FOUND YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF PANDEMIC

OUR PAST

Dhale checked the time pasado alas dyes na nang gabi ngunit tila ayw syang dalawin ng antok. she grab her laptop ans start to write a scenario in her mind but still nothing happen, nagdisisyon na lamang syang lumabas ng sili.

I think I need some beer she whispered di nya inaasahang madadtnan niya roon si Kevin nakaupo ito sa may mesa nakatingin sa kawalan mukhang malalim ang inisip she came closer di man lang ito tumingin sakanya.

Marahil ay lumilipad ang isip neto she 2 cans of beer at naupo sa harap ng binata inilapag nya sa harap nito ang isang lata ng beer. “cheers'’ she said nagukat naman ito sa biglang pag lapit nya “lalim ng iiniisip ahh baka malunod ka nyan. care to share?‘’ And she smiled at him.

“I'm just wondering how this lock down would last I miss them, I want to see her, I want to know if she doing good if shes safe“ malungkot nitong sagot ayy te! Shaket besh may bebe pala retretttt tumikhim muna sya bago muling nagsalita.

“who is she? Alam mo mas mabuting mag share tayo about sa mga buhay – buhay natin para maging comfortable tayo sa isat isat“ ngumite sya ng alanganin nagbabakasakali lang namn na baka mag kwento bukod sa curious sya nais nya ring malaman kung anong klaseng tao ba ang lalaking kasama nya ngayon.

Nanatiling tahimik ito buong akala ni Dhale ay Malabo nang mag share sakanya ang lalaki napa buntong hininga sya “sorry.. kung ayaw mo wag na-“ di na niya natapos ang sasabihin dahil muuling nagsalita ang binata.

“It was Elisse matagal kona syang nililigawan I did everything for her, sinusundo ko sya after ng class nya hinahatid I even bring her flowers ask her for a date. Sing a song for her in almost 2 years I did that just for her I don’t even pay attention to other girls kasi para sakin she more than enough until…”.

Di na nito naituloy ang sasabihin he smile bitterly that make her feel want to hug him but she stop herself ”until what?” naisatinig nya lang lumagok muna ito ng beer bago muling nagsalita ‘’Until she change shes not the Elisse I use to know."

"Yung Elisse na kilala ko masayahin, lahat ng mga efforts ko ang nakakapagpasaya sakanya my presence is enough for her. She use to be the best woman I ever met. Not until the day she confess her feelings for me pero di parin nagging kami"

hinayaan ko lang siyang magsalita at tahimk na nakinig "But for me its enough reason to hold her dahil kahit di pa kami officially at least I got her heart. Noong una masaya pa kami pero nong mga tumagal na she became paranoid lahat nalang pinag seselosan nya."

huminto muna ito bago muling nagsalita "simpre iniintindi ko naman mahal ko ehh! She use to be my no. 1 supporter before but now sya na yung nagbabawal saking gawin ang gusto ko. Pinag bawalan nya akong makipagusap sa mga babae, pati lumabas ng di sya kasama pero sya okay lang na gumala kasama tropa“.

Patuloy nito bakas ang hinanakit sa bawata salitang binibitiwan nito. She don't know how to react kaya pala di sya nito pinapasin noon kahit pa isang circle of friends lang sila “kaya pala nagtatampo na sayo si kuya Allen“ komento niya.

“Yah dami ko nang utang sakanila. To be honest di ko alam kung masaya pa ba ako sakanya, hangang sa isang araw nagaway kami dahil sa isang kaibigan ko akala nya kasi niloloko ko sya. di nya man lang ako hinyaang mag explain… she left me sobrang sama ng loob ko non..Ang sakit pala pag yung taong mahal mo mismo ayy di ka kayang paniwalaan..'' he look at me like he is trying to gain sympathy.

"But I can't imagine a life without her that’s why pinuntahan ko sya kahit sakal na sakal na ako I need to gain her back pagpasok ko sa apartment nya dala ang favorite nyang chocolate isusurprise ko sana sya kaso…” huminto muna ito bago sya nagsalita ulet “ako yung na surprise“ muling naalala ni kevin ang nangyari ng gabing iyon.

FLASHBACK !

Inayos ko muna ang aking buhok dapat pogi tayo haha I take deep breath bago naglakad papalapit sa gate ng bahay nila Elisse, bitbit ang chocolate at favoritong bulaklak ni Elisse handa na siyang suyuin ito bago pamanlang siya kumatok ayy kusa ng bumukas ang pinto na syang napagimbal sakanya sa nakita it was Elisse with another man they look so sweet mukhang ihahatid pa ito ni elisse palabas

Nagtatawanan pa ang dalawa he saw the genuine happiness in their eyes that he couldn’t find when she is beside him marahil ayy masaya lang talaga ito kayat di sya napansin ng dalawa he decided to hide behind the wall and he saw worse than before bago umalis ang lalaki ay hinalikan muna nito si Elisse and she don’t even hesitate to response.

He could feel a sharp knife stab his heart nang makaalis na ang lalaki ay saka siya lumabas sa kinatataguan Labis ang pagkagulat ni Elisse nang Makita siya di ito agad naka galawsa kinatatayuan.

