Chasing the Past

Chapter 4: Revelation on Vacation

Nasa Bali,Indonesia sila Niko at Erica kasi as Niko promised she will take her to the place she wanted to go so they are here at Bali as Erika’s choice. They really enjoyed their vacation because atleast they can be able to relax after the stressful weeks.

Niko also got a plan na sasabihin na niya kay Erica decision niya. Kaya kinagabihan after they have dinner Niko told to Erika that after niya maligo papupuntahin niya ito sa balcony ng kanilang hotel room.

While Niko was on the balcony appreciating the night, how the winds touch his face and embrace his body. Time like this, he always think about Francesca. Like what if they didn’t broke up with Francesca. Ano na kaya buhay nila ngayon. If they got already married at may mga anak na ba or are they still both working on with their own dreams. All this years still Niko was always thinking about Francesca. He knows he really loved her but he already accepted that yung love story nila ay hanggang dun nalang. Yes, he really love her but it’s too late already to fight for it cause Niko really believe if that person was for you or you meant for each other, time and destiny will find it’s way to bring you back together.

Bigla nalang naputol ang pag-iisip ni Niko when Erika hugged him at his back.

“What you want to tell me?” Erika asked Niko.

Hinarap agad ni Niko si Erika saying this line.

“Ahm, I’ve already made a decision.”

“ What decision?” Erika confused of what he was talking about.

“I will be retiring from Basketball” Niko said it dryly because he never want to do it.

“Really?” Erika really so happy as Niko said it. Napayakap pa siya kay Niko.

“But I will go back to Cebu to managed the company. I will not stay anymore in Manila.” Pagkatapos sabihin ito ni Niko ay lumakad na patungo sa silid ng room nila. At sumunod naman si Erika.

“But why Love? like you don’t want anymore to try something else like modeling again or being an artist or actor?” Erica was mad saying it kasi she thought Niko follow what she want for him but it turns out it’s not.

“Erika that wasn’t what I want okay? Please don’t control me for everything. You told me to retire cause I already done enough for the basketball. Now I will retire may reklamo kapa rin. Don’t over control me Erika cause I am not happy anymore in this relationship” Niko was trying to be calm as he said it and now Erica was sitting on bed trying to analyze what Niko have said.

“If you’ve got a chance to break up with me would you? Napatanong bigla si Erika as Niko going to lay in bed. Nakatalikod sila sa isa’t isa then Niko trying to face her now and he saw Erika was already crying.

“You want an honest answer?” Niko asked Erika

“Yes” Erika answered directly

“Yes, if I’ve got the chance I would. Honestly I am not really happy in this. It’s so draining here to always follow what you have said. Like may mga bagay ka na gusto mong gawin ko and I’m trying to do that but if di ko magawa you will be so disappointed. I really feel now Erika I am not myself anymore. Di na ako si Niko na kilala ko nuon and I want that Niko be back.” Pagkatapos sabihin yun ni Niko ay agad siyang nahiga at tinalikuran si Erika.

All this years Niko really being patient to Erika and still he feels his not enough for her. Even he doesn’t love Erika but he wants to be there for her. Like he needs someone also to always be there for him and sinubukan niya talagang mahalin si Erika but he failed. That’s why sometimes he feel sorry for Erika. They are both trap since their relationship was just made up only by media. Nakita lang sila once na nag date, everyone assumes na may relasyon sila. Napasubo naman si Niko when Erika admitted to one of her interviews that Niko courted her which hindi naman talaga. He was just trying to be a gentleman to save this girl in humiliation so he save her and tried it. Maybe nagtagal din sila kasi wala na talagang interest si Niko sa mga babae.

After their one week vacation ay agad na inasikaso ni Niko ang kanyang retirement. It’s not easy really for Niko deciding this but he also think na makakabuti ito sa pamilya niya at sa company.

One week have been passed since they return from their vacation still Niko and Erika haven’t still seeing each other or even communicating. Niko really so busy and ayaw ni Niko na abalahin pa si Erika. Sa isip ni Niko if ayaw ni Erika makipag usap then he can’t do anything about that. He already cleared everything about how he feels and it’s up to her if she will continue it. Niko really so feed up with all this fights and he feels really bad in this relationship. Even just a little mistake Erika make it a big deal and everything he do also she wants to control it, like he gets her but nakakasakal na. He already tried everything to be a good boyfriend to her, still not enough for her and at the first place si Erika naman ang nag insist sa relasyon nila.

