E N Z O' S P O V
LONG NARRATION :(
FLASHBACK
"Bakit mo pa ako pinigilan?!" Sigaw ng babae. "Gusto ko na magpahinga, eh!" She broke down.
"Pwede ka naman magpahinga nang hindi iyon ginagawa e." Sabi ko.
"Wala kang alam." Sabi niya at bumaba na pababa pero may isang lalaking sumalubong sakaniya.
"Aila! Ano ba?!" Sigaw nung lalaki.
He's familiar.
"K-kuya? Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong ni Aila.
The guy just hugged her.
Siya si Isaiah Zorilla iyong partner ni Kaia sa mga movies at iyong partner niya na sinabi ni Gio saakin.
Aila Zorilla
Isaiah Zorilla
"Isaiah Zorilla is my cousin."
Oh.
Pinababa niya si Aila sa kasama niyang lalaki at saka ako pinuntahan.
"Hi, I'm Isaiah Zorilla. Aila's cousin. Thank you for stopping her. Binulong niya saakin kanina." He smiled. "Thank you." I nodded. "Matagal na siyang ganyan, are you her friend?" He asked.
"No, I just saw her here but we're classmates." I replied.
"I see. You're kinda familiar to me." He said.
Baka dahil kay Kaia?
"Oh!" He exclaimed. "Are you Aila's boyfriend? Ikaw kasi ang wallpaper niya, eh." Sabi niya na gumulat saakin.
"Uh, no. I have a girlfriend and I don't know Aila, to be honest." I immediately denied.
Yes, I'm claiming Aisha already.
"Oh, I see. Can I have your number?" He asked.
What the?
"Para saan?"
"I'll send you anything as an exchange nalang. Thanks for saving her."
"No thanks. I saved her and I don't need anything. Just..take care of her." Sabi ko, medyo napipikon na.
He smiled. "I will. Thank you. Mauna na kami. Pasensya na abala, bro. At salamat ulit." Sabi niya at tinapik ako.
The next morning ay hindi ko alam kung bakit nasa harapan ko nanaman itong lalaking ito!
"Bro, please. Can you help me?" He begged.
"Sir, what exactly do you need from me?" I asked.
"Court Aila. Court my cousin." He firmly said. "I'll pay you. Hindi siya kumain at nagkulong lang siya sa kwarto niya."
I scoffed. "Are you freaking serious right now? Dude, may girlfriend ako. I made that clear to you already." Nangigil kong sabi.
"Please. Ikaw ang gusto ni Aila. I want her to be happy, bro. Ginagawa ko to para sakaniya. Just..please help me."
"I can help pero hindi sa ganto. Edi parang niloko ko na rin ang sarili ko at ang taong mahal ko. And you're an actor? 'Yang perang ipambabayad mo sakin, ipagamot mo nalang sakaniya. I have the amount of money you'll give. Doble pa." Sabi ko. "Bring her to a psychiatrist. I'll help." I offered.
He cursed. "Bro, I tried that. Ginawa ko na yon! Trust me! I tried everything I can pero ayaw niya. Natatakot siya." He cried.
"Pilitin mo. Problema ba yon?" Sarkastiko kong sabi.
This man is testing my freaking patience!
"Bro, please, help me. My cousin deserves to be free." He said.
"Then, free her. Stop caging her." Sabi ko.
"I'm not caging her, kasi kung oo? Edi sana wala siya dito sa labas. Please." He begged again.
Guso ko tumulong. She needs help pero mas hindi ko kayang saktan at lokohin si Aisha.
"She likes you..and she wants to be free with you." He said.
"I'll think about it. I have my classes." I said and left.
I heard him curse.
Sasabihin ko to kay Aisha, maybe she can help her.
But as I opened her message, bumagsak na ang mga balikat ko. She's turning off her phone for a week. Ayoko naman siyang istorbohin dahil alam kong nahihirapn din siyang mag adjust sa harvard. She's busy with her life as well.
I received a message from Isaiah.
Unknown:
Bro, I really need your help. Madali lang naman. Just make her feel loved. Ligawan mo lang, we never know.
