YNARI'S POV
Six years later.
I am now the CEO at Asuncion's Condominium and Hotels, Inc. After all I've been through, here I am, a successful business woman now.
Actually, it never been easy.
To move forward like I'm just fine.
To show that I am happy to where I was.
To let them think that everything's alright.
And to make them believe that I ask for nothing anymore.
Yeah, that's what they just think.
But deep inside me.
I'm still waiting for her.
That I'm still holding onto her words that she'll come back.
And I'm still hoping that maybe soon, we'll be together again.
But not today when my mother called me outside of my room.
Kung kamusta kami ni Mom?
Di nya ko pinakialaman sa daang tinahak ko noong college, at sa mga trabahong pinasok ko bago ako nagsettle sa company namin, pero kabilin-bilinan nyang wag kong sarhan ang puso ko kay Jez Aval, na ipinipilit pa rin nyang sya kong papakasalan.
Oh geez! Kailan kaya sya titigil ipilit saken ang taong yun?
Naalala ko, pagod nga pala ko kase kagagaling ko lang sa trabaho kaya huminto ako sa pag-iisip at nag-sigh. Wala pang 8:00 pm nang tumingin ako sa wall clock ko dito sa bahay. And yes, di pa rin ako humihiwalay ng bahay dahil hanggang ngayon, umaasa pa rin akong isang araw magkakaayos kami ni Mom, totally. Alam nyang naghihintay pa rin ako sa babaeng mahal ko at hindi nya ako pinapakialaman sa bagay na yun. At isa yun sa ipinagtataka ko.
But as long as hindi nya ko pinipilit na pakasalan na si Jez, I am not making a fuss about it.
"Ynari, open this goddamn door!",she shouted outside dahilan para maipaikot ko ang mga mata ko at nagtungo sa may pinto.
"What is it this time, Mom?",I seriously said as I opened the door and she looks at me from head to toe.
"You're being like that again. You gonna skip dinner and cry as if there's no tomorrow! Gosh! I never imagine that I will be having a daughter who looks like a garbage just what you are in front of me now!",she exaggeratedly said kaya napahalukipkip ako.
"Mom! If you're just going to say bad things about me, please lang pabayaan mo na lang akong magpahinga",nanghihinang sabi ko at isasara na sana ang pinto nang mag-iba ang mood nya.
It looks like, she will say something I will not like.
"I've decided that's why I'm here, Ynari Aen. You'll be marrying tomorrow and that's final",she firmly said that's why I amost gape in shock.
"W-What?",I asked disbelievingly but she just smirks at me.
Oh no no! Not again!
"No way I would do that, Mom!",I protest and I stopped her by the arm when she was about to turn around. "Di ako papayag, alam mo yan Mom! You know that I'm still waiting for her di ba? Why now pipilitin mo akong magpakasal tas bukas na agad?",naiiyak na dagdag ko pero tiningnan nya lang ako ng sobrang seryoso na parang kakainin ako ng buo.
"Don't wait anymore dahil ikakasal ka na bukas. Maging ako napapagod na kong maghintay kung kailan ka magbabalik-loob sa sarili mo at maging masigla ka kaya kailangan mo na ng kapartner sa buhay dahil tumatanda ka na. Pumayag ka na lang sa gusto ko dahil wala ka ng magagawa dahil sasaya ka rin naman sa taong pinili ko para sayo",parang puno ng kasiguraduhang sabi nya gayong hindi naman sya ang nakakaramdam ng nilalaman ng puso ko.
Tiningnan ko sya ng puno ng hinanakit habang pinipigilang sigawan sya at ngayon-ngayon ko lang napag-isipang bitawan na ang pag-asang isang araw ay magagawa nya kong maintindihan. Dahil that will never happen anymore.
Saglit na nakitaan ko ng ibang emosyon ang mata nya habang nakatingin din sa akin pero agad nawala yun. Totoo bang awa at lungkot ang nakita ko?
Pero napalis ang isipin kong yun nang marinig ang sunod nyang sinabi at muling nasaktan dahil sa magiging bukas ko.
