STARTING OVER AGAIN (BOOK 1) COMPLETED

CHAPTER 22

-PRIMO-

“M I A ? P R I M O ?”... halos panabay ang paglingon ko at pagdako ng paningin ni Mia sa babaeng tumawag sa pangalan namin mula sa may bandang likuran ko.

Nalingunan ko ang isang babaeng nasa mid to late 50’s na ang edad ngunit glamorosa pa din.

“It is you! I’m so glad to see you two!”, muling sabi ng ginang at diretsong niyakap ako tsaka si Mia.

“Mrs. Capiz?”, ani Mia.

“Soon-to-be-Mrs. Abelardo na ngayon iha”, tila balewalang pagtatama naman ng nakatatandang babae.

Mrs. Elena Capiz was our homeroom teacher nung second year highschool kami and was also our biggest supporter when Mia and I announced that we are officially dating. Noong panahong iyon kasi ay medyo hindi common ang nagboboyfriend at girlfriend na sa ganung edad at legal na sa mga magulang. Madaming teacher ang nagsabi ng kung ano-ano pero si Mrs. Capiz na syang adviser namin nun ang pinakamalaki ang naging pagsuporta sa amin.

“I’m sorry Mam, h-hindi ko po alam, s-sorry po”, nahihiyang tugon ni Mia.

“Ano ka ba it’s okay...Gerry passed away 3 years ago. Stroke.”, bagaman kaswal na ang pagsabi nito niyon ay halatang malungkot pa din ito.

Si Sir Gerry naman ay Math Teacher sa highschool namin noon, na syang naging asawa ni Mam Elen.

“I’m so sorry to hear Mam”, sabi ko naman.

“Sus, no need to be sorry iho, Gerry is home with our Creator now at alam nyo naman yun, ayaw ng malungkot tayo. So wag tayong masad”, muli ay kaswal na sabi nito.

One thing about Mam Elen is that she has this gift of calming the environment. Sya yung tipong it doesn’t matter kung 10, 20, o kahit 30 years pa kayong hindi nagkita, but when you meet, it’s like you only met her yesterday.

“Are you guys free? How about some coffee? Balitaan nyo naman ako ng sa inyong dalawa”, pagkakuwa’y sabi nito na abot tenga ang ngiti.

1. Neither of us answered. Bukod sa awkward na magkape kaming magkasama ay kagagaling lang namin sa isang argument ay awkward ding mukhang iniisip nitong kami pa din ni Mia.

“Awww c’mooonn… dito lang tayo sa cafeteria at mukhang busy si Doc Primo, okay?”, she insisted.

Wala na kaming nagawa ni Mia nang akayin kami nito sa magkabila nitong braso at iginiya patungo sa cafeteria.

I volunteered to buy us coffee but Mrs. Capiz, I mean Soon-to-be- Mrs. Abelardo insisted na sya ang nag imbita kaya sya ang magbabayad.

We chose to sit by the window kung saan tanaw ang mga naglalabas pasok sa may entrance ng ospital.

“So, tell me about you two. May anak na ba kayo?”, tila excited na tanong ng ginang.

Nakita kong namilog ang mga mata ni Mia sa unexpected na tanong ng dati naming teacher.

“Wala pa?”, dagdag tanong nito at nagpalipat lipat ang tingin sa aming dalawa.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”, pagbawi nito nang hindi pa din kami sumagot.

Bakit kasi hindi pa sabihin ni Mia that we’re no longer together? I know I’m mad at her but I don’t wanna be a jerk and be the first to spill the tea.

“It will happen in God’s perfect time”, dagdag pa ng ginang sabay sa kamay ni Mia na nakapatong sa lamesa.

Mia seemed to have no plans of telling her the truth. And I don’t want any complications so I better correct this now.

But just as I was gonna open my mouth, the annoying sound of the vibrating buzzer came in.

“Ako na kukuha ng order natin”, nagmamadaling dinampot ni Mia ang disc buzzer atsaka tinungo ang counter.

I followed her with my gaze but she didn’t even looked at me.

“You know what Primo, it’s so nice to see that you stuck with her after everything that has happened to her”, biglang sabi ni Mrs. Capiz... este Soon-to-be-Mrs.Abelardo pala.

She was smiling widely nang ibaling ko sa kanya ang tingin ko, kaya tuloy bigla akong nag alangan. Do I tell her and break her bubble or just play along with it until she leaves? It’s not like I will see her again di ba? After the medical outreach ay babalik din ako ng Canada.

After everything that has happened. Yeah. A lot has happened, I thought.

“You know when I heard that rumor that you have broken up, nalungkot talaga ako. We were about to leave for the US nang marinig ko yung balitang yun,” bigla nitong pagkwento.

“You were in the US?”, tanong ko.

