Author's Note: To those who waited, who are waiting, and will continue to wait for their love ones, this is for you.
The Boy in Ripped Jeans (Tagalog Version)
February 07, 2013 – Present Time
Pinagmasdan ko yung pangalan nya sa screen ng phone ko. I sighed.
February 14, 2010 – 3 Years Back
Sinipa sipa yung bato na nasa harapan ko habang naglalakad sa isang park. Sinipa ko ulit at mukang napalakas ang sipa ko dahil gumulong ito at tumama sa paanan ng isang lalakeng nakasuot ng itim na converse at blue ripped jeans.
"S-sorry."
Tumingala ako at tinignan ko sya, nakita ko yung mga lobong nagliliparan sa itaas namin, humangin pa ng malakas, tuloy yung puno na nasa tapat namin, naglagas ng mga dahon na sumama sa paglipad ng mga lobo.
Ngumiti sya, "It's okay." Tumingala sya, "Ah-" napakamot sya sa ulo nya. Mukang hawak hawak nya yung mga lobo, nabitawan nya dahil sa batong nasipa ko patungo sakanya.
Tumingala din ako, "Ah- babayaran ko nalang." Maglalabas na sana ako ng wallet, kaya lang pinigilan nya ako.
Ngumiti ulit sya, "Okay lang."
February 08, 2013 – Present Time
Binuksan ko yung ilaw ng kwarto ko. I sighed. Hinawi ko yung kurtina sa sliding door patungo sa balcony at pinagmasdan ko yung mga kumikisap na ilaw sa mga kalayuan na building. Binuksan ko yung pintuan at lumabas ako, hinawakan ko yung harang at tumingin ako sa itaas.
Nilabas ko yung phone ko at muling tinignan yung pangalan nya sa screen, nagbabakasakali, na baka sagutin nya na yung tawag ko. Pinindot ko yung "call" at itinapat ko sa aking tenga yung phone.
"The number you have dialed cannot be reached, please leave a message after the beep."
"I miss you."
March 03, 2010 – Still 3 years back
Habang hinahanap ko yung I.D ko sa locker ko, biglang nagvibrate yung phone ko.
"Hello?" I heard breathes at the other line. Lalake yung sumagot, and his voice sounds familiar.
"Hi?"
"Iris?"
"Who's this?"
"Kyle."
February 10, 2013 – Present Time
"Iris kakain kami, sama ka?" tanong ni Jia.
I shook my head, "May pupuntahan pa ako eh."
"Pupunta ka nanaman ba sa park? Hihintayin mo nanaman ba ang wala doon?" tanong ni Fei.
I smiled, "Oo, maghihintay ulit ako sa wala ngayon."
Nagkatinginan si Fei at Jia and they both sighed, "It's raining, may payong ka ba?" Tanong ni Jia sakin.
I nodded, though wala talaga akong dalang payong. "Meron, ingat nalang kayo." I smiled.
"Meron akong payong sa ilalim ng desk ko." Sabi ni Fei while she tapped my right shoulder. "Soli mo nalang bukas." She winked.
Naglalakad ako habang hawak hawak yung payong ni Fei, tinignan ko yung malaking puno na nasa harapan ko at umupo ako sa bench. Tumingala ako, hindi naman ganon kalakas yung ulan, it's more of a shower. Sinipa sipa ko yung maliliit na bato sa harapan ko until I saw a shadow which made me lift my head up. Nagbabakasakali ako, na siya yon. But I was wrong. Napayuko ulit ako.
I waited for more several hours hanggang sa tumila na yung ulan at dumilim na yung paligid. Sinarado ko na yung payong at tumayo na ako.
March, 04 2010 – Still 3 years back
Binuksan ko yung locker ko, may nakita ako sa locker na isang card nang isang lalakeng nakaripped jeans at isang babaeng nakasweater, mukang personalized yung card, pero ang cute nya. Sino naman kaya ang nagbigay neto? Binuksan ko yung card at may nakita akong nakadrawing na lobo at dalawang taong magkaharap – wait, parang may alam akong ganitong scene.
"Meet me at the park, in front of the big oak tree, later at 5 p.m."
I blinked my eye, is this for real? Hindi ko alam, but after class, I went there, kahit umuulan. Mabagal akong naglakad habang natatanaw ko yung malaking oak tree, wala akong nakitang nakatayo doon, pero tumuloy parin ako sa paglakad habang hawak hawak yung payong ko. Nang makalapit ako may nakita akong lalakeng nakataas yung kamay habang ginagamit nya yung palad nya na pansalo sa mga nahuhulog na raindrops sa mga dahon ng puno. Tumingin sya sakin. He smiled, a smile that can make any heart fluster.
"Ikaw ba yung nagbigay nung card sa locker ko?" Tanong ko.
He nodded, lumapit sya saakin, basa yung buhok nya, pati narin yung damit nya, nakaripped jeans ulit sya, "You're fifteen minutes late."