Enzo:
You know I can post this sa social media right?
And
I told you
May girlfriend ako.
Unknown:
Wala akong pakialam sa media, bro. I want her to be okay. She deserves more.
Sira ba to? Pano si Kaia?
Kaia is Aisha's bestfriend. Madadamy si Kaia sa pangalan niya panigurado. Kapag nalaman niya iyon ay baka mamroblema lang din si Aisha.
I am stucked right now! Ang hirap! I need her. I need to talk to her but she needs time for herself. I have to decide on my own.
Enzo:
Okay, then.
Wag mo lang hahayaang madamay si Kaia dito.
Unknown:
WAIT
Si Kaia ba ang girlfriend mo?
Enzo:
No.
Bestfriend niya ang girlfriend ko. Ayokong mastress siya.
Unknown:
I see.
Thanks, bro. I owe you a lot.
I'll give you Aila's phone.
[Phone number]
Just text her. Like that. Alam mo naman na siguro ang gagagwin diba? Ligawan mo.
Enzo:
Hindi ko siya kayang ligawan.
I'll be a friend.
The next morning ay nilapitan ko si Aila. She went to school today.
"Hi, Aila!" I greeted trying to be jolly.
She seems shocked. I saw her blushing, too.
"E-Enzo? What do you need?" She asked.
"You need a friend? I can be." I said and sat down beside her.
"Is this about what happened? Kasi kung oo, no, I don't need a friend."
Man, this is gonna be a long time.
"Hmm. Who said I wanna be friends? I want to be..more than friends..you know." I smirked.
This is bad. So bad. *curse
Why do I have to say that? Stupid Enzo.
Aisha, I'm sorry, baby.
"Really?" She asked. "Awa lang yan. Tigilan mo ko. Alam kong may girlfriend ka. Ayokong maging kabit!" Biglang sigaw niya.
"Oh, chill. Just trying." Sabi ko.
Hindi na sya nakasagot dahil dumating na ang prof namin.
I know how girls act of course. Hindi lang si Aisha ang nagustuhan ko pero kay Aisha lang ako nag seryoso. I told her I'll wait pero hindi ko alam kung bakit ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon ngayon.
"Let's start our day one, Enzo." Aila said.
Kumakain kami ngayon sa isang restaurant.
"A-Are you sure?" I asked her.
She chuckled. "Yes. I love you, Enzo. Thank you."
I was stunned.
Yes, I courted her for a year. Tinigil ko ang communication ko kay Aisha at kahit kanino na related sakaniya at kahit si Gio.
Hindi ko siya kayang lokohin. Mahal na mahal ko siya pero ayaw ng tadhana saamin.
It's been 1 year, mahal. Are you doing good? I miss you. I'm sorry, bub.
Alam ko namang dadating ako sa oras na to pero nagugulat parin ako. I knew this day would come.
I thought it will be her saying her sweet yes in front of me
but..
It was someone I never expected and someone I don't really love.
I acted shocked and touched. Hinalikan ko pa ang noo niya.
"Thank you, Aila." I whispered and held her hand. Hindi ko pa kayang sabihing mahal kita, Aila.
Pakiramdam ko ako na ang pinakamasamang tao sa mundo. I look so stupid. No, I am really stupid.
I ended what I have with Aisha without telling anything to her. Natatakot ako. Hindi ko siya kayang mawala. Hinding hindi ko kakayanin.
I'm fooling Aila. I'm fooling myself and I'm fooling the girl of my dreams.
Aila and I went to several dates and travels. We did everything with each other. We did our plates together, review for school, rest in each others arms. We were really like couples.
But, I won't deny, naging masaya ako kay Aila. I had new adventures with her and it was all memorable but there's still a piece of me looking for her.
Sa bawat yakap niya, siya parin ang hinahanap ko. Sa bawat pag-alis kasama siya ay siya parin ang hinihiling kong kahawak kamay ko.
Siya lang pero mapaglaro ang tadhana namin.
"Thanks, bro. Happy first anniversary sainyo." Isaiah said with Kaia beside her.