“Oo, after grumaduate ng batch nyo biglang nagdecide si Gerardo na sumunod sa kapatid nya sa LA. Tutal sabi ko wala namang mawawala, pumayag na ako. Para maayos na din ang buhay naming mag-anak. Kasi masyadong demanding ang trabaho, we barely had time for each other. At ayun nga, few days bago kami lumipad nabalitaan ko kay Mrs. Cahinhinan na nagbreak na nga daw kayo. Naku alam mo naman yun pinaglihi ata sa nega, parang masaya lagi kapag malungkot ang mga tao”, she paused then laughed.

I forced a smile and looked down para itago ang kung anong emosyong pwedeng lumabas sa mga mata ko.

“But seeing the two of you still together until now, it makes me very happy. Pinatunayan nyo talagang true love always wins. Buti na lang chismis lang ni Mrs. Cahinhinan yun”, she sincerely said. I felt a little guilty ‘cause it kinda felt like we were deceiving her.

“How do you know it’s true love Mam?”, bigla kong naitanong.

Kumunot ang noo nito.

“Do you not remember what you told me when I asked you that very same question?”, balik-tanong nito.

Okay, that was years ago… I was young and God knows what I knew about love back then. I shook my head reluctantly.

“Batang ‘to oo, tinanong kita nun kung paano ka nakakasigurong si Mia na nga ang true love mo, ang sagot mo sa akin nun, pag sinabi mong sya ang true love mo, sya ang true love mo. At kahit pa maraming maging false sa inyong dalawa, gagawin mo ang lahat para maging true ulit. Yun ang sabi mo sa’kin”,

I froze. Sinabi ko nga yun. For some reason I felt disappointed. Hindi ko alam kung kanino o kung sa ano.

“Mia is so lucky to have someone like you to lean on Primo. Someone na tanggap ang buong buong sya, kahit ano pa man ang sabihin ng iba”, anito.

Hindi ako sumagot. Anong ibig nitong sabihin na tanggap ang buong-buong si Mia? Na manloloko at manggagamit ito? Na ganung klaseng babae ito? Ha!

Dumating si Mia dala ang tray na naglalaman ng order namin. Hindi mawala wala ang ngiti ni Mrs. Capiz… Abelardo, fine I’ll just call her Mam Elen.

“Sorry natagalan, nalito ung ate sa counter, nalagyan nya ng cream ung kape mo Primo, kaya hinintay ko pang gawin nya ulit ung Americano”, she explained while handing our coffees to us.

“You didn’t have to”, sabi ko naman hoping na hindi masyadong dry ang tono ko.

She looked at me and smiled.

“Lactose intolerant ka, pwede bang hindi ko papapalitan yun?”

Natigilan ako. I didn’t expect that she would remember or care after all those years.

She sat beside me but kept her distance.

“Kamusta ka naman Mia? It has been what? 9? 10 years? Ang tagal na pala since last tayong nagkita”, anang nakatatandang babae.

“Okay naman po Mam. Kayo po kamusta naman po kayo? Sorry po hindi ko po nabalitaan ang kay Sir Gerry”,

“Haayy, you know, life is really very unpredictable. One moment akala mo all is well tapos the next thing you know hindi pala okay”, she paused and took a sip of her coffee.

“3 years after kaming magmove ni Gerardo sa LA, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He put up a good fight for a little over 2 years before he ended the journey. It was painful dahil ang dami naming pinagsamahan, mga pagsubok na pinagtagumpayang magkasama. So last year, after ng 3rd year death anniversary ni Gerry I decided na umuwi na dito sa Pilipinas. Then I met my highschool sweetheart again nung magkayayaan ang batchmates namin na magreunion informally. Ayun nga, long story short, byudo sya at byuda na din ako. It’s like a match made in heaven, like we were really destined to meet again. Kaya ngayon eto, magpapakasal ulit ako at the age of 58! Hahaha

Mia and I were both in daze dahil sa awkward atmosphere and for a while it was silent.

“Kaya nga Mia napakaswerte mo dito kay Primo, despite everything na nangyari he stood by you”, maya-maya ay dagdag ng ginang.

Mia smiled weakly bago marahang tumango.

Why won’t she say anything? Nahihiya ba sya? But why? Dahil sa pride nya?

“Maiba pala ako iha, did you continue your degree in Primary School Education?”

Muling tumango lang si Mia bilang sagot. Why does she looks so intimidated? Parang ang layo sa Miang kilala ko na laging competitive.

“Very good. Saang school ka nagtuturo ngayon?”, tanong pa ni Mam Elen.

Mia looked like she’s hesitating kung sasagot ba o ano. Ano bang problema ng babaeng to? Nagpapaawa ba ‘to o ano?

“A-Ah e-eh…I had to quit my job po dun sa pinapasukan kong elementary school sa Maynila dahil po sa emergency sa bahay, p-pero naghahanap naman po ako ng mapapasukan dito sa malapit lang”, mahina ang boses na sagot nya.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa narinig. So she doesn’t live in San Mateo anymore? At wala ding trabaho?

“I see, why don’t you ask Primo, baka may mga kakilala sya. Kapag Cordova ang nagrefer sayo alam mo namang hindi ka matatanggihan ng kahit na sino. I’m sure Primo won’t mind right iho?”,

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay sumingit na si Mia.

