'Yung katabi ko sa Jeep

END OF PART 1

This is what you don't do.

Don't let this world make you bitter. Don't let the actions of other people turn you cold on the inside. Certain things happen that hurt us, people come that leave us and most of all there are moments when you are bound to fall. Don't let those things make you unkind. It's okay to cry. It's okay to be sad. But it's never okay to do other people wrong just because you were done wrong. We're human. We break. We make mistakes. But don't let pain and sadness run your lives. Wake up in the morning and do what you think is right. There are moments in your life where you feel like giving up and you can't take it anymore. It's okay. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. I know you're weak. But the things that show your weak side are also the same ones that make you stronger in the long run. It's all about taking whatever life throws at you and learning from it.

Napabuntong hininga ako ng mabasa ko ang bagong tweet nang isang random tweeter na pina-follow ko sa twitter account ko, kasabay n'un ang pag-off ko ng iPad mini ko at itinabi sa loob nang backpack ko.

Life must go on. Ika nga nang mga taong minsan nang nasaktan at mga taong patuloy pa ring nasasaktan. People come and go in your life. Walang bago d'un, hindi natatapos.

Palaging may aalis at bagong paparating. Nakakainis man dahil mahirap ang magpaalam pero gan'un talaga ang buhay. Hindi mo mababago 'yun.

Kinuha ko ang iPod shuffle ko na kung saan ko kinonvert 'yung cassette tape na pinabigay ni D.O kay Chase para sa'ken. Hinila ko ng bahagya ang earphone kong nakasabit sa leeg ko para ipasak sa magkabilaang tainga ko.

Umupo ako sa pulang bakal na upuan, ang waiting shed. Naghihintay ako nang jeep na masasakyan ko papunta ng mall. Gusto ko kasing mag-unwind. Masyadong mabigat para sa'ken ang nangyari.

Pinindot ko ang play button at nagsimulang pakinggang muli ang kaniyang boses sa 'di ko na malamang beses, kahit man lang dito ay maramdaman kong andito pa rin siya at minamahal ang isang tulad ko.

Mula sa magkabilaang earphones ko, maririnig mo ang background scenario ng hospital- 'yung pagtunog nang heartbeat detector niya at pressure ng oxygen gas.

Huminga muna siya ng malalim bagong tuluyang makapagsalita, "Uhm, hello, Jade." Ramdam ko ang panghihina nang kaniyang boses.

'Hi, Darius.' Tugon ko, kahit alam na alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi niya na ako maririnig, na 'di na kami makakapag-usap pa uli. Na kahit alam kong sarili ko lang ang kinakausap ko.

"I don't want to do the talking but, heck, I'm badly missing you," halos pabulong niyang pagpapatuloy.

'I am missing you even more and badly.' Nanghihinayang kong sabi kasabay ang mapait na ngiting gumuhit sa aking mga labi.

He hemmed, "Seriously, my mom took my phone away. So, I didn't have the chance to talk to you that much, also, add the fact that you are avoiding me. And, I'm sorry for that. I know I've done tons of mistakes and didn't even bother to take care of you."

'Hindi, naiintindihan ko naman. Ako ang dapat na magsorry.' Hindi ko napigilang pagsisihan nang paulit-ulit 'yung mga araw at oras na sinayang ko dahil sa sobrang childish ko.

"I want to take care of you, Jade. God knows how much I really do. But, shit! Life is so unfair..."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko upang pigilan ang pag-iyak, madami-dami pa kasing taong nakikisilong sa waiting shed na inuupuan ko.

He chuckled, "Daming drama," he hilariously laughed, that once again, made me laughed for the nth time.

Wala pa ring inimprove ang tagalog accent nya, ambaho pa rin pakinggan. Nakakatawa pero cute at the same time. Mas awkward 'yung iba niyang kaibigan mag-tagalog pero grabe, 'di ko talaga mapigilang magustuhan kung paano siya bumigkas n'un.