Chapter 4: Nice To See You Again

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What is this supposed to mean?

Patuloy na pinagiisipan ni Asher ang mga pangyayari. Kahit anong anggulo, napaka imposible talaga. Kinurot niya ang kanyang pisngi, he also tried to bang himself on the wall, pero walang nangyari.

He was well alive and kicking.

"Baka kaluluwa lang ako?" he scoffed, but confirmed his wrong assumption when he looked at the mirror at his side. He remembered how often he would laugh about time machines and ridiculous sci-fi movies, but this was more than sci-fi. "Anuba Asher, may Leukaemia ka ba, o baliw ka lang talaga?"

"Hoy Asher, ano? Wala ka bang plano mag bihis? 5:30 na, papasok pa yung kapatid mo ng maaga!" sigaw ng mama niyang si Athena na kanina pang abala sa pag luluto ng baon para sa kanyang dalawang anak.

"E-eto na po ma, magbibihis na po!" he said while stuttering. It was still weird. This whole thing was, but he had to snap out of it before his mom snaps.

Panganay si Asher, at nasa kolehiyo na, si Aris naman ang kanyang bunsong kapatid na nasa high school pa. Pero parang baliktad yata. Mas mature kasi si Aris and he's usually the person Asher runs to when he has problems. May pag ka savage lang talaga 'tong si Aris. Pero iyon yung charm niya.

"Alam mo kuya para kang pagong, ang hina mo kumilos," pagmamaktol ni Aris. He sat across Asher at the dining table, basically gobbling his breakfast in fear of being late. Yet he managed to smirk and tease Asher who was basically ignoring his comments, "Ay, oo nga pala, may pinaghahandaan kasi eh. Wag na, mababasted ka lang."

By this time Asher had his complete attention. Halata namang nagustuhan ito ng kapatid niyang nangaasar. Aris just knocked some sense into him finally.

This was the day he and Reena became official.

Was.

"So... it's today right?" his father raised a brow while smiling. Asher tried to concentrate on his food, but his silence was noticed by his mother. Kahit gusto niyang mag tanong, pinili niyang hayaan nalang ang kanyang anak na mag-isip. After what felt like an eternity of silence, he calmly said, "Hindi na mangyayari yon", and signalled Aris to quickly finish his food.

Tumingin silang lahat na para bang krimen yung sinabi niya.

Posible bang nabasted na siya?

"Hindi ako nabasted, desisyon ko lang 'yon. At parang hindi pa kasi ready si Reena eh." he replied as if he knew exactly what they wanted to say. Kabisado na niya ang kanyang mga magulang, lalo na ang kanyang kapatid, and while he could get past his parents, he knew Aris wouldn't let this go anytime soon. He was the type to really question his intentions. Parang Boy Abunda lang si Aris kung maka tanong sa kuya niya.

But Asher thought, this time, he was going to keep his secret safe. Mas mainam na na walang alam ang kanyang kapatid, kasi gagawin at gagawin niya ang lahat para lang makuha ni Asher yung nagpapasaya sa kanya. Ganon siya ka supportive.

At alam na alam niya kung sino siya.

Siya, na kailan man ay hindi niya makakalimutan.

Siya, na naging buhay niya.

Siya, na dapat niya nang pakawalan.

'Kung alam ko naman kung saan hahantong yung realidad ng aming pagsasama, why would I push it? Masasaktan lang si Reena', he thought quietly as he bid goodbye to his parents. All the memories of his past life came into picture.

Before, he would jokingly think how good it was to see where his life would be at a certain age, or what he was doing at some point in time. Ironically, he got his answer. He lived a short life, and he was bound to again, judging from the sequence of scenarios.

It was exactly the same. Lahat ng nangyari, parehong pareho pa rin. Nung pag sigaw ng mama niya sa kanya, ang pang-aasar ng kanyang kapatid, and tanong ng kanyang ama. But he now had the power to change it.

If it meant a happier future for Reena, he'd be more than willing to change everything he'd done since day one...even at the expense of his happiness.

He had no clue what the purpose of this 'new life' was, but he swore to never hurt her again.

✧・✧・✧・✧

Habang nag dadrive si Asher, nag-oobserba lang si Aris. Parang sa isang tulog lang, ang laki na ng pinagbago ng kanyang kapatid.

"Ano bang nangyari sayo last night at naging boring kana ngayon?" Aris asked slightly irritated, "Ba't wala kang imik...kanina ka pang ganyan. Binasted ka talaga no? Aminin mo na, hindi yung wala kang kibo dyan."

"Wala nga. Katulad ng relasyon namin, wala...walang patutunguhan." paasar na hugot ni Asher. Aris could only roll his eyes, but couldn't hold in a laughter at the end, "Ganyan, hindi yung nagmumukmok ka lang. You made me worry. Sabi ko nga sayo diba, supportado kita, kahit ano mang mangyari. Pero syempre, gusto kong magkatuluyan kayo ni ate Reena...ayiieeeee."

Ngumiti lang si Asher pero alam naman niyang hindi na pwedeng mangyari iyon. Naalala niya yung pagkakaibigan nila Aris at Reena noong naging sila. She was easily accepted into the family and so was Asher to Reena's. The only entity that separated them was his condition.

✧・✧・✧・✧

Asher finally dropped his brother off and drove himself to Woodbridge University. It was one of the most prestigious universities in the area, and only the privileged ones could enrol. Asher is the successor of 'Romeo Inc.', a company headed by his father who specialises in various businesses, working with other group of companies that were as equally strong in the industry. Despite all of this, Asher chose to stay out of the public eye. Piling tao lang ang may alam nito. As a result, Asher is studying a degree in line to his future -- Business Administration.

Classmate din nito si Reena who came from a family of average income, but due to her excellent academic records, she was awarded a full-time scholarship. Unlike Asher, she was an only child. This means added pressure in her perspective. Dahil sa kagustuhang maiangat and pamilya sa kahirapan, masipag siya sa lahat ng bagay, at may pagka perfectionist. Her priorities are solid -- ang makapagtapos ng pagaaral at tumayo ng sarili niyang kompanya.

It was the start of a new school year at halatang marami sa kanila, hindi pa gustong pumasok. While Asher was on his way to the lecture hall, he was surprised when someone suddenly tapped his shoulder.

"Bro! Kumusta? Hindi ka man lang nagparamdam sa bakasyon!"

He gave him a hug and greeted him with their usual fist bump. The girl behind him who had the most precious smile ran up to Asher and gave him the warmest hug.

"Kaloka ka Asher, di ka man lang nag text sakin, sabay na sana tayong pumasok!"

She was Reena, the guy was Zachery.

He returned her hug, never wanting to let go. But what seemed right, could never replace the fear in his heart.

'Zachery,' Asher thought, a sad smile in his face, 'I'm sorry kung inagaw ko siya sayo... kung naging selfish ako,' he let Reena go as he stared at Zachery, his best mate,

'Wag kang mag alala...hindi na ako hahadlang sa inyong dalawa.'

✧・✧・✧・✧

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

"Letting go for one's happiness,

is the hardest sacrifice,

yet the truest form of love."

─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───

✧・✧・✧・✧

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