“A-Ah… Mam kasi ano, sobra sobra na po ang naitulong ni Primo sa akin, ayoko na pong abalahin pa sya. Kaya ko naman po eh”,

I fixed my gaze on her habang sya ay halos nakadikit na ang ilong sa takip ng papercup na hawak nya.

“Alam mo iho, alagaan mo ‘to… she’s a rare gem. Kung pakakawalan mo pa yan ewan ko na lang” baling sa akin ng nakatatandang babae.

I tried to pose a brief smile and turned my gaze back to Mia. After 9 year, eto na siguro ang pinakamatagal na nakasama ko sya sa iisang conversation na hindi nagsusumbatan. And just now I realized how much she’d changed.

The Mia that I knew was outgoing, competitive and goal driven. Confident and always knows what she wants. But this Mia next to me is a stranger. Very timid and unsure of herself.

But then again, she is also very good in acting. So let’s not fall into that trap again, said my smart-as*-otherself.

“You guys have no idea kung gaano ako ako kasaya na makita kayong dalawa”, biglang dagdag ni Mam Elen. She looked so excited.

Nang wala sa amin ni Mia ang sumagot ay bigla syang natawa.

“Sorry I know paulit ulit ako. It’s just that it really felt like seeing the two of you today… it makes one believe that true love does exist. I mean, look at you two now, Primo’s a doctor, just like what he had always dreamed of, Mia, I remember you also wanted to be a doctor, but God has better plans for you. You met a very good man who will take care of you for the rest of your life”, She said while squeezing both of our hands.

Mia wiped her tears. What on earth is she crying for? Her guilt? Maybe.

“Sorry po, natouch ako sa sinabi nyo Mam hehehe”, Mia said while trying to laugh.

Natawa din si Mam Elen as she lets go of our hands. Then reached for an envelope from her bag.

“You know what, here, I would love to have the two of you on my wedding day, well, second wedding day hahahah”, she said as she hands over the envelope to us.

Mia opened the envelope, invitation iyon sa kasal ni Mam Elen at ng highschool sweetheart nya.

“It’s next month, I know medyo short notice pero sana makapunta kayo”, dagdag ng ginang.

“Oh by the way, may reunion din daw ang batch nyo ah? Nakausap ko ang mommy ni Nick the other day at sinabing doon nga daw sa clubhouse nila sa Tagaytay ang venue at sa susunod na linggo n daw yun. Tinatanong ako kung pupunta daw na ako dahil ang alam nya ay inimbita nyo ang ilan sa mga naging teachers nyo, mag-aattend naman kayong dalawa di ba?”, tanong nito.

Now that was awkward. Dapat talaga sinabi ko na ang totoo sa una pa lang. How do I tell her that I won’t make it, either to her wedding or that reunion? Nag-isip ako ng magandang excuse then Mia…

“Yes Mam, pupunta po ako”, Mia suddenly agreed.

This woman is really getting into my nerves. How can she decide for me just like that?

“Oh very well, I’ll see you then! O pano, I gotta go, I just really came to drop out some invitations sa batchmates kong nagtatrabaho din dito”, sabi ni Mam Elen as she stands and picks up her bag.

Tumayo na din kami ni Mia.

“Oh no need to see me out. Stay and enjoy your coffee and while lovey-doveying”, a-pa nang ginang na binahiran pa ng panunukso ang boses.

Wala na kami nagawa when she started walking away. Hinatid na lang namin ito nang tingin hanggang tuluyang makalabas sa cafeteria.

Few seconds passed and Mia and I just sat on silence.

Then Mia stood. Started picking her stuff up and started to walk away.

So ganun lang yun? Walang ‘sorry Primo I didn’t mean na magpanggap’ man lang? Wow.

“Care to explain the act?”, I tried my best not to sound awkwardly desperate.

Natigilan ito. Then she turned to me.

“Does De Luna know that his girlfriend is out here pretending to still be together with her ex?” sinadya kong haluan ng pang-uuyam ang boses ko.

She gave me a tired look and sighed.

“Primo, okay sorry kung hindi ko itinama ang maling akala ni Mam Elen satin. Ayoko lang na humaba pa ang usapa. Tsaka isapa, gusto ko lang talagang magpasalamat sa lahat ng ginawa mo para sa papa ko kanina kaya kita nilapita n yun lang”, tila napapagod na nitong sabi.

I smirked.

“Oh right, nakalimutan ko, kakaiba ka pala magpasalamat. Wait, shouldn’t I asked for a kiss too? Or kiss is too basic?”, I said with every intent of insulting her.

Pain is written all over her face. For a while ay nanahimik ito.

She sighed again.

“Mauna na ako”, she finally said and started walking away.

“You wanna thank me?”, I said suddenly.

Napahinto sya at lumingon. Nagtatanong ang tingin na ibinigay nya sa akin.

“Follow me”, I said quietly and started walking towards the elevator.