Taking Chances

Seven

He is convinced that a miracle brought him here. He couldn't remember how he managed to drive to this dreaded place. Richard is a mess. The dark circles around his eyes serve as proof of his sleeplessness for the past two weeks. On his way to the cemetery, he cried his heart out.

"Tangina naman, Maine! Ang daya eh," he yelled, "Hindi mo man lang hinayaan na alagaan kita."

He repeated these words over and over until he reached the gate of Manila Memorial Park. He drove straight and at the far corner, as instructed, he came upon the small plot of land. Nobody is in sight so he climbed out of the car and slowly approached the newly dug gravesite.

He knelt down and he cried for a very, very long time. There were no words to describe how broken his heart is. After a while, he began to speak.

"Maine naman. Ang damot damot eh. Ganun na lang yun? Basta-bastang umalis tapos dito kita aabutan? Hindi man lang ako nakapagpaalam ng maayos. Wala. Umalis ka eh. Iniwan mo 'ko."

He couldn't stop crying even if he tried. His shoulders were shaking. If he was standing, he'd have collapsed by now.

"Sabi ko dati walang kwenta ang buhay ko. Kaya I thought of suicide. Pero dumating ka at binago ang lahat. Di ba sabi ko sa'yo lumaban ka? Alam kong pagod ka na pero I was more than willing to fight for the two of us. But you didn't give me a chance, Maine. Tumakbo ka palayo."

Richard was so engrossed with his pain that he didn't hear the footsteps. But he felt the hand on his shoulder. With tear-stained face and blurry eyes, he looked up.

"Huy."

Looking down at him, is Maine.

*****