"Hindi ka ba nagkamali ng locker?" tanong ko.
He laughed, a laugh that can light up a whole town. "Ba't naman ako magkakamali?" he smiled.
What does he want? Siya yung aksidente kong natamaan ng batong sinisipa ko a few weeks ago.
"Bakit mo ko pinapunta dito?" tanong ko.
"You're Iris, right? Sophomore student?"
I nodded, "Pano mo nalaman yung pangalan ko at na sophomore ako?" tanong ko.
May inilabas sya sa bulsa nya, at nakita ko yung I.D ko, yung matagal ko nang hinahanap. Nahulog ko siguro dahil nakalagay lang ito sa bulsa ko. Inabot nya sakin yung I.D ko, "Nahulog mo."
I smiled, kinuha ko yung I.D ko sa kamay nya at tinignan ko sya, "Thanks!" sabi ko.
Nilapit nya sakin yung kamay nya, "Kyle." sabi nya sakin.
I smiled and shook his hand, "Iris."
February 14, 2013 – Present Time
Inangat ko yung kamay ko, at sinarado ko yung kamay ko nang may biglang pumatak sa palad ko, tumingala ako at nakita ko yung madilim na kalangitan. Sinarado ko yung kamay ko and I started to walk away.
Pagkauwi ko, I again, dialed his number.
"The number you have dialed cannot be reached, please leave a message after the beep."
"Happy Valentines, Kyle." I sighed and dropped my phone.
March 10, 2010 – Still 3 years back
A month passed, at malapit nang mag summer, today's March 10, malapit narecognition namin. Nothing changed the past month, though I've been feeling strange lately. Biglang nagring yung phone ko so I answered it.
"Hello?"
"Iris, can we meet? At the oak tree?"
I started to feel strange again; I'm starting to get butterflies in my stomach again. Maybe because I heard the voice of the guy I like. Yes, a month passed and I started to like Kyle, hindi ko alam kung kelan at papaano. One day, I just woke up and I realized that I like him. It may seem like I'm too young to fall, but can you blame me?
"Baket?"
"I have to tell you something."
My heart started to beat fast.
"Sa phone mo nalang sabihin."
"Ayoko. Importante 'to."
I sighed, "Fine, will be there in five minutes."
I heard his laugh that made me fluster, again. "I'll wait for you." I heard his breathing before I ended the call.
Naglakad ako papunta sa park at habang naglalakad ako, may nakita akong babaeng sinisipa yung bato na mukang bwiset na bwiset hanggang sa natamaan nya yung isang lalake – wait, I think I know this scene. Biglang nabitawan nung lalake yung mga lobong hawak nya while facing the girl.
"Do you remember?"
Nagulat ako nung narinig ko yung boses ni Kyle, tumalikod ako at nakita ko ang isang lalakeng naka blue ripped jeans, naglalakad habang may hawak na mga lobong iba't iba yung kulay. "Kyle-"
I don't know what he's up to, but I can't stop my heart from beating fast.
Lumapit sya sa harapan ko at bigla nyang binitawan sa harapan ko yung mga lobo at nagsiliparan ito sa itaas. Biglang umihip ang malamig na hangin at mabilis netong tinangay yung mga lobo.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" tanong nya.
I nodded; of course. "Oo naman." I smiled. "February fourteen." Bulong ko.
"That day, napatunayan ko, na totoo pala ang love at first sight."
My heart started to beat fast, ano ang ibig nyang sabihin doon? "Ah, haha. Talaga?"
"That day, sa maniwala ka man o hindi, I fell for you."
March 09, 2013 – Present Time
"The number you have dialed cannot be reached, please leave a message after the beep."
It's March 10th, the day where Kyle and I started being a couple. Sophomore ako at Junior siya sa ibang school. He's my first and probably going to be my last, that's what I thought until he left. Naglakad lakad ako papunta sa park, wala pang masyadong tao dahil maaga pa. Nilagay ko yung kamay ko sa bulsa ko. Yung dahilan kung bakit ako araw-araw nagpupunta dito, was because I made a promise to Kyle before he left.
March 10, 2011 – Finally 2 years back
March 10th, first anniversary naming ni Kyle. At imbis na magcelebrate kami at magpakasaya, nalaman kong aalis pala sila papunta ng Japan dahil namatay yung lola nya. Before he said his goodbye, we met at the same old oak tree we first met.
"Happy first anniversary." Sabi nya sakin.
I smiled, "Happy first anniversary."
"Sorry ha? Hindi ko macecelebrate ang first anniversary natin. Babalik din ako kaagad." He kissed my forehead.
"Mm, stay safe." Bulong ko.
"Remember what I told you?"
"That I should turn around whenever I'm missing you, at pagkaikot ko, makikita kaagad kita?" I smiled.
He smiled back, "Let's meet here again."
