Naghahabol ako nang hininga nung bumaba ako ng kwarto. Nakita ko si Mommy na may kausap sa telepono at binaba niya iyon nung mapansin ako. I saw her gulped before she uttered a word.
"A-anak,"
"Mommy? T-totoo po bang aalis si Gellian? P-paano po ako?" I clasped my hand tightily, and I could feel my tears forming up in my eyes.
She walked towards me while her legs were trembling from guilt. "A-anak, I'm sorry. T-this is our fault. I'm sorry if you have to suffer because of us."
Tuluyan nang bumagsak ang luha sa aking mga mata. "Mom, I have to see him. I need to stop him from leaving me. I know... this is not what he wants."
She took a glance at her wristwatch. "Anak, hindi mo na siya maabutan. He should be at the Air Asia—"
I ran even before she finished her words. Narinig ko ang pagsigaw ni Mommy pero 'di na ako lumingon. Natatakot akong tuluyan nang iwan ni Gellian. Hindi ko kakayanin.
"Manong, pakihatid po ako sa Air Asia. P-pakibilisan po." pakiusap ko sa driver ng taxi kung saan ako sumakay.
Napakatagal nang usad ng sasakyan at manhid na ang aking kamay sa kakatawag kay Gellian, pero hindi siya sumasagot. Parang nagkakarera ang bilis ng tibok ng aking puso sa halo-halong emosyon na aking nararamdaman.
"Manong, wala na po bang ibibilis 'yan?!" I gripped a scoop of my hair because of frustration. "M-mahuhuli na po ako sa pupuntahan ko. M-maiiwan na po ako..."
Thirty minutes had passed when we reached the airport. I gave all of my money to the driver since I didn't know how much it cost to drive me here. I cursed in my mind when I realized that I was only wearing my pajama shirt and pants. Still with my bedroom slippers on, I walked towards the airport's entrance when the guard blocked my way.
"Sweetheart, nasaan ang kasama mo? Bawal kang pumasok kapag wala kang kasamang matanda." The lady guard gave me a heads up.
I bit my lower lip, trying to think of a good reason. "M-miss, n-nando'n po yung k-kaibigan ko sa loob. Hindi ko na siya ulit... makikita kapag 'di ko po siya maabutan."
I saw the worry in her eyes when she heard how sincere I was after saying that.
"I guess you... really love this friend a lot," then she looked at my slippers, which were almost worn off because of too much running.
"Yes po. Yung... k-kaibigan ko po na 'yon... hindi niya po ako kayang iwan. Alam ko pong naghihintay siya sa 'kin sa loob, so please..." I sobbed.
Wala na akong pakialam kahit maraming tao ang naaawa sa akin. Ang mahalaga'y makapasok ako sa loob ng airport para pigilan si Gellian bago pa niya ako iwanan.
I shrugged when the lady guard caressed my back. "Go ahead, sweetheart. I want you to leave this airport along with your childhood friend."
Before rushing inside the airport, I nodded and smiled sweetly at her. Napaawang ang aking labi nung makitang sobrang lawak ng loob ng airport at makaramdam ng ginaw sa sobrang lamig. Yakap ko ang aking sarili nung magsimula akong maglakad sa 'di ko malamang direksyon.
"G-Gellian, w-where are you? I'm now... here to pick you up this time." I whispered to myself while shaking from the cold.
Lakad dito, takbo doon. Pakiramdam ko'y nasa gitna ako nang kawalan. Nagsisimula na akong mawalan ng pag-asa. Lumipas pa ang ilang minuto at parang gusto ko ng sumuko pero sabi ng puso ko'y huwag. Pilit kong nilalakasan ang aking loob na huwag umiyak. Ang mapanuring mga tingin ng mga tao ang siyang nagpasidhi ng aking damdamin.
"Gellian!" I yelled at the center crowd. "N-nasaan ka na? S-sabi mo, hindi mo 'ko iiwan! Nangako ka sa 'kin na sabay tayong mangangarap! Nangako kang... s-sabay natin 'yong tutuparin!"
Napaupo ako sa pinakamalapit na beam chair pagkatapos ko iyong isigaw. I covered my face with both of my hands while I was sobbing heavily. Tears keep on falling from my eyes, and my head feels so heavy. I was crying so hard, which made me catch my breath. I have never felt so pitiful in my whole life.