Kaia knows and she's mad. Pwede ko naman daw kasing tanggihan ang boyfriend niya pero niligawan ko parin daw. Hindi ko na alam! I'm messed up right now. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko siya niligawan. I was just playing! Pero gulong gulo na talaga ako noon, hindi ko na alam kung anong gagagwin ko. Namimiss ko si Aisha pero ayoko na siyang paasahin. She doesn't deserve me anymore.
Alam ko ang consequence ng mga ginagawa ko but I chose the bad decision. Its either I court Aila or I hurt Aisha. I love Aisha or I'll let Aila do what she wants.
2 years and I still can't let you go, mahal.
"Enzo, let's talk." Sabi ni Kaia. Isaiah left us by kissing Kaia's forehead. "Don't ever try to ruin Aisha ever again. Alam ni Aisha 'to, Enzo. Hindi na namin alam ni Cali kung anong nangayari sakaniya. But, she's doing good." Kaia showed me a picture that broke my heart.
May iba nang nakahawak sa mundo ko.
"Hindi siya nagpaparamdam saamin. Pero okay raw siya sabi ni Claire. Tapusin mo na lahat, Enzo. Masaya akong okay na si Aila pero bakit kailangan mong saktan ang bestfriend ko? Hindi niya to deserve! We trusted you pero hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyari sayo, e. Pinagmukha mong sira si Aisha kakahintay sa mga messages mo. Stay strong sainyo ni Aila, ha? Remember, walang relasyon ang nagtatagal na nagsimula sa panloloko." She said and left.
Sorry, mahal.
AFTER 8 YEARS (Aisha went home.)
Pauwi na kami ni Aila ngayon sa bahay nila Isaiah.
"Are you tired, baby?" I asked Aila.
"Medyo lang naman." She smiled and that made me relieved.
Pagpasok namin ay maingay na.
"May bisita yata si Kuya? " Bulong ni Aila at pumasok na. Sumunod naman ako.
I was shocked. Everyone was shocked except for Aila.
She's here. She's home but she's far from me now.
As Aila was about to introduce me, her phone rang.
"Wait lang. I have to take this call." Paalam niya.
She changed a lot. She became more gorgeous. She's tall now but, she looks slimmer na. I heard she ranked 5 in harvard. She looks mature. She looks happy now.
"Oh my gosh, Matthew Davis! Wait for me." She said to the phone. "I'm sorry something URGENT happen." Paalam niya at tumingin kay Kaia na mukhang guilty.
"Hatid na kita." Sabay na sabi namin ni Cali ngunit tinanggihan niya at wala ako sa sariling napasunod sakaniya na sana hindi ko nalang pala ginawa.
I saw her welcome the guy with a hug.
Andito parin pala. Andito parin pala yung sakit. Andito parin pala yung pagmamahal ko para sakaniya.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Thank you for loving and choosing me, bub." Aisha said after hearing my story...again. Nakahiga siya sa lap ko habang nasa park kami.
"I won't get tired of loving and choosing you." I whispered back.
"Mommy, daddy! Look, I have butterfly!" Our little girl called us.
"Can mommy see?" Aisha stood up and went to our Bella.
I watched the both of them smile on the butterfly while the sunset hitting their faces.
It's the most beautiful scene I've ever seen.
Seeing them happy, seeing my Bella smile and seeing Aisha with me everyday is so much to ask for that's why I am so blessed to have them both.
I will take care of them everyday. I will risk anything for them. I'll do anything for them. I'll be Bella's super dad forever and I'll be Aisha's forever home.
"Dad, let's go home na." Aya ni Bella. I smiled at her and kissed her in her forehead.
Pinuntahan ko si Aisha na tinitignan parin ang langit. She's probably thanking God again. Tinignan ko rin ang langit at nagpasalamat muli bago siya lapitan kasama si Bella na nakahawak lang sa kamay ko.
"Uwi na tayo, mahal." Bulong ko kay Aisha at nginitian siya.
"Mommy, let's go home na po, please! I want to rest na po." Bella said that made us smiled.
"We will, anak." She smiled at Bella and look at me with a smile once I grabbed her hand. "Let's go home."
Holding their hand feels like holding the whole universe.
<3