Josh's POV
Nagising ako mula sa pagkakatulog dahil sa nakakasilaw na liwanag galing sa nakabukas na bintana ng kwarto.
Padabog akong tumayo at mabilis na isinara iyon bago lumipat sa mula sa sofa papuntang kama para muling matulog. Headache is killing me because of my hangover, i wanna lay down.
I throw myself to bed and ready to feel asleep again when my phone suddenly vibrated under my pillow.
"Fuck.." i cursed under my breath. I was decided to ignore it and go back to sleep again...but my sense is already awake.
Inis kong itinapon sa kung saan ang unan ko dahil sa pagkakaputol ng masarap kong tulog at kunot noong tinignan ang screen ng phone.
For pete's sake, it's only 7 in the morning!
I almost scowled because of annoyance and read the message.
Doon lang ako natigilan at napaupo nang mabasa ko kung kaninong numero ang nasa screen ko ngayon.
Maine M.: Josh, i just want to say, i already forgave you. At first, i indeed blame you, i hated you so much, but it's all in the past. U don't want to pick any grievance with me as i go to another level of my life. Josh, i also want to say that, i am proud of what you've done. I am glad that you chose to protect your family. I am glad that you made the right choice. I hope na, if you encounter a situation like this again, you will still choose the right thing.
Maine M.: and I'm sorry, because this is all i can do before i leave...
Habang binabasa ang mga salitang iyon ay hindi ko namalayang tumutulo na pala na parang gripo ang mga luha ko.
Akala ko ay naiyak ko na lahat kagabi, akala ko ay nainum ko na lahat ng sakit kagabi, pero meron pa rin pala.
Bakit kailangan naming magdusang dalawa? Bakit hindi nalang kami hayaan ng tadahana? Ginagawa ko naman ang lahat para maayos kami ah...
I immediately called her number, but it was unavailable anymore. I tried a lot of times, hoping that she'll pick up, but it never did.
Napapikit ako ng mariin at inilagay ang isang braso sa ulo para sana mabawasan ang migraine na nararamdaman ko ngayon. It even went more painful when i cried.
And it was too late when i realize the last sentence that she sent to me. My door flew open and my mother suddenly jump beside me. Her face is somehow filled with happiness and joy, she have a big smile and her lips and her eyes is tearing because of joy.
That time, i thought, woah...it's been a long time since i saw my mother smile so happily like that. It seems like she was blessed by heavens.
"Ma?"
"Anak! Goodnews! A very very good news!"
She shrieked and suddenly hugged me so tight.
Wala akong time makapag isip kaya hinintay ko nalang na sabihin nila sa akin ang sinasabi nilang 'goodnews' kahit litong lito na ako. Ano ang magandang balita na iyan? Bakit ngayon pa nangyari ngayong nasasaktan ako sa pag alis ni Annie? Magaling naba si papa?
"Anak, Manzano Group suddenly invested 10% of their heir's share! Makakapag-bayad na tayo sa kanila, anak! Mapapa-opera na natin ang papa mo!"
She said and hug me even tighter.
Doon ako muling natigilan at nawala ang kuryosidad sa mukha ko. I don't know why but needles started attacking my heart again... She did this? Annie did this?
Ito ba ang ibig niyang sabihin sa huling magagawa niya bago siya tuluyang u-umalis?
"Bakit hindi ka umiimik anak? This is a very very good news for us, be happy!" my mother scowled that even made me cry.
"I am happy, ma... T-tears of joy"
Sabi ko habang kaharap siya at hinayaan ang sarili kong humagolhul kahit alam ko sa sarili kong hindi naman ito galing sa tuwa. Ibinuhos ko lahat ng sakit habang hindi pa halata..
Bakit ganun? Bakit sa kabila ng mga nagawa ko sa kanya ay ito pa rin ang ginaganti niya? Bakit? Bakit kapa kasi umalis, Annie...
"You should thank their heir, Josh Cullen! Hulog siya ng langit para sa atin!"
My mom suddenly said that made me smiled bitterly.
