STORY 5

STILL CHOOSING YOU

"Yes Duke, sinasagot na kita. I'm your girl officially" hindi ko pinigilan ang ngiting gustong kumawala sa labi ko dahil sa lubos na kasiyahan.

"Really? Wala nang bawian yan ah! You.are.mine.now" she nooded. I am happy very happy. Finally, after a year of pursuing her I can call her mine,officially.

Nilibot ko ang mga mata ko sa pamilyar na lugar na tinuturing kong espesyal. I still remember how this place become special to me, to us. This where the place where I first saw her, the first place where my heart start to beat for her.

....

"love, I thought hindi na kita makikita after that night" I smiled upon remembering the sleepless nights thinking of her.

"I remeber also the time that you introduce yourself to me Hahahaha" I bow my head to hid my face. Nakakahiya parin pag naalala ko ang araw nayun.

"You stutter but you look cute tho hahaha" pambawi niya sa pang aalaska sakin.

....

"Love, can we cancel our date later? My boss wants me to accompany him sa meeting with the investors eh kung ok lang naman pero kung hindi sabihin ko nalang na hindi ako makakasama"

"Yieee someone's being clingy"

"H-hindi ah" shocks para kang babae Duke, wag kang mautal!

"Sayang I love clingy panaman"

"Wait, I'm gonna call him and tell that I can't go. My girlfriend needs me" pang gagatong ko sa biro niya

"Hey, I'm just joking hahaha" I watch her laugh, she looks adorable.

Our realationship is almost perfect, I always give her the best. I prioritize her more than myself kaya hindi ko malaman kung bakit nagbago, kung bakit siya nagbago.

....

"Love, mamaya na muna yan ako na muna tignan mo. Ilang araw kitang hindi nakita" Nandito ako ngayon sa office nila, I visited her.

"Love, may bagong dish daw sa resto, ano G? Let's have a date,I miss y—" before I can finish my words she stand up akala ko saakin siya pupunta but Im wrong.

"Naglunch kana?" I want to yell at her and tell her na nandito na ako kanina pa pero bakit hindi niya man lang tinanong kung kumain na ba ako. Who's this guy by the way?

"Love" I called her, dun palang ata niya nafeel ang presence ko.

"D-Duke" why not, Love? I want to ask her that but I restrain my self.

"Hindi pa ako nag lalunch nagugutom ako, tara?" umakto pa akong nagugutom at kinawit ang braso sa bewang niya. Gusto kong maglupasay sa inis ng tanggalin niya ang kamay ko.

"Nasa office ako Duke, baka mamisinterpret ng iba ang actions mo" I don't know kung para saakin ba yung sinabi niya o para sa lalaking kaharap niya.

"Suss, ok lang yan lunch break naman eh. And para narin malaman ng iba.." i look at the guy infront of me before I continue my words

"...na taken kana" then I smiled.

....

"Duke wag kanang pupunta ulit sa office ko" despite of the scene earlier, natuloy parin ang lunch namin pero mukhang imbis na sa pagkain ako mabusog sa sermon niya pa ata.

"Why? Wala naman atang mali na bisitahin ng boyfriend ang girlfriend niya, after all it's break time love don't you think you're being too much over some petty things?" I tried to sound joking pero mukhang maiinit talaga ulo niya ngayon sa rason na hindi ko matukoy tukoy.

....

It's 5:00 in the afternoon and I decided na isurprise visit siya nga ngayon. I waited her at the car park dahil naalala kong ayaw niya palang pumupunta ako sa office. I eyes went on the flowers I buy before coming here. I sniff it and smiled after. I know magugustuhan niya ito, it's her favorite after all. Naghintay pa ako ng ilang minuto bago ko siya nakita but she's not alone. She's with that guy again. I watch her every reaction while talking to that guy, kailan koba nakita ang mga ganung reaction niya pag kausap niya ako? 3?2 months ago?. I continue watching them not until that as*hole hug my girl from behind. I am furious! How there he hug my girl infront of me?! My mind starting to build plans to kill that bastard when I notice the smile of my girl. For hell'a sake, why she's not pushing him away!?. Instead of confronting them, I dialled her number.

"Hello?"

