaman niyang bumaba ang mga grado ko kaya pinilit kong ayusin iyon. That meant more sleepless nights.

Little by little, I felt that I was becoming more contented with my life. With the idea of having Meg back as motivation, I started to find myself once again. It was not easy to push myself back on track but I did it.

A month later, I received my midterm grade and saw how far I improved. Ito ang sign na hinihintay ko para gawin ang plano ko. Sa wakas, pwede ko na ring kausapin ulit si Meghan.

I hurriedly invited her for a meet up. Noong una ay kinabahan pa ako na baka hindi siya dumating. Ngunit nang mag-reply siya at sabihing pumapayag siyang makipagkita, wala akong mapaglagyan ng kasiyahan.

And now, we were back to the place where it all ended. Hopefully, this would also the place where we would begin again.

Nakaupo kami sa baywalk at parehong nakatanaw sa papalubog na araw. Maaliwalas ang panahon at kalmado ang dagat. Hindi ko alam kung gaano na kami katagal duon ngunit nanatili pa rin kaming tahimik.

It was really stupid of me to invite her out without thinking what I would tell her. Kaya ngayon ay nangangapa ako ng sasabihin. I couldn't mess this up.

With the courage I found, I cleared my throat and reached for her hand laying on her knees. Agad siyang napatingin sa magkahawak naming kamay.

"Meg," I called for her attention. Agad siyang tumingala sa akin at nang makitang muli ang kaniyang mukha sa malapitan ay halos mapasinghap ako.

She was still beautiful. She was actually more beautiful now. Mas maiksi na ang buhok niya. Ang mga mata niyang itim ay punong-puno ng hindi mabasang emosyon. It almost took my breath away.

And before I knew it, I was able to spew the words "I still love you." Hindi naman dapat iyon ang sasabihin ko ngunit iyon na kaagad ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kaniya at hinintay siyang magsalita. Ngunit iniiwas lang niya ang tingin sa akin. That broke me a little but not enough to keep me from saying what I needed to say.

"I know I hurt you Meghan," I started. "But it was a mistake. Tama ka. I cannot just throw away the two years and our friendship."

Napabuntong-hiniga siya ngunit hindi pa rin magawang tumingin sa aking mga mata. She stared blankly at the horizon while trying to fix her short hair that was being blown by the wind.

"Alam mo bang exaclty three months ago nang maghiwalay tayo?" tanong niya sa akin. "It was the same time, the same place."

"Meg, maiintindihan ko kung galit ka sa akin. I'm sorry. I really am. Pinagsisihan ko yun. It was a stupid decision," I said trying my best to convince her with my sincerity. I want her forgiveness so bad.