Si Erika naman ay walang gana na lumabas or even makipag usap kahit na sino dahil sobra talaga siyang nasaktan sa mga nangyari sa kanila ni Niko. Pagkatapos kasi ng confrontation na naganap ay parang wala ng gana makipag usap si Niko sa kanya and even her, she’s sometimes hesitant to talk to Niko. Alam naman ni Erika na hindi siya mahal ni Niko when they got into relationship. Alam niyang na pressure lamang ito but she’s hoping that time will come na mamahalin din siya ni Niko and until now she’s hoping.

Nakipag-kita si Niko sa mga kaibigan niyang si Anton, Kyle, Emir at Noah. Si Jeff lang ang wala dahil may pamilya na ito at kapapanganak lang ng asawa niya sa pangalawang anak. Nagkita ang magkaibigan sa isang bar ni Emir.

Pagdating ni Niko duon ay agad naman siyang binati ng mga kaibigan.

“Hey bro” bati ni Kyle kay Niko as they hugged and have this hand greetings.

“Kumusta bakasyon sa Bali?” Kyle asked

Umupo muna si Niko at uminom muna siya

“It’s fine” Niko answered with no emotion.

“Anong fine? Walang iba like you didn’t proposed or something else?” Kyle asked

“ I don’t know and I don’t know where this relationship will be going” uminom ulit ng isa pang shot si Niko.

“What really happen bro?” Now Noah are the one asking.

Bigla naman dumating si Emir kaya nahinto ang pagtatanong nila kay Niko.

“So what’s up?” bati ni Emir sa mga kaibigan.

“Where was your girlfriend Emir?” Kyle asked

“She’s just home not on mood so what’s new? my engaged naba or may hiwalay naba?” Emir

Agad naman sila nagtawanan at bigla naman nagsalita si Kyle

“So Niko when?”

“ I really don’t know Bro” Niko really don’t like this topic cause in his mind his still don’t know if pakakasalan ba talaga niya si Erika.

“Don’t waste your chance Nikz, I mean you’re so lucky already. Erika was so sexy, so beautiful and so loving like everything you want in a girl was already in her.” sabi ni Noah

If alam niyo lang lahat maybe you could understand me but di niyo alam.Sabi sa isip ni Niko.

“We shouldn’t discuss that, time will come na mangyayari yan but for now we should enjoy the night” Niko said it as he wants to end the topic

Kinuha nila ang kanya kanyang baso at nag cheers.

They really enjoyed the night dahil minsan nalang din sila mag-kita kita dahil na din sa mga obligasyon nila.

Kinabukasan ay tinanghali na si Niko magising at hindi pa rin nagpaparamdam si Erika ayaw nalang niya din itong kausapin kasi yun naman din talaga gusto niya. Oo, feel niya ang sama sama na niya pero minsan naiirita din kasi siya sa kaartehan ni Erika unlike Francesca na kahit saan mo dalhin e bilad mo man sa init o lumusong sa ulan ay go ito. At naalala na naman niya ang nakaraan nila ni Francesca.

7 years ago...

It’s been 1 week already since nag usap sila Niko at Francesca sa f*******: pero di na sila nag usap ulit even sa school ay bihira narin nakikita ni Niko si Francesca or baka she hide from him, yun ang nasa isip ni Niko.

Umuwi si Niko ng wala talaga ne anino ni Francesca ang nakita niya pero ng papalabas na si Niko sakay ng kanyang kotse ay agad niya nakikila ang likod ng isang babae na papauwi na din at naglalakad patungong sakayan. Agad niya itong binusenahan at nagulat nalang bigla si Francesca at napalingon ito at dun nga nakita niya si Niko na nasa kotse. Nakita niya agad si Niko yun dahil nakababa ang window glass ng sasakyan. Huminto naman agad si Niko.