"Love" i watch her reactions she's still not pushing that guy! They are now holding the hands of each other, and she looks like she's loving it!

"what do you need? Im busy" busy cheating on me? busy flirting behind my back?

"Where are you?" mataam parin akong nakatitig sa dalawang taong walang habas na naglalampungan sa harapan ko.

"Im still in the office, I'll drop this call I'm on the middle of an important meeting" then she ended. I want to go there and tell to her to face that I know what she's doing but I can't. My love for her overpower me. Mas pinili kong umakto na parang walang alam instead of confronting her. I'm stupid I know, but my heart can't just let her go.

....

It's been a month already but I'm still acting foolish infront of her. This day is very special for me. Ito yung eksaktong araw na nakita ko siya. The girl that I choose to love no matter what.

"love, where are you? Are you free today? Let's date sunduin kita" Im planning to make a surprise for her. I feel the thing inside my pocket and smiled. I'm excited and nervious at the same time.

"Nasa bahay ako love, may s-sakit si Mama kaya hindi ako makakaalis ngayon s-sorry" Im dissapointed. Kung magpapakatotoo ako sa nararamdaman ko yan ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. I excert extra effort for my surprise for her, I want this day to be special for the both of us but I think It's not yet the time.

"It's ok, may next time pa naman. Tell Tita to get well soon." I cheered myself. That's what I'm good at, cheering myself up when I felt rejected.

"T-Thank you"  Im about to end the call when I saw the girl that im talking with right now. Yung babaeng sinabing nasa bahay at inaalagaan ang nanay niyang may sakit ay nakikita ko ngayong nakatayo habang kahawak kamay ang isang lalaking hindi naman ako.

"Love?"

"hmm?"

"I love you" a tear escape from my eyes after saying those three words that we used to tell to each other.

"A-ah s-sige" Is it really late to fix what we have,love? Gusto kong sabihin ang mga salitang yan sakanya pero hindi kinakaya ng loob ko.

"Are you happy?" nakatingin parin ang mga mata ko sakanila. Looking at them is like a knife stabbing me multiple times but I can't look away. My eyes don't want too.

"Anong tanong naman yan? Of course I do" I know because Im watching you right now. Then why your still asking? said by my other self.

"Good. I'm glad you can still be happy, kahit  hindi na saakin" stop putting salt on your wound, Duke! Close your eyes turn around and forget what you saw like you used to do. Sigaw ng puso ko pero hindi na ata kayang sundin ng utak ko.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo jan? You know what? I'm busy ibaba kona it—"

"Wait, just give me 5 min. Hear me out after this I'm done" I calm my myself before saying the words that will crashed me big time.

"Let's break up" my tears can't stop falling. I know mukha na akong tanga dito umiiyak mag-isa, maraming tao narin ang nakakapansin saakin but i don't care. This will be the last time that I'll let myself look pathetic to everyone. Mula sa pwesto ko kita ko ang pamumutla niya. The guys asking her but she ignored him.

"D-Duke what the hell are you talking about?Anong sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?"

"Ginagawa ko ang bagay na hindi mo kayang gawin. I'm setting you free" nagtama ang mata namin dalawa, I saw how shock she was. Nakita ko ang paghakbang niya para puntahan  ako.

"Stop" Don't come near me love, baka bawiin ko ang mga sinabi ko sayo at piliin nanamang ibaba ang sarili ko dahil lang sa mahal kita.

"D-Duke let me explain, hear m—" she's meters away from me but I can hear her sobs because of the call na hanggang ngayon naka line parin.

"You look happier, love" I smiled bitterly.

"You're better with me but you look the best beside him"  I want to praise myself for not stuttering. She started making a step forward but I step back.

"Let's stop inflicting pain to each other. I know you're already far but i keep on reaching you out" rinig na rinig ko ang iyak niya mula sa kabilang linya.

"I know you wanted to end our relationship long time ago, but you can't because you don't want to hurt me" I give him a smile, a reassuring one.

"I am now setting you free, my beloved" I step back for the second time..

"Be happy" I turn around and throw away the ring that Im supposed to give her.Even at the end her happiness is still my priority. Good job self, kahit sa huli you still choose her.