"She is indeed a gift from heaven..." nauutal na sabi ko. "But I'm afraid i don't have the chance to thank her anymore.."
—–—
Annie's POV
I was walking slowly while pulling my baggages. Every step i took was like a thorn, it keeps on making it more harder and painful.
Gaya ng ibang paliparan, puno ng mga tao ang lugar na ito kahit na napaka-aga pa. Ngayon palang ay maglalakad na ako para hindi na ako makipagsiksikan mamaya kapag departing na. Baka kasi maiwanan pa ako ng flight ko.
Today is the day. Ngayon ko na iiwan ang Pilipinas, at mga taong mahalaga sa akin para mag aral sa ibang bansa. Masakit para sa akin at aminado akong hindi maluwag ang loob gawin ito...pero wala akong pagpipilian at gusto kong maging praktikal.
Huminga ako ng malalim habang nakatingin sa kabuoan ng lugar na iyon. Simula noong nakilala ko sila Rulu, si Josh, si Trevor, hindi ko na talaga isinama sa plano ko ang mangibang-bansa para mag-aral...kasi may mga kaibigan na akong parang pangalawang pamilya ko na...
"Okay lang, Annie. Baka ito talaga ang nakatadhanang mangyari.."
I said and took a very very deep breath, refusing the urge to cry.
And i said wow, when did i become so superstitious like this? I never believed in fates before, but now...
I was about to took another step closer when someone crazy suddenly yelled my name right behind my back. Natigilan ako agad at nanlaki ang mata sa gulat... Bakit siya andito?!
Agad akong lumingon at nakita ang ibang taong napapadaan na nakatingin sa amin.
Our gaze met and he's obviously panting like a marathoner. Mukhang malayo layo ang tinakbo niya para lang mahanap ako...
And to that thought, i smiled. Masaya akong siyang ang huling taong makikita ko bago ako tuluyang maka-alis.
"Annie, I'm so sorry" he cried with our three meters distance. His tears are pouring down to his cheeks and his eyes are somewhat full of regrets.
I genuinely smiled and started walking towards him.
"Don't say sorry, it's all in the past now"
Pag aalo ko at hinaplos haplos ang balikat niya. He cried even harder and pulled me to hug me tight. I was almost suffocated but i still smiled.
I miss his hug so much...
"Kailangan mo ba talagang u-umalis?" he cried between our hugs.
"What, you don't want me to leave?" pang aasar ko kahit nagbabadya na ang mga luha sa mata ko. Pinipigilan ko lang dahil ayokong puro nalang iyak ang araw na ito.
"Nobody w-wants you to leave... We need you here. Kung hindi lang sinabi sa amin ni Trevor, baka umalis kana talaga nang wala lang pasabi sa amin. Alam ko namang galit ka pa pero w-wag namang ganito na basta basta ka nalang aalis, hindi kami handa eh!"
He ranted that made me laugh.
" Aish Rulu, stop acting like a kid. It's not like I'll never come back anymore "
I said and end the hug. Tinignan ko siya ng mabuti sa mata niyang puro luha pa rin at ngumiti.
"Take good care to those three girls. Maging lalaki ka muna habang wala ako ha"
I said.
"Ano sila, gold?"
Biro pa niya kahit umiiyak siya.
"Pero para sayo, gagawin ko.... Ikaw ang mag iingat doon. You will live alone, literal na alone kasi wala ka nang kahit na sinong kakilala sa US"
Paalala niya na tinanguan ko lang.
Mas gusto ko ito, iyong nag aasaran lang kami at hindi nag aasaran. This is how we used to be, and i want us to stay like this forever..
"Alright, alright. I gotta go, baka maiwan na ako ng eroplano ko"
Sabi ko at pumilit ng tawa.
He stared at me and smile wide before i turn around and walk away slowly.
Atleast now i can finally rest... I can finally breath. I have to many regrets, i have to many insecurities, and i want to make it all up while I'm away and alone...
"Annie!" he called one more time. Huminto lang ako pero hindi ako lumingon.
"We will wait for you to comeback!"
I smiled...before tears finally fell from my eyes.