“Gusto mo hatid na kita?” Pag-aalok ni Niko

“No, okay lang may pupuntahan pa naman ako” nahihiyang tangi ni Francesca

“It’s fine bored naman din ako e atleast makakatipid ka sa pamasahe” pilit pa rin ni Niko

Ayaw talag ni Francesca dahil nahihiya siya.

“Nakakahiya kasi baka may girlfriend ka masabunutan ako bigla”

Natatawa nalang si Niko dahil ang cute niyang mahiya

“Don’t be shy wtf and no! I don’t have a girlfriend. Friends na naman tayo so wag kana mahiya.”

Di na nakatanggi si Francesca at sumakay na nga ito. Maraming estudyante ang na surprised dahil alam nilang kay Niko na kotse yun at first time itong nagpasakay ng babae sa kotse niya.

Habang nasa loob sila ng kotse ay biglang tumunog ang tiyan ni Francesca dahil sa gutom.

“Are you hungry?” Tanong ni Niko

“ A oo kasi tinapos kopa yung research ko kanina nakalimutan kung

kumain ng lunch” pagpapaliwanag ni Francesca

Agad na napatingin si Niko sa relo niya it almost 6 na at nag-aalala ito na wala pang kain si Francesca.

“Do you want atleast to eat something or mag dinner nalang tayo or even take out nalang” tanong ni Niko

“Wag na pauwi naman din ako” tanggi ni Francesca

“No! we should eat first” insist naman ni Niko

“No! Ok lang talaga” tanggi ulit ni Francesca

“ You want it or not, gagawin ko parin” May attitude talaga si Niko na he don’t listen and what he really wants to do ay gagawin niya talaga.

Pero bago paman din sila nakarating sa fast food chain para mag take out ay may nadaanan silang mga street foods stall at agad naman yun napansin ni Francesca.

“Dito nalang tayo if okay lang sayo? Yan lang kasi afford ko” Francesca

Gulat si Niko sa sinabi ni Francesca.

“ huh? Sino may sabi na ikaw magbabayad?” sambit ni Niko

“Wala eh pinasakay mo na ako so ang abusado ko naman pati pagkain kaw pa magbabayad” pagpapaliwanag ni Francesca

“ No it’s fine, I am the one invited you so ako ang may obligasyon. Okay?”

“Okay” di na nakatanggi pa si Francesca

Pinahintay na lamang ni Niko si Francesca sa kotse at siya na ang bibili.

Dumating na nga si Niko dala ang mga klase klasing street foods may kasamang pang ice cream.

“Dami naman nito” Francesca

“Dapat ubusin mo yan kasi bawi mo sa wala kang lunch kanina” Niko

“ okay po Sir” Francesca

At tumawa nalang si Niko. Agad naman sila kumain at pa sulyap sulyap din si Niko kay Francesca. On his mind napakasimple lang ni Francesca at enjoy ito sa kanyang pagkain. Bigla nalang siya natigil sa pagtitig kay Francesca ng magsalita ito.

“Niko mayaman ka ba?” Francesca ask directly out of nowhere

“ no, why?” pagtataka na tanong ni Niko

“A I just ask cause you have rich friends and you have Car” Francesca

“ A ok kahit May kotse, di naman ibig sabihin na mayaman and yeah I have rich friends sila lang yung rich ako hindi. May isang friend lang kasi ako dun sa group namin which is Kyle.” Niko explain

“Okay I just ask kasi may allergy kasi ako sa mga mayayaman” Francesca

Bigla nalang natawa si Niko sa sinabi ni Francesca.

“Totoo yun di talaga ako comfortable sa mga mayayaman. Feel ko kasi parang iba yung mundo nila at feel ko di ko talaga maka Vibes eh. That’s why wala akong friends sa school except kay Dennise.” Pagpapaliwanag ni Francesca

“Don’t worry di naman ako mayaman and if ever naman mayaman ako I will not make you feel like that. I mean kahit ano estado mo sa buhay everyone are equal.” salaysay ni Niko

Bigla nalang sila natahimik and Francesca was amazed how Niko treat her now and how Niko being so nice.

Pagkatapos nila kumain ay agad naman hinatid ni Niko si Francesca sa kanila. Niko was so happy dahil unti unti nang lumalapit ang loob ni Francesca sa kanya.