"I thought you didn't want to see me," The voice of the guy that I'm looking for suddenly whispered. A warm jacket was wrapped around my body, sending shivers down my spine.
Kaagad akong tumingala nung marinig iyon. I wiped my tears using my back hand when I found out that I was right. It's Gellian. He's wearing a loose plaid longsleeve shirt over his white t-shirt. His wavy hair was combed upwards, and it made him more eye-catching. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed about what I was wearing.
I gasped when he bent his knee to match my level and revealed the shoebox that he was hiding on his back. I was shocked when I saw that they were the Dolce and Gabbana shoes that I wanted to buy before. He placed my hand on his shoulder for support before he took off my worn slippers and put the shoes on my feet.
He arched his head and looked at my eyes after he'd done. "It looks good on you, baby."
I stood up from my seat and held his wrist to guide him out of the airport, but he didn't move at all. I turned my face to him and I couldn't fathom the emotions in his eyes.
"L-let's go, Gellian." I gave him an assuring smile.
He faltered. "I'm sorry, Zein..."
Dahan-dahan akong kumalas mula sa pagkakahawak sa kanya. "W-why? Is it because of me? Gellian, I promise I won't bother you again, but please d-don't... leave me." I pleaded.
He gave me a tight hug before he made his promise. "Zein, babalik ako. B-babalikan kita, pangako. At sa oras na bumalik ako, hindi na kita ulit iiwan."
"I... like you, Gellian." I mumbled between my sobs.
Gusto ko na siya simula pagkabata pero hindi ko lang kaagad naamin. Lagi siyang nand'yan sa tabi ko pero ngayon ko lang naipagtapat ang tunay kong nararamdaman. He's my childhood friend, my puppy love, and the only person I want to have a happy ending with.
He nodded his head while caressing my back. "I like you too, Zein. You don't know how much you made me happy. I will strive hard until no one comes in our way to separate us again."
"Can you... promise that you'll come back for me no matter how long?" I surrendered.
Gellian held my hand and instantly beamed upon seeing his gift that I was wearing. "Itong singsing na 'to ang simbolo na babalik ako sa 'yo. Kung wala ka pang asawa pagbalik ko... papakasalan na kita. I will surely come back to continue our story, Zein."
"Son, let's go!" Uncle Allen called him in an authoritative tone.
Gellian looked intently into my eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat when his gaze went down to my lips. I closed my eyes when he moved his face close to me and felt relieved when he kissed my left hand.
"You're still a baby, so... I guess this is where I should kiss you for now." He confessed before he messed with my hair.
Bumaling ang atensyon ko kay Tita Cecil nung siya'y magsalita. "Zein, I'm sorry, but we have to go..."
Gellian cupped my face to make me focus on him. My chest tightened upon seeing his dreary eyes. It's painful for me to see him like this. This is the first time I've seen this expression. He looks like... he's barely living.
"S-should I... just stay, b-baby?" His voice broke.
Is it okay for me to ask him to stay?
Gellian has always been with me since we were kids, and I know he would surely stay if I asked him to, but I think Uncle Allen is right. I guess... we need to let go of each other in order to grow.
Nakayukom ang aking kamao habang pinagmamasdan ang kanyang maamong mukha. Pilit kong tinatandaan ang bawat detalye nito upang hindi ko ito malimutan kung sakaling hindi niya na ako babalikan.
Labag man sa kalooban ko ay binigyan ko siya nang matamis na ngiti.
"I w-will wait for you, Sleepyhead." my voice broke.
Muli niya akong niyakap nang sobrang higpit na wari mo'y ayaw niya na akong pakawalan. Muling sumigaw si Tito Allen, hudyat na dapat ko na siyang bitawan. Bagsak ang kanyang balikat habang naglalakad palayo. Kasabay ng mabagal niyang paghakbang ay ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha. Kagat ko ang aking labi upang pigilan iyon na tawagin siyang muli at humiling na siya'y manatili.
Goodbye, my long-time friend, my knight in shining armor, and my first heartbreak.
---------
🌈💅