Dahan syang lumapit dto mabibigat ang bawat hakbang tinitigan nya ang dalaga sa mata “why?” tanging lumabas sa bibig nya “Im sorry Kevin..di..ko-..’’ he cut her off “NO! Elisse thank you for everything..sana maging masaya ka” the last words he said iniabot nya rito ang dala at saka lumakad palayo now he know he is just an option. END OF FLASHBACK”

Di namalayang tumutulo na pala ang mga luha ni Dhale sa kanyang mga mata bigla nyang naalala ang nangyaring panankit sakanya ng taong minahal nya ng sobra ‘’sorry hehe na carried away ako ang lalim ey” she said habang pinupunasan ang luha sa mukha.

Napalingon naman sakanya si Kevin and to her surprise kanina pa pala ito uumiiyak he chuckled when he saw Dhale's reaction “ang duwag ko no? kalalake kong tao iyakin ako“ patuloy neto napabuntong hingihna si Dhale “NO. kuya Kevs you’re brave..”

Tumingin ito sakanya “you’re brave enough to share your past life even its to hard for you. And you’re so brave to cry in front of a stranger like me“ she said with a smile, lalong naiyak naman si kevin siguro ayy dala ng kalasingan kaya’t di nito napipigaln ang emosyon Dhale can’t stop herself to give him hug.

Hinaplos nya ang likod nito “sige iiyak mo lang yan until you feel better, don’t forget that even dark days are chasing you still sun shines brighter than it usually do’’ She said.

Nanatili sila sa ganoong ayus hangang sa maka tulog si Kevin, inayos nya ang higa neto at kinumutan. Bago siya pumasok sa silid ayy sinulyapan nya muna ang mukha ng natutulog na binata “I felt sorry for you crush! haisst maling dem*nyo ang minahal mo haisstt ako kasi dapat haha char ay awan baka magising kapa jan babush na nga“.

Maagang nagising si Dhale para magluto ng almusal habang si Kevin naman ay natutulog parin marahil ay nalasing ito nang nagdaang gabi. Matapos nyang ihain ang nilutong ramen ay naisipan nyang tawagan ang bestfriend na si Mia ngunit sa kasamaang palad di nito sinsaagot ang twag nya.

"Oh you’re awake ang aga naman” someone speak tinapunan nya ito ng tingin “anong maaga. alas 9 na kaya ikaw ang late“ sagot nya na may halong pangaasar tila nahiya naman ito hay naku crush pano mo ako magiging jowa nyan kung lagi kang nahihiya? haha ofcourse it was inside her mind.

’’Hmm mukhang masarap yan ahh!’’ pagiiba neto ng topic sows! Haha “kaja! Lets eat” said tumabi naman ito sakanya at nag simulang lantakan ang Ramen.

DHALE’S POV.

Katatapos lang naming kumain at hayun si crush naliligo na para ready daw charr! Simpre ako naman isang huwarang may bahay eto nagliligpit ng pinag kainan. After kong malinisan ang kusina ay dumeretso ako agad sa sala susubukan kong tawagan ulet si Mia siraulo yun ehh at sa wakas ay sinagot din ng loka.

‘’Uyyy Gaga ano na? bat di mo sinasagot mga tawag ko?” paglilitanya ko rito ‘’sorna agad busy ey haist btw? Nabalitan ko pala yung nangyari sa hospital kumusta kana?’’ tanong nito wow sincere ang pota haha “yup ako pa strong yata to haiyyst’’ sagot ko.

“gaga ka! Strong ka jan ey muntik kna ngang mapahamak ey! Nagigiulty tuloy ako di kita napigilan agad or even balaan man lang haiysst! Akala ko aware kana” patuloy neto nagsink in sa utak ko ang mga sinbe nito balaan? Aware wth?! ‘’ano? Aware saan? At babalaan saan?” nalilito kong tanong s**t may di ba ako alam di ito agad naka sagot.

"Oh no! frenny di mo nga alam haiyyt” she just said naguguluhan parin ako ‘’just tell me!’’ I said desperately “kasi Dhale sabi ni Jhian sakin nong araw na pumunta ka sa hospital kasama ng team nagkaroon ng announcement sa school. Pinauwi lahat ng student sakto naman kakaalis nyo lang kaya di kita nasabihan start na pala nun ng lockdown . Nalaman ko lang na may infected pala ng COVID ditto satin at na doon pala dinala sa hospital kong saan kayo naroroon nung sinabi sakin ni Jhian kaya nga daw di na sya sumama eh. Kaso di na kita ma contact yun pala may nangyari na sorry talaga freny”

Naiiyak netong paliwanag “ano alam nyo nung umpisa palang?! at alam to ng school?” gulat kong tanong “oo freny si Jhian mismo ang nagsabi sakin ey sorry“ nalumo ako sa narinig kung alam to ng school why the hell they sent us there?! Si Ram alam nya rin ang lahat ng ito but why? I cant believe this napakuyom ako ng kamao halus bumaon ang mga matatalim kong kuku sa aking palad but hell I care!