"Wala nang babalik. Just enjoy this night because this is the last night that you will stay single. Go to sleep, maaga kitang gigisingin bukas",puno ng kaseryosohan at awtoridad na litanya nya matapos akong iwan sa kwarto kong lutang na napaupo sa kama.
N-No.
Di ako pwedeng ikasal. May hinihintay pa ko. Iniintay ko pa sya.
Hindi nya ko pwedeng datnan nang kasal na. H-Hindi.
Akala ko okay na ko sa mama ko? Akala ko pag nagbago at nagbuti ako ng tuluyan para sa kanya pababayaan na nya ko sa buhay ko? Akala ko hindi na sya makikialam sa pag-aasawa ko? Akala ko...Akala ko....
And that night I cried my heart out gaya ng gabi-gabi kong ginagawa sa nakalipas na mga taon.
Kahit successful na ko, narong gabi-gabi ko pa ring iniiyakan ang paghihiwalay namin.
Na minsang nakikita nga ni Mom kaya akala ko hindi na sya makikialam sa buhay ko.
Pero hanggang ngayon pala, iniisip pa rin nya na sasaya ako sa taong pinili nya para saken.
At yun ang hindi ko matanggap hanggang ngayon.
ALONA'S POV
It's seven o'clock in the morning when I received a call from the Philippines. And that was one hella of a news.
I don't know what to react or what to say from what I've heard. What I just knew is that my mind was clouded with so many things.
I want to shout and cry this feelings out because I might not contain the feeling.
Because what I learned is one of the things I am so nervous to happen.
And I, Alona Zandra Fuentabilla is not ready but I should.
But my thinking was interrupted when there was someone who spoke behind.
"Zandy, dearest",a voice that made me turned around to see that person.
"Nadine Montello",I said back as I saw the figure of my long-time friend looking at me with amusement.
I know I've changed to a better person now.
I became more mature and professional as what the passed six years made me.
And I know I look gorgeous and hot as fuck that's why she's been like that.
"Ouch! So formal, Zandy. Parang di naman tayo magkaibigan nyan",she said at pabirong hinawakan ang dibdib na kala mo'y nasaktan.
"Psh",I just said at natatawang lumapit naman sya at bineso at niyakap ako.
"I missed you. We missed you, rather",she said smiling but upon remembering something I guess, her face become serious. "Have you heard that she's marrying, tomorrow?",she asked that made me become serious even more and heave a deep sigh.
"Yes",I answered shortly and sat down on my swivel chair.
I am now managing my dad's wine business here in Japan and I am in my office at the moment. And Nadine Montello here just appeared to bring that news. Maybe she just visited me to inform that stuff.
"What will you do, then? Are you going back to the Philippines and get your your girl now before she get married to someone tomorrow?",she asked curiously anticipating what I am about to answer but I just looked outside this office glasswall and looked up at the sky.
"You look nervous and constipated",she commented as she observes me projecting what I am feeling right now.
"I can't help it. You just drop a bomb so what would you expect me to say? But to answer your question, yes I will go back to the Philippines not to get my girl, but for the wedding",I said then I saw her squinted her eyes.
"What are you? A masochist? A martyr? May ganun pa ba ngayon? Don't tell me you will just watch your one great love to be married to someone she didn't love at all?",she asked in disbelief but I shot her a death glare.
"Shut up. I know what I am doing. Kaya tayo na habang di mo pa masyadong pinapainit ang ulo ko",sabi ko na lang sabay dampot ng shoulder bag ko at kasunod ko syang lumabas ng office.
"Ang sungit. Saka kala ko hindi ka na marunong magtagalog eh. Nanigas ata dila ko sa pagsabay ko sayong mag-English, letse ka!",she complained at napailing naman ako.
Tunog wayback in Senior High yung pagmumura nya eh. Tsk. Nostalgia.
Ano kayang magiging reaksyon mo pag nagkita muli tayo?
Magpakasal ka pa kaya?
O baka magalit ka saken pag nakita mo na ko?
Hayy.
I miss you, Ynari.