Kabanata 16
422 Words
Samantha’s POV
“May Dumating — Hindi Para Palitan Siya, Kundi Para Paalalahanan Ako Kung Sino Ako.”
Hindi ko intensyon na makakilala ng bagong tao.
Busy lang talaga ako sa trabaho nung araw na ‘yon.
It was a charity event my team helped organize. Something I poured myself into just to keep from thinking about him.
And yet, doon ko siya nakilala.
“Hi, ikaw pala si Sam. Heard a lot about your work here,” sabi niya habang iniabot ang kamay niya.
“Lucas,” he added, with a kind smile that didn’t ask too much — just enough to say “I see you.”
Wala akong balak makipag-close.
Ayoko. Ayoko ng ibang presence.
Ayoko ng kahit anong pwedeng maging bago.
Pero Lucas… wasn’t trying to take up space.
He just stood beside me while we organized things, handed me water when I forgot to drink, and laughed at my corny jokes when everyone else just gave polite chuckles.
Wala siyang tanong tungkol sa nakaraan ko.
Wala siyang pilit.
Wala siyang “So, single ka ba?”
Kundi may tahimik lang siyang pakialam.
At some point, habang nakaupo kami sa likod ng venue, he looked at me and said,
“You have kind eyes.”
Napatingin ako sa kanya.
“Kind?” tanong ko, medyo nagbiro. “Hindi sad?”
He smiled.
“May lungkot. Pero hindi nawasak. ‘Yung tipong kahit ilang beses kang nasaktan, marunong ka pa ring magmahal.”
Bigla akong natahimik.
And for some reason, gusto kong umiyak.
Not because I liked him.
Not because I felt something new.
But because for the first time in a long time…
I felt seen. Not for my pain, not for my body, not for my patience — but for me.
That night, I walked home alone.
But lighter. A little less heavy.
Pag-uwi ko, binuksan ko ang phone ko. Walang bagong message.
Hindi na ako naghintay. Hindi na ako umasa.
Sa halip, binuksan ko ang notes app ko at nagsulat:
“Maybe healing doesn’t always come in big moments…
Sometimes, it’s in the silence between conversations.
In the eyes of someone who doesn’t expect anything from you.
Or in your own reflection, finally not searching for him.”
Hindi ko alam kung may patutunguhan kami ni Lucas.
Hindi ko rin sigurado kung gusto ko pa ng bagong kwento.
Pero isang bagay ang malinaw:
Unti-unti, hindi ko na siya hinahanap.
At baka… baka sa dulo ng lahat ng sakit, ako rin pala ang makakatagpo sa sarili ko.
- Writer
