The Most Beautiful Thing

Chapter 29

"I'll sleep first.." sabi ko sakanya at saka pumasok pabalik sa room ko. Pero bago ko isara ang pinto, bigla ko siyang tinawag ulit ng may maalala ako.

"Oo nga pala! It's your birthday tomorrow.." I called. He stopped fixing my bag at saka ngumiti saakin.

Kaya rin ako umuwi dahil birthday niya bukas and I want to join him because it's his 28th birthday. Time flies. Parang kailan lang, bata pa siya. Ngayon super tanda na niya. But hindi naman halata yun sakanya because he still looks 23. I'm sure he's still a playboy.

"Yeah. I'll host a party, sinabay ko na rin sa pag-uwi mo. I told our friends na uuwi kana. Sila Cass na ang nag-sabi sa iba mo pang kaibigan. They are preparing everything for tomorrow so go ahead and catch some sleep," sabi niya sakin.

"Okay," ngumiti ako sakanya at saka pumasok sa kwarto ko. Pag-sara ko ng pinto ay kakaibang feeling ang bumalot saakin.

I missed this. Wala pa ring nagbago sa room ko, kung pano ko siya iniwan 5 years ago ganon pa rin siya pagbalik ko.

Nilapag ko ang bag ko sa table at saka humiga sa kama. The comfort of being in your old room... kakaiba sa feeling. Medyo nasanay na rin kasi ako sa apartment ko back in NYC. Pero iba pa rin talaga ito.

Sandali ako umikot sa buong room to familiarize myself again. I don't want to miss my apartment back in NYC kahit na it was too painful for me to leave for good lalo na super dami kong memories na nagawa doon.

Tumayo ako ng may maalala. Hindi ko alam kung andon pa rin siya but I'm hoping na oo. It's because I deleted all our pictures sa phone ko. Hirap na hirap ako mag-move on dati that's why binura ko ang lahat hoping it would ease the pain. Ngayon pinagsisisihan ko na.

I guess I need kahit isang evidence to prove that it happened. That we happened.

I opened the last drawer of my table at nakita dun ang maliit na box. Dito nakalagay ang necklace na binigay niya saakin back then. Tinanggal ko yun at iniwan dito kasama ang isang picture namin inside his car before leaving for NYC.

I opened the box at nakita dun ang Yuanfen necklace. It still looks good as if it's new. Pagbukas ko ay nahulog ang picture namin. Pinulot ko ito at nakitang medyo nagfafade na ang paper and I don't know if it's because of the dirt. It's taken from my polaroid back then.

I wonder... asan na kaya siya ngayon? Is he successful?  Is he married? May anak na kaya siya?

Pinatong ko ito sa table ko at saka nahiga because bigla nanaman bumalik ang pain sa chest ko. I guess this is what I get for reminiscing too much. Sabi ng wag na aalalahanin pa eh.

I sighed. Naka-move on na nga pala ako. It's just the memories, Euphoria. He gave you too much to remember kaya hayaan mo na. At least you won't see him anymore, diba?

I guess I slept too much dahil nagising ako kinabukasan na and it's already 12 in the afternoon. Tirik na tirik ang araw sa labas at nagising ako dahil dito. I was so tired from the flight kaya halos isang buong araw na rin ang tulog ko.

"Good morning!" Bati ni Red when he came in to my room. Nagunat ako saglit at saka siya tinignan.

"Morning," I yawned.

"Your friends will come here soon. I'll leave first because may mga papers akong aayusin.. I'll meet you sa Privé.." sabi niya habang nilapag niya ang tray na may breakfast sa bedside table.

"Doon ka mag-paparty?" I asked him. He nodded at saka umupo sa bed ko. Inabot ko ang orange juice at ininom ito.

I looked at him again. He's wearing a polo which is very unusual. Hinawakan ko ang buhok niya na pina-clean cut niya. Before it was usually always undercut. Yung badboy haircut... ngayon he looks like a professional.