"Daddy! Buy me b-balloons", the little boy in a grey jacket asked his father.
He blinked his eyes several times and pouted his lips, trying to use his charm to make his father buy him the thing he wanted. However, I saw how his father shook his head.
The little kid felt upset and then started crying. His father panicked and looked around, perhaps because his wife had been there and had just left to run errands. Besides, there was a mall near the small playground they were in.
'Kung nagkataong pamangkin ko yan, baka kanina ko pang nakurot ang pisngi nya. Ang cute nya kasi. Idagdag pa yung mahaba nyang eyelashes.' I don't know why I am attractive to anyone who had long and curl eyelashes.
My lips curled wider when his father finally bought the blue balloon he wished for. Happiness was shown on the little boy and his father's faces. Seconds passed, and the adorable boy threw his arms up and gave his father a quick hug.
The scene really captured my heart. Parang ako lang at si Papa nung–
" Aya, may coin ka ba dyan?" I diverted my gaze to Nina. Nakalimutan kong may kasama nga pala ako ngayon. Mostly kasi ay wala dahil nasa adulting stage na at may kanya kanyang buhay na ang mga kaibigan ko. And I should be independent on my own as well.
Before answering her question, I glanced back to where the two were standing. I scanned the area, but the only things I saw were the people gathered outside with their families. They suddenly vanished. Perhaps they had walked away when Nina called me.
"Alam mo, bes. Di ko alam kung bingi ka o lutang ka lang ngayon", she reclaimed.
"What?"
She just rolled her eyes, grabbed my hand, and led me to nowhere.
"Wait. San ba tayo pupunta?". Instead of answering my question, she remained silent.
I looked around. There was a little pot in the middle of the pond in front of me. Its body turned gold as the rays of the sun passed through it. One kind of fish came to my mind when I see a golden yellow thing swimming in the water—a goldfish.
"Grabe, makatitig bes! Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita nyan," tanong niya sa akin.
"Hindi, ah! Ang harsh mo sakin!" She then laughed a little bit louder. Feeling ko pinagtitinginan na kami nang tao kaya naman pinayuhan ko syang tumahimik na lang. Ngunit itong si bes, mas lalo pang nilakasan.
"Ano nga palang tinatanong mo kanina?" untag nya sa akin nang makabawi na rin sa wagas niyang paghalakhak kanina.
"Sabi ko kanina, kung may coin ka ba dyan. Hindi mo ako iniintindi, nakakatampo ka na". She looked at the pond, staring to the fishes swimming freely under the water.
"I knew it. Di ka pa rin talaga nagbabago, bes. Napakatampuhin". She stared at me like he's going to ate me sooner or later.
"Joke lang, sorry na talaga kanina," I muttered.
She then tapped my back. We stayed near the pond for a while before we decided to visit other places or sceneries here at Lucban, Quezon.
--73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH14OSP8HE
This place was good though, it was just a little bit crowded. Pero anong magagawa ko? Ganun naman talaga. Hindi maiiwasan kasi mahal na araw ngayon. It was obvious that a lot of people would go to visit and commemorate this holiday.
I took a glance at my phone. It's already 3:28 pm. Nina left me here near the big wooden houseboat. Nag-volunteer kasi syang may bibilhin doon sa mga maliit na tindahan na aming nadaanan kanina. Parang sa mga souvenir's booth ata iyon.
"I scrolled through Facebook while sitting on a bench, waiting for her to arrive. As I was about to log out of my account, something caught my eye. I decided to go back and click on it before hitting the log-out button.
And there, I saw a picture of him. The guy I dumped before. Minutes passed, and tears began to form in the corners of my eyes. Memories flooded back into my mind.
"Xian, I have something to tell you," she said. He put his arms down and looked at me intently. He then walked closer and sat beside me. We were at the coffee shop where we used to hang out every time we celebrated our anniversary.
"What's that, love?" he said.
I could see the excitement in his deep brown eyes, and it hurt me deeply.
"I'm sorry, I love you, but I can't."
Nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya. Napasabunot pa ito ng kaunti sa medyo magulo nitong buhok.
"But why, Aya? Nagbibiro ka lang di ba?" he asked in confusion.
Gustuhin ko man sanang sana nga biro na lang ito. Ngunit hindi eh. Ayoko madisappoint sa'kin sina Mama. Isa pa, if we really destined from each other, I know we can get back to each other again. Not now but soon.
"I don't love you anymore," Tila may bikig sa lalamunan nang sabihin ko ang mga salitang iyon.
"No. Hindi yan totoo. Bakit ambilis. May nagawa ba ako na di mo nagustu--
" W-wala kang kasalanan, Xian. I'm sorry". I force myself to stand up even though my knees were trembling. But before I stepped my right foot, I felt his warm hands holding my arm.
I looked at him. And it's a mistake because he's now kneeling at me, eyes were pleading me to stay. He kept on asking me to give him a chance. But I left dumbfounded. I cannot find the right words I should say to him.
"I'm sorry but you deserve better." Pagkasabi ko niyon ay umalis na ko doon. I didn't dare to looked back.
Three years passed. Inakala ko na kagaya din siya ng ibang mga lalaking minahal ko. I thought I could easily forget him pero para syang naging parte na ng sistema ko. Walang pagkakataon na hindi ko siya naiisip. Up to this moment, I still loved him even though I don't have any news after he left the Philippines to study abroad. Just like he planned to before he met me.
And yes. I no longer have him. We've broken up--no I break his heart. Nagpadala ako sa sasabihin ng mga tao at magulang ko sa akin. And the worst is, hindi ko siya nagawang ipaglaban sa lahat ng mga taong against sa aming dalawa. Maybe it's the truth. You'll gonna appreciate the presence of someone if they are already gone.
Pinunasan ko ang luhang tumulo na sa screen ng cellphone ko. Halos nabasa na ang kabuuan nito dahil sa walang hagos na pagdaloy ng luha sa aking mga mata.
I'd swallow the words I've said that day to him, because the truth is, I don't know if I could ever love again if it's not him.
'But I guess it was too late.
I glanced at my phone and saw her beautiful bride, smiling in the picture.
He was happily married...now.
--73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C5mv5gQBG
(A/N: Playlist #1 was done. Inspired by the song Can't Get Out by Jem Macatuno. Don't forget to vote and comment. Enjoy reading!!)73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes8TIgRnth
73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVlgrvs0Pu
