Just Another Strangers

two

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How can you miss someone you've never met?

Coz I need you now

but I don't know you yet.

•••

Rain: Well you can't trust people.

Summer: What do you exactly mean by that?

Rain: well, dederetsohin na kita... Hindi tayo magkakilala personally. I want this to end. I really like talking to you but I think we are going too far. Besides hindi ko alam ang motibo mo sa pakikipag kaibigan sa akin.

Summer: So that is why you don't trust me? Kasi iniisip mong baka masama akong tao?

Rain: so you trust me now? Ganun ka kadaling nagpapaloko sa mga hindi mo kakilala?

Summer: tama ka naman, hindi tayo magkakilala. I trusted you, a stranger na kinausap ko ng tatlong taon. Who happened to be just fooling me around.

Rain: Come on, we both have fun to whatever we talked about. Admit it we've shared some great stories. Every lies. Sino naman ang maniniwala na totoo ka. Obviously, you are just using a dummy account. Look who's talking about fooling around?

Summer: I HOPE WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE EACH OTHER IN THE FUTURE.

Rain: Ow really? Why so sarcastic about that? Hindi yun imposible para sa akin kung gugustuhin kong hanapin ka. Yun nga lang hindi ko gustong mag aksaya ng panahon sa mga dummies.

Summer: goodbye!

In-off ni August ang kaniyang phone pagkatapos ng isang minuto na hindi na nagreply ang kachat niya sa messenger. Ibinato nito sa tabi niya ang kaniyang cellphone.

"Hmp! I hope were not gonna see each other in the future huh? Let's see. Walang impossible para sa akin kahit pa saang lupalop ka ng mundo magtatago. Kung gugustuhin kong hanapin ka magagawa ko." Bulalas niya.

Pagkatapos ay napakunot-noo siya at sarkastiko ang gumuhit na ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Pagkuwa'y natutop nito ang kaniyang sentido.

He felt an agonize in his heart.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit ganun na lang siya naapektuhan sa mga sinabi ng ka-chat niya gayung siya naman ang naunang nanghusga... At mukhang siya pa ang natalo sa laban na pinagplanuhan niya ng husto. Napatingin siyang muli sa cellphone niya at kinuha niya ulit ito at ini-on.

"Good choice of words. Very clever! Now I feel the need to save my pride." Hindi siya mapakali na hindi sagutin ang mga binitawang salita ng kausap niya. Hindi siya papayag na ganun na lang matatapos ang usapan na iyon.

Nang binuksan nito ang kanilang conversation box ay napakunoot-noo ang binata.

"What the hell???" he exclaimed.

You can't reply to this conversation.

Tuluyan na nitong ibinato sa kung saan ang kaniyang cellphone.

•••>>>

"BOUNGIORNO AMORE MIO!" Tinig ng isang babae na may hawak na dalawang tasa ng kape. She speaks in Italian language. Her usual sweet way to greet him in the morning.

"I Bought your favorite coffee, Caramel Macchiato! You were so drained last night, so I've decided not to wake you up early." She smiled sweetly.

Her beauty is like an angel. She has a fair skin, long shinny brown hair, round face, pointed nose and small red lips. And he is mesmerized with this beauty infront of him. He knows that he is lucky enough to deserve such a beauty like her.

Like Annalise Valdemor! The girl he promised to marry since when he was young.

Oh yes, coffee is his life! Madalas siyang tambay sa cafeteria. He loves coffee more than anything. When it comes to coffee, expert na siya sa panlasa. Hindi basta-basta ang lasa ng kaniyang kape. His kind of blend is special, kaya mangilan-ngilan lang ang talagang nakakakuha ng tamang timpla niya. That's why may nakatalagang taga-gawa ng kaniyang kape kapag napansin na siyang pumasok sa cafeteria. Pero syempre naging expertise na rin niya ang coffee blending dahil isa ito sa mga negosyo ng pamilya niya.

"Thanks hon! That's so sweet and deserves a kiss." He smiled at hinalikan nito ang noo ng dalaga.

"Oh well, alam ko naman na iyan ang unang-una mong hahanapin pagkagising mo. Malapit na nga akong magselos kasi mas hinahanap mo ang kape kesa ako." Ngumuso si Annalise at nagkunwaring nagtatampo.

"Well at least malapit pa lang tiyak na hindi ka pa talaga nagseselos." Ngumisi si August.

"Ahh gusto mong magselos ako sa kape mo?" She rolled her eyes. "Alam mo naman ako 'pag nagselos... Sinisigurado ko na hindi mo na malalapitan at mahahawakan ang kung ano man o sino man na pagseselosan ko." Nagtaas ito ng kilay teasing him.

