"Let's meet again. I promise you."
His image is slowly fading as he smiles brightly as if saying "Don't worry." . But I can't help it when my tears are slowly escaping from my eyes. I can't. I can't let him go.
"Can't you just stay? Please, stay." I began sobbing hardly as I tried to look at his face. But I can't clearly see his face anymore. It's hurting me.
"I love you, baby. Please, remember me. Goodbye." Mixed feelings engulped my heart as he vanished with the wind. Hindi ako makapag-isip ng tama. Sumigaw lang ako ng sumigaw hoping this pain will go away. I tried reaching out the air with my hand but I can feel nothing. He's gone. He's really gone. My love. My heart. My life. It's all gone.
-----
"Bel!"
Is someone calling me?
"Nabelle! Gising!"
I abruptly opened my eyes and I saw the worried face of my mother.
"Ma." I immediately felt something fell from my eyes. Pinunasan ko yun. I'm crying?
"Okay ka lang, 'nak?"
I remained silent for a while trying to process what happened. I suddenly can't remember what was my dream all about.
"Okay lang po, Ma." Ngumiti na lang ako bilang assurance. "Ba't po pala kayo nandito sa kwarto ko?"
"Gigisingin sana kita. Huwag mong sabihing nakalimutan mo araw na 'to."
Today? Anong meron---Ah right.
"Sige po. Maghahanda lang ako."
Tumango naman siya at tinapik ako sa balikat.
"Luh. Para saan yong tapik na yun pre?" biro ko sa kanya. Tumawa na lang din ako nung hampas na ang binigay niya sa balikat ko.
"Bilisan mo." bago ito umalis.
.........
"Wala ka namang nakalimutan no?" Sinulyapan ko yung maletang hawak ko hoping na may bigla akong maisip na nakalimutan ko.
"Oh damn!" Tumakbo ako pabalik ng bahay ng may makalimutan nga ako. I even heard my mother shouted "Sinasabi ko na nga ba!"
Deretso agad ako sa drawer. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng nakita ko yung hinahanap ko. It's an aqua gray colored box. I opened it to check kung nandun pa yung laman and I immediately smiled nang makita ko yung singsing na nandun. It's gold... erm I mean it's colored in gold. May carvings siya. 11 lines and one circle. I don't know it's meaning or just can't remember it but it makes me happy just looking at it. Nilagay ko yun sa sling bag ko then tumakbo ulit palabas ng bahay.
"Anong nakalimutan mo?" bungad sakin ni Mama nang makalabas ako.
"Nakalimutan ko pong huminga, Ma." Hinampas na naman niya ulit ako pero I just laughed habang kinukuha sa kanya yung maleta.
Her expression suddenly changed nang makitang handa na ako.
"Tawagan mo ko... araw-araw." I can see it in her eyes na ayaw niya akong umalis but I need to. It's for our own good. I hugged her tightly. "I love you, Ma!"
Madami pa siyang binilin habang yakap-yakap ko siya. I just smiled the entire time.
"Sige na. Umalis ka na." Pabirong sabi niya. I guess this is how mothers feel when their child is going away for a long time... alone. But I assured her naman na I'll be okay.
I waved at her bago ako pumasok sa kotse ng sumundo sa akin. "Bye, Ma." Walang katapusang ngiti ang binigay ko sa kanya hanggang sa umandar na ang kotse palayo. I waved for the last time so with her.
