"Oh Mela, will there be wedding bells soon? Alam mo namang walang problema sa amin ng daddy mo kung si Radicus ang makatuluyan mo. He's been very loyal to you not unless someone takes advantage.."
Nagtama ang paningin namin ni Tita Olivia. She's doing it in purpose. Alam kong pinapasaringan na naman ako nito.
But it's effective. Parang may mabigat na nakadagan sa dibdib ko as soon as I heard his name. And wedding bells? Oo nga naman. They already had a plan before we met. Before they thought I messed up everything.
Mabilis kong ininom ang tubig sa baso. I didn't glance at Tita Olivia when I passed by infront of her.
Napasandal ako sa pinto ng kwarto ko as soon as I closed it. Napatulala. I wiped my eyes through my fingers. It's still so hard. Hanggang kailan ba ako ganito?
Ako ang bumitaw. Ako ang nagparaya. Hindi naman ako ang iniwan. Pero bakit ang sakit? I will never deny to myself that I still love him. Fuck, I do! Ang hirap palang marinig na masaya na siya. Na may iba siyang kasama at minamahal. How more will I feel if I'll see them together. It may break me into pieces.
"Sila naman kasi talaga dapat..Isa ka lang extra Maya. Accept it. Just please fucking accept it. Don't make this fucking difficult Maya." I summoned myself. Making it a chant.
I made myself busy in school. I have my earphones on. I'm listening to music while reading. Napangiti sa akin ang isang babae na umupo sa tapat ko. I smiled back. Maya-maya ay may isang lalaking dumating na may dalang libro at pagkain. Lovers. Damn!
I tried focusing in reading. Pero biglang sumasagi sa isip ko ang mga araw na kasama ko siyang naghihintay na matapos ang meeting nila para sa thesis. Napaangat ako ng tingin sa tapat ko. Nakasandal ang ulo ng babae sa balikat ng lalaki.
I smiled bitterly.
Some things are better left in the past. May mga bagay kasi na hindi naman na kayang ibalik pa sa dati o baguhin. If I were to go back in the past. Will I still choose to leave him under that rainy night?
Baka hindi. Hindi sa gabing iyon na malamig at maulan. But I will still break up with him. Kasi hanggang ngayon iniisip ko paring tama lang iyon. It will always be unfair to Carmela who's struggling for life. But now, she's fine. She recovered. She has Radicus. Ako, nandito't nasasaktan parin. How ironic my ending could be!
Napahinto ako sa paglabas ng campus nang makita ko si Brittany. Malawak ang ngiti nito sa akin. She's glowing with her floral dress. Pregnancy suits her.
"Brittany! What are you doing here?" I greet her. Mahigpit ako nitong niyakap.
"Dindalaw ka ate. Kumusta? Pwede ka bang imbitahan kumain saglit? Please!" I glanced at my risk watch. I still have two hours. Mahirap hindian ang isang ito.
"Let's go?" Aya ko dito. Her eyes glowed with glee.
Sa loob ng tatlong buwan, maraming nangyari. Things that are unexpected. Brittany and I are now okay. Nagkaroon ako ng tunay na kapatid sa kanya.
She's three months pregnant now. Nakakalungkot na hindi ito pinanagutan ng lalaki bagay na ikinagalit nila tito Brad at mom. I became her constant companion. Somehow naintindihan ko kung bakit pilit itong naghanap ng pagmamahal sa maling lalaki. She's deeply wounded by the fact that she's adopted. She rebelled, mali lang siguro dahil hindi siya nag-ingat but I guess things still went well, she's carrying an angel. It's a blessing. We are now fine. We both find each others arms when we were both in pain.
People do really come and go. It happens. Someone so dearly for me left, no I let go, and now there are people who are now standing behind me.
"So what does a beautiful pregnant woman doing outside and driving?"