I nodded, "Okay."
"Hintayin mo ako dito ha? Promise?"
I laughed, "Promise." I smiled, "Kahit araw araw pa akong pumunta dito, I'll wait for you." Itinaas ko yung pinky finger ko, "Bumalik ka dito ha? Promise?"
He smiled, and linked his pinky finger into mine, "Promise."
March 10, 2013 – Present Time
It's been two years, since I last heard of him. Kinabukasan noong March 11, 2011, nangyare yung lindol at tsunami sa Japan. Ayoko namang isipin na nasama sya doon sa mga namatay sa tsunami, I don't know what happened to him, kung sinasadya nya ba or is this a ploy. But I kept my promise, and I'll keep it until I can.
I stood in front of the oak tree, kinuha ko yung phone ko at dinial ko yung number ni Kyle. I waited for it to ring. Instead of hearing "The number you have dialed cannot be reached, please leave a message after the beep." may sumagot sa kabilang linya.
"Hello?"
"Iris."
Biglang tumulo yung luha ko nang marinig ko yung boses nya.
"Kyle?"
I turned around, like what he said. But I realized that he's not there
"I waited for two years Kyle."
"I know." his voice sounded sad. "Close your eyes."
Nanginginig yung labi ko, "Why?"
"Iris, close your eyes and count to three."
I slowly closed my eyes and counted to three.
"Open your eyes."
Dahan dahan kong binuksan yung mata ko and I saw him, standing in front of me, wearing those old same blue ripped jeans. I started to stammer, napahawak ako sa bibig ko.
Lumapit ako sakanya, "I kept my promise, I waited for you." I slowly smiled.
"Pero hindi ko natupad yung akin Iris."
Nawala yung ngiti sa bibig ko, "But you're here."
"Kalimutan mo na ako." he whispered.
"B-bakit?"
He looked away, "Hindi ako ang para sayo."
Anong ibig sabihin nya doon? Is this is a play? Joke lang ba 'to? Is this for real?
"Hindi kita maintindihan."
He looked at me.
"Two years ago, I died."
Tumulo bigla yung luha ko, tinignan ko lang sya without saying anything.
"Hindi ko natupad yung pangako ko sayo, sinira ko yung pangako ko. Yun yung rason, kung bakit hindi mo na ulit ako nakita."
"P-pero nakikita kita." I said, my voice breaking.
"Nagmakaawa ako Sakanya, para makita kitang ulit. Pinapanood kita araw araw habang hinihintay mo ako dito, pinapanood kita habang tinatawagan mo yung phone ko, pinapanood kita habang araw araw kang umiiyak – at alam mo ba kung ano pa yung pinaka masakit doon? Umiiyak ka ng dahil sakin, gustong gusto kitang yakapin, pero hindi ko magawa."
Niyakap ko sya, "You're cruel." bulong ko.
"Iris, sorry."
"But I still love you." pumikit ako at pagkadilat ko, I see him disappearing slowly.
Bumitaw sya sakin, "Alam kong meron pang isang lalake ang mas nararapat saiyo, na mas maalagaan ka." he looked at me with those painful eyes that wants to cry. "Sorry."
Hinawakan nya yung magkabilang pisngi ko and he kissed my forehead. Napapikit ako at sa pagbukas ko sa mga mata ko, I found no one in front of me. That's when it hit me. Tumingin ako sa paligid ko, tears in my cheeks.
"Kyle?" bulong ko, tumingin ako sa kabilang gilid, tumingala ako, "Kyle, I still love you, and your ripped jeans."
February 14, 2014
A year passed. Natanggap ko na yung nangyare kay Kyle, yung nangyare samin. I was hurt, but I had to let him go. That's the least thing I can do for him and for myself. Hindi na rin ako araw-araw pumupunta sa park kahit na paminsan-minsan, pumupunta parin ako, but for a reason, I felt like going today. It's kind of nostalgic since it's February fourteen. Habang naglalakad ako, may nakita akong bato at nmay nagsabi sakin na sipain ko ito kagaya nung dati kaya sinipa ko yung kawawang bato, sinipa sipa ko ito na parang bata hanggang sa napalakas yung pagsipa ko at tumama ito sa isang lalakeng naka-puting converse at faded ripped jeans, tumingin ako sakanya.
"Sorry."
Nginitian nya ako, "It's okay."
This scene looks familiar.
"A-ah, I should go now." sabi ko habang nakayuko. Dahan dahan akong naglakad palayo hanggang sa napahinto ako.
"Iris."
Biglang humangin na para bang sinakto ng tadhana na humangin ngayon. I just stood there, hanggang sa naramdaman ko yung light footsteps nya na nasa likod ko, tinignan ko siya, "Yes?"
Lumapit sya sakin at inabot yung I.D ko, "Nahulog mo." Nilapit nya sakin yung kamay nya, "I'm Kyle by the way."