CHAPTER 7: Before the Goodbye
609 Words
The final months of high school rushed by like a dream. Projects, practices, and preparations filled every day. But beneath all the celebrations, Yarra could feel something strange. Something distant in Zarred’s smile… a heaviness he tried to hide behind his silence.
Graduation day arrived with sunshine and cheers.
“Valedictorian, Zarred Altamonte,” Ma’am Dolores proudly announced.
Applause thundered through the auditorium as Zarred walked onstage, composed and dignified. Meanwhile, Yarra received her certificate as salutatorian — the second highest honor. Her eyes found Zarred’s as she accepted the medal. He gave her a small nod, almost a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
After the ceremony, they laughed and took pictures together, surrounded by classmates. But Yarra's heart was uneasy.
She was hoping… wishing they’d both go to college together. That things would continue the way they had—peaceful, growing, closer every day. But destiny had other plans.
That evening, as the celebration ended, Yarra received a message from Zarred.
"Can we meet… sa lugar natin?"
She didn't reply. She just went.
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The small kubo stood in silence, its roof glowing under the golden light of the setting sun. The air smelled of old wood, dry grass, and the faint sweetness of wildflowers.
Yarra arrived first. Moments later, Zarred did too.
But something about him felt... distant. Heavy.
She tried to smile. “Zarred, bakit parang ang lungkot mo?”
He took a deep breath. “Yarra… I’m leaving.”
Her heart dropped. “Anong… ibig mong sabihin?”
“My parents… gusto nilang bumalik sa Singapore. For college. For the company. They’ve been planning this quietly. Now it’s final.”
Yarra’s voice trembled. “So aalis ka? Iniwan mo ko noon… aalis ka nanaman ngayon?”
He lowered his eyes. “Yarra… I didn’t come here to promise anything.”
“Then why?” her voice cracked.
“To tell you that… I don’t want to hurt you more.”
She stepped forward. Her eyes glassy, her heart breaking. “Alam mo ba kung ilang taon kitang hinintay? Tapos ngayon na nagkita tayong muli… aalis ka ulit?”
Zarred looked away, jaw clenched.
Yarra reached into her pocket and pulled out the daisy pendant — worn but still intact.
“I kept this. Akala ko may ibig sabihin 'to. Pero ako lang pala ang naniwala.”
Zarred’s chest rose and fell heavily.
Then, with trembling hands, Yarra touched his arm. “Zarred… mahal kita.”
He froze.
“I don’t need promises. I don’t need forever. I just need to know… did I mean something to you?”
Zarred looked at her, pain flickering in his eyes. “Yarra…”
She stepped closer.
“Mahal kita. Kahit isang beses lang… sana sabihin mong may halaga ako.”
But Zarred didn’t speak.
So Yarra, in a moment of desperation, cupped his face… and kissed him.
It was soft, aching, full of longing.
For a moment, Zarred didn’t respond. Then slowly, painfully, he kissed her back.
A kiss filled with goodbye.
They stayed like that — close, warm, breaking.
When they finally pulled away, tears were already streaming down Yarra’s cheeks.
Zarred finally whispered, “I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
She nodded. “I know. Pero masakit pa rin.”
He took her hand, and for a moment, just held it.
No promises.
No lies.
Just the truth of that moment.
Before walking away, Zarred looked back at her one last time.
“I won’t forget you, Yarra.”
And then he left… leaving behind the scent of fading summer and a heart that would remember for a long, long time.
- Writer
