Sa sobrang gulat ay napatayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya. I can feel my hands shaking in rage. I don't know what his family told him but I'm sure they brainwashed him and put my name on shame.
"A-anong...anong sabi mo?" kahit malinaw ang sinabi niya ay ginusto ko pa ring itanong iyon, baka sakaling nabingi lang ako.
"You left for another man, don't you?" malungkot man ang boses niya ay nahimigan ko pa rin ang galit doon.
"Iyan ba ang sinabi sa iyo ng pamilya mo?" mahinahong tanong ko sa kaniya. Unti unti siyang tumango, that made me laugh sarcastically. "At naniwala ka naman?"
"What should I do then? You just left Mei. When I woke up I looked for you. You're the first person I want to see by the time I open my eyes.. but what I saw was the ring I gave you and my mom tell me that you left for another man." ilang beses pa siyang bumuntong hininga bago magpatuloy. Parang nahihirapan siyang sabihin lahat ng iyon "I didn't believe them...but you made me believe it"
"I-I looked for you for damn's sake! I waited for you on that fucking street and even build a shed... b-because I was so d-desperate. Hinintay kita Meisha."
Ang luhang kanina ko pa pinahinto ay nagsimula nanamang mag unahan. I felt the urge in my heart to tell him why I did those.
"I-I'm so sorry U-Uno. I didn't leave you just to be with someone else. I did it because I'm pulling you down." suminghap ako habang inaalala ang kalagayan ko noon at kung paanong naaapektuhan siya. "I was so wreck yet you're keep on holding me...and that made you sink."
"Noon pa man ay lunod na ako sayo...ano pa bang kinakatakot mo?"
"Hindi mo naiintindihan Uno. Ginawa ko iyon para sayo...hindi mo ba nakikita kung gaano kita nahihila pababa? You were almost on top. You sacrificed a lot so I realized it's time...it's time para ako naman." kumawala ang hikbi ko habang nagsasalita kaya huminto ako.
"P-palagi na lang a-ako ang iniisip m-mo U-Uno"
"Meisha, ikaw muna bago ako! Alam mo Yan!" singhal niya sa akin na para bang dapat ay alam ko na iyon at hindi na kailangan pa ng dahilan o paliwanag.
"Ayun na nga Uno...palaging ako! Pero paano ka?!" sigaw ko sa kaniya pabalik.
"Ikaw?! Paano ka!? Ayan ang problema sayo Meisha. H-hindi naman ako nagrereklamo a! B-bakit kailangan mong isipin na pabigat ka? Na i-ikaw ang humihila sa a-akin pababa...n-na i-ikaw ang pumipigil sa aking lumipad, samantalang ikaw ang inspirasyon ko sa lahat."
Parang mas nadurog ang puso ko ng makita ko ang nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata niya. My Uno is in verge of crying.
"Mei, alam kong pagod ka noon. Alam kong napagod ka, pero pagod din naman ako...ikaw lang yung kinakapitan ko...i-ikaw yung pahinga ko...t-tapos i-iiwan mo rin pala a-ako"
Humikbi lang ako habang pinapakinggan ang sinasabi niya. Hindi ko masabi sa kaniya ang lahat. Paano ko magagawa iyon? Kung ngayon pa lang ay para na siyang salaming basag...at ang piraso ng mga bubog niya ay nakabaon sa puso ko. Nasasaktan akong makita siyang ganito.
"I'm sorry U-Uno. H-hindi ko sinasadya, m-maniwala ka sakin" halos mapaluhod ako dahil sa paghagulhol. Naramdaman ko ang pagsalo niya sa akin at niyakap niya ako.
Patuloy akong humingi ng tawad sa kaniya habang siya ay nakayakap lang sa akin. Ngayong alam ko na ang nararamdaman niya, hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin ang dinadala kong bigat sa loob.
Paano ko magagawang sabihin sa kaniya... n-na namatay ang anak niya dahil sa Lolo niya.
"Huwag ka ng aalis! Huwag mo na akong iiwan. Parang awa mo na" mahinang bulong niya sa akin habang hinahagod ang buhok ko. "H-hindi ko na kaya"
Tumango lamang ako dahil alam ko sa sarili kong hindi ko na rin kayang mahiwalay sa kaniya ulit, ngayong yakap niya na ako. Ilang taon kong hinintay ang pagkakataong ito...ang mayakap muli ang pahinga ko.