“How dare you Ram! You f@cking bastard I will kill you” nagtatagis ang bangang kong sabi..gusto kong sumigaw, gusto kong magwala basagin lahat ng nasa harapan ko at gusto kong umiyak sa sobrang galit sumusobra kana Ram. Pagod na ako sayo! di na tama to! pilit kong kinalma ang sarili at pumasok na sa silid.

I decided to clean everything in the house without saying any words at naglaba narin ng damit ko pagkatpos habang si Kevin naman ay pinapanood lang ako. Kinakagabihan nagluto lang ako ng dinner at kumain konte si Kevin naman ngayon ang nagligpit habang ako eto nakatulala sa kawalan wala Lang talaga ako sa mood magsalita kaya sorry crush sinasariwa ko ang mga masasayang alala naming dalawa every moment we shared together.

Every memories we made together. Lahat nang iyon is like a fairy tale to me it's so enchanted at sinong magaakalang itatapon lang ni Ram yon basta basta how cruel right? May umabot sakin ng beer I look at it its Kevin.

“Kanina ka pa jan tulala maynangyari ba?‘’ he ask me tinignan ko lang siya he’s brave enough to share his painful memories to a person like me so why not I should do the same? I sign before I speak “ 2 years ago I met him and we are so happy to have each other until the day comes to an end.’’.

I started siya naman ayy nanatiling nakikinig lamang bigla kong nalala ang lahat I smiled bitterly “Ram was the of person that I thought could be the one I can count on always a shoulder that I could lean on” I stop when I remember how happy we are before I smile.

“Si Ram yung tipo ng taong lagi akong pinapangite, he use to take care of everything so I wouldn’t have to worry. Siya rin yung unang taong naniwala sakin, naniwala na lahat kaya kong gawin he always cheering me up”.

lumagok mona ako ng beer “pag nalulungkot ako pinapatawa nya ako , he likes to sing a song for me kasi sabi pa nya di daw sya sanay na Makita akong nalulungkot. Ram treated me like I am the only one in his life. He showed me the love and care that every girls dream… kaya sobra akong na attached sakanya’’

I smiled again “we are so happy to be together, Aminado naman ako na minahal ko agad si Ram, yes it's true and I never fail na iparamdam yun sakanya I never leave his side no matter what because I promise to myself na sya na yung huling lalaking mamahalin ko…. Everything is perfect not until…”

I stop my memory regain everything “until?’’ Kevin speak it seems like he’s interested huh “until the day he change. nagi- syang cold sakin iniwasan nya ako lagi syang busy but it's okay I ask him and he told me that he want to be the SSC president and he need my support, I agreed I support him with all I can and he won. Buong akala ko maayos na naming ang samin but I was wrong lalo lang itong Nasira“.

Napakuyom ako ng kamao I can remember the day he betrayed me I chucked softly “lalo nya akong iniwasan instead of meeting me he just giving me a lot of things to work for so I can't get a chance to disturb him. Until one day I finally got free time I decided to talk to him. Akala ko maayos na ehh but hell I was so surprised of what I saw“.

I look at Kevin’s eyes bago ako nagpatuloy damang dama kong muli ang sakit nang nakaraan tila lahat nang sugat ay muling nanariwa “like you. I saw him dating another girl and sadly I heard their conversation he said I'm just nothing but his friend that he needed to do some of his task like a d@m puppet ‘’.

I chuckled one again “Dam! It's f*cking painful But I never cry I just did told him to be happy even I'm not around.” Inubos ko ang laman ng beer all this time masakit parin sakin but hell I never cry I speak again.

“And you know whats worse? Haha it's when you needed them to be with you in the darken part of your life there's no one else dare to come. hahaha I ask my friends to be with me that time but sadly they told me to forget about him and live like nothing has happen funny right? no ones like to comfort me haha I just found out that day that everyone hate me everyone likes to pull me on the ground and watch me suffer”.

I said with all my anger out “I'm sorry to hear that“ Kevin said I look at him “now you know my story you can now give a judge like everyone does. but you know ang di ko lang kasi matangap is yung nagawa nya akong itangi sa lahat like our relationship is nothing for him but he keep on nagging me.“

I said I know he would and it's right I was the one foolish to fall on trap “I wont. You’re not a foolish person they are just stupid to betray you like that“ he replied na nagpagulat naman sakin “don’t say that Kev’s hahaha you know I wont believe it“

Inakbayan ako neto wth?! “Look kid! everyone may lie, everyone may deceived you, everyone may leave, and everyone may betrayed you but there’s always someone will stay with you despite's of everything. Once you found him never compare him to anyone because he will never be the same“ he said and tap my hair like a kid at dahan dahan itong ngumite.

Napatulala ako sa mga mata nya I can read the sincerity in his eyes, is this all true should I grab this? napakadaming tanong ang nabuo sa isipan ko totoo ba talagang nagyayri to? Ito ang unang beses na may nagpadama sakin ng care after what happen, gusto kong maiyak but I can’t I need to stop, not now Dhale! This ain't right nakakatakot baka maulet lang nanaman haiyyst!.