"No way!" Protesta ni August.

"See? Mas pipiliin mo yang kape mo. August Wayne Santillan gwapong macho na mahilig sa kape!" Sabay humagikhik ang dalaga.

"Naughty girl!" aniya.

Pagkatapos ay bumangon na si August mula sa pagkakahiga. Katulad ng madalas niyang gawain after coffee lumalabas siya para mag-jogging. He needs to be healthy dahil madalas siyang puyat dahil sa pag-rereview para sa presentation niya. Pero hindi naman siya ganun kalungkot dahil madalas naman siyang dinadalaw ng kaniyang girlfriend kapag nagbabakasyon ito sa Italy.

This Mr. Nice guy here believes in destiny. And of course, eleven years is long enough para masabi niyang destined siya sa kaniyang girlfriend.

Sa murang edad, sila na ang laging magkasama. She's his best friend and best girlfriend at the same time.

Malambing, maalaga, matalino, supportive, kasama niya through ups and downs, lagi silang match sa likes and dislikes things at higit sa lahat hindi ito selosa. She believed in him because he knows him from the very start. She never get jealous to all of those flirty girls around him.

Hindi sila katulad ng ibang couples na madalas mag-away sa mga maliliit na bagay. Alam niyang sa pagitan nilang dalawa nakapagpuhunan na sila ng tiwala at pagmamahal as isa't-isa.

Good catch! What else could he wish for?

Maya't- maya'y sumagi sa isipan niya ang huling pag-uusap nila ng kaniyang dad at sandaling napatahimik at napatingin kay Annalise na abala sa pakikipag-chat sa barkada nila.

•••

"We've talked about this! I thought maliwanag na sa'yo ang lahat?!" Galit na sabi ng kaniyang dad habang sinusundan siya palabas sa kanilang bahay. Ngayon ang araw ng flight niya papuntang NEW YORK. Nagdesisyon siyang mag-aral ng college sa NY para hindi siya kulitin ng kaniyang Dad.

"But she's the woman I love! Pinag-usapan na natin na bigyan mo ako ng kalayaan to choose who I wanna be with and you agreed Dad!"

"I agreed knowing na mawawala din 'yan, na fling lang 'yan because you are still so young that time! And now here you are asking me about your plan of marrying that woman? Let me remind you Mr. Santillan, being committed to someone is a serious matter to Delavanca's arrangement."

"No! You planned that kind of setting. You are the one who are committed to that family not me! How could I even marry that someone whom I never met in my entire life?!"

Sandaling natahimik si Andress.

"This matter was your mom's last wish... But we've made an arrangement about this and I thought everything is already clear between us since we've talked about this sa burol ni tita Margarette mo?!"

"Indeed! And the fact that I'm still in a relationship! Ang unfair lang! Everything about that setting up is so unfair! Kalokohang kasunduan na iyan! That time sinabi ko lang na mag-bibigay ako ng chance kapag nagpakita siya sa akin."

Yes. Nagalit sa kaniya ang Dad niya noong nag-usap sila sa guest room sa Mansion ng mga Delavanca . At sinabi niyang papayag siya basta makita niya ang Februarie na iyon nung araw na iyon just to end their discussion, and that girl never showed up. Plano niyang pakiusapan yung babae na huwag din itong pumayag sa kasunduan na iyon.

"Unfair? I have given you enough time. As far as I remember! Bata ka pa noon, pinapaalala ko na sa'yo ang tungkol sa bagay na ito. Ito ang pinangarap ng Mom mo for you."

Narinig niyang pagalit na sabi ng kaniyang Dad.

"Well the thing is, I have all the right to choose who I'm gonna marry. Kung makita ko siya bago ako ikasal, may chance pa na pwedeng magbago ang lahat pero kung kasal na ako I hope you understand Dad. Ayokong mag-hintay ng forever sa taong ayaw magpakita."

Napasapo sa kaniyang sentido si Andress. Alam niyang hindi niya mapipilit si August.

"Okay brat! Let me tell you this clearly. After that girl, that Annalise! I don't want any woman to get involve in this situation ever again! Ever!" Matatag ang tono na sabi niya. "Or else makikialam na ako. I hope you get what I mean?" Dugtong nito.

August took a bit pause at biglang napa-isip at tinitigan ang kaniyang Dad. He knows that his Dad meant whatever he said.

"Did I make myself clear, young man?" Andress asked him with a calm but strong tone.

"Yes dad! Loud and clear. And of course