---
I woke up with a swollen eyes so I had to wore my aviator during our flight going back to Manila. After we talk we decided to settle everything when he come home.
Maiiwan sila roon at mag istay pa ng ilang araw dahil may mga kailangan pa silang ayusin.
Nahirapan pa akong magpaalam sa kaniya kanina dahil hindi niya ako pinapayagang umalis. Parang bata siyang nagtatampo at gustong itali ako. He said he's afraid that I'm going to leave again, he even asked Kian not to take off his eyes on me.
"Kian pre! Huwag mong aalisin sa kaniya ang paningin mo ha!"
"Bro tanga ka! Baka magselos si Aryana"
"Gago! Magpapadasal ako kapag nangyari yun. Totoo ang himala kapag nagselos si Yana"
Sa huli ay nakawala rin ako sa kaniya. Ramdam ko ang titig ng dalawa kong kaibigan, nanunusok at nagtatanong. I will tell them but not now. I have to settle everything between me and Uno first before I would tell them.
Few days after we came home I decided to meet with Avril, I was so surprised that she brought Hershel, Aryana and... a little girl with her. Is this Skyla? Para naman akong naging emosyonal nang makita siya, maipagmamalaki kong ako ang unang nakahawak sa kaniya.
"Meiii!" Hershel elegantly shouted, I don't know how she can do that. Ang sumigaw ng may poise. Mukhang siya lang ang nakakagawa noon.
"Hersh! Long time no see" I also greeted Aryana and returned her warm embrace.
I looked at Avril to greet her but she just rolled her eyes. The same Avril I love.
I felt like I was part of their circle of friends even after so many years. I hurted Uno, I left him yet his friends remain like this. They never judge people easily... that's what I like about them.
I looked at Skyla who has a puzzled look on her face. She looks like Kylo.
"Baby this is Tita Meisha, the one who helped me gave birth to you" her innocent face turned towards me and she gave me a genuine smile like her mom.
"Hi Tita Meisha! I missed you" my lips parted when she immediately went to me for a hug.
"H-hi Baby, y-you remember me?" I was confused because she's so little when I last saw her. I used to help Hershel to take care of her when I had free time, but I didn't expect that she would remember me. Is that even possible?
"Yes po! Tito Daddi used to show me pictures of yours and tell me stories about you. You're a nice person Tita, you make my Tito Daddi so happy." I got teary eyed because of what she said. Uno must've been so good to her, para pahalagahan siya ng batang ito.
She's indeed Hershel and Kylo's daughter. Manang mana sa kanila.
"Ano? Magdadrama na lang tayo dito? Gosh! I even abandoned my sex life just for this?" here comes the bitchy Avril and of course Aryana had to shut her up because there's a kid.
Nagkwentuhan lamang kami tungkol sa mga nangyari noon. I learnt that Aryana just got home last month from Barcelona. We also talked about their other friends.
"How about you Meisha? Do still want Uno back?" panandalian akong napatigil sa tanong ni Avril.
I know the answer but I don't know the way. I know that for us to start again, I have to open the scar from the past so we could finally heal from it.
"Masyadong maraming nangyari noon. Susubukan kong ayusin iyon ngayon."
I smile on them which they gladly returned. Pagkatapos noon ay kinailangan na rin naming umalis dahil may mga kailangan pa kaming gawin. Nangako naman kaming magkikita kita muli.
I had to go to the Hospital because there's a sudden call from the Director. Imbis na makakapag pahinga na ako ay mukhang may trabaho pa. Haay! Buhay ng Doctor.
"Good evening Dr. Londres" he offered a seat for me which I gladly accept.
"What's with the sudden call Sir?"
"I know you've got too much on your plate ... there's a special request from our patient. They want you to be the one who'll operate him, they are willing to pay any amount." he handed me the folder which contain the information about the patient.
I never declined any offer to me, because I pledged, took an oath and simply because I am a doctor. I never declined anyone except those who are out of my league. I was about to nod at him not until I read his name.
"Luzero S. Mendez Jr." Uno's father.
~💙