Romantic Short Stories [DUBREDO]

Viii. Back to Basics

She slowly opened her eyes, her soul felt empty, she was lightheaded like something is missing.

She checked her phone for the time with her one eye closed. "Ha?" She doubted if she read the time correctly. It was already 3:49PM.

She slowly sat up and cleared her eyes. The sun is setting down, she really woke up that late and then she recalled her scheduled return flight tomorrow at five in the morning.

As soon as she recovered from her sleep, she immediately prepared herself, took a shower and dressed up. She decided to go to Digong's house in Matina to speak to him personally. Probably her last attempt before she leaves. She's no longer putting any time to waste.

She took a taxi to his place only to see his house empty with no lights on. "Digong?" She called but nobody seemed to be home.

She walked around to check if anyone was home but it was truly empty. She sat at the sidewalk as her hopes of speaking to him dropped again. Through her phone, she dialed his number up but his phone was out of reach no matter how many times she tried.

She waited in front of his house until late in the evening hoping she would see him if he comes home incase he just went out but it was already twelve and she still needs to go back to her hotel and fix her things.

Twelve thirty. Her last call. Umuwi ka na please. She begged but up until her last call time, nobody arrived home.

She buried her face onto her palms. She was so frustrated that she can't do anything to speak to him. He was surprised to see her in front of his house.

"Leni?" He uttered.

She looked up to him, stunned, with her slightly drenched eyes.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" He asked and held her hand to stand up but she proceeded by hugging him tightly.

His chest tingled as she embraced him. He stood still and refused to reciprocate her gesture. "Bakit hindi mo sinasagiot yung mga message ko? Tumatawag ako pero out of reach ka." She stuttered.

He flashed his phone, "lobat man yung selfon ko, sorry."

She withdrew from the hug and looked at him. She didn't expect she would still see him before her flight.

She exhaled heavily, "aalis na ako bukas sir."

He was silenced for a moment, he nodded weakly, "nasabi mo nga ma'am." He avoided her eyes as much as he could.

She didn't know what reaction she was expecting from him but she was hoping he'd stop her and ask her to stay.

"Anong nangyari saatin?" She asked vaguely as the silence of the night crept in.

He clearly knew what she was talking about. He gulped and kept his eyes away from her. "Aalis ka na bukas ma'am," he replied.

"Oo. Dahil ba doon kaya ka nagkakaganyan?" She queried wanting to figure out their problem. "Dahil aalis na ako ayaw mo na rin?" She followed.

He scoffed, "hindi."

"Nagbago ang isip mo sakin dahil aalis na ako?" She kept guessing. It somehow offended him to hear such speculations but he understood it because he never really told her the reason why.

"Panong nagbago ang isip? Hindi." He chuckled.

She furrowed her eyebrows, "eh bakit bigla kang naging ganyan. Okay naman tayo nung mga nakaraang araw ha?"

He bowed his head and fidgeted his hands to keep himself at bay, "yun na nga eh. Okay tayo nung mga nakaraang araw."

It just puzzled her more. "Hindi ko maintindihan, Digong."

The fake smile on his lips faded, "hindi naman dapat tayo maging okay." He looked up to her face as soon as he had the courage.

"I don't want to get my hopes high again, Leni. Especially if it's about you." He confessed.

Her eyes remained teary but she tried to keep her tears from falling "bakit?" She uttered with a weak voice.

"Sinabi ko na naman sa'yo 'di ba?" He attempted to open the gate and escape the confrontation but she held his arm and stopped him. "Sabihin mo saakin. Tignan mo ako ng diretso at ipaliwanag mo saakin lahat ng gumugulo ngayon sa isip mo." She demanded.

He was still weak for her but he has already decided to just give up. "The last time I had my hopes high on you, I was hurt." He gave her a soft stare, all vulnerable.

"Ngayon okay tayo, bukas ayaw mo na ulit. It's always the cycle. Palagi na lang akong umaasa." He followed.

Leni couldn't deny to herself that she has treated him unfairly ever since he confessed his feelings to her. She played him before, took his admiration for granted and never treated him the way he deserves. It was just now that she felt his value to her life and she wanted to make it up to him but she didn't know how to explain and prove herself to him without talking too much and sounding all dramatic.

Her silence manifested how guilty she was for always disappointing him. "Iba yung noon sa ngayon sir." She attempted but to him, it was just her being intoxicated of the moment again and it was no longer worth holding onto.

"You said you loved me, Leni." He  recalled when she said it years ago. "Pero– your actions. It told me you never did."

She swept off her feet. It was her first time hearing him speak that way. His voice had so much pain with it. His eyes were speaking to her so much.

"Paano man nabago yon ngayon?" He asked looking her straight in the eye as he endured all the pain he kept to himself for so long. "You always change your mind about me, Leni." He couldn't help but feel bad for himself, "paano naman ako magtitiwala sa mga salita ng taong kahit kailan hindi naman naging sigurado saakin?"

Leni couldn't believe she hurt him that deep. She realized it was too much for him to take but he still remained consistent about her, he still treated her with respect and so much love. He would always smile at her and pretend everything's fine even if he was already hurting.

She didn't know how to begin apologizing but she felt like words won't be enough. "Hindi ko alam kung paano papagaanin yung loob mo, kung pano magsosorry sa'yo—"

He smiled weakly, "you don't have to." He interrupts.

"Hayaan mo nalang ako makarecover. You have your flight tomorrow. Alalahanin mo yung sarili mo. I'll be okay, ma'am." He requested.

"Digong–"
"Leni." He begged. He continued unlocking the gates of his house.

She watched him enter in but before he did, he looked at her once again. He thought maybe having his last glimpse of her before she leaves again wouldn't hurt.

But it just broke him even more.

He breathed slowly, "mag-iingat ka pag-alis mo." Then he forced a smile on his lips.

She felt it. She felt the pain in his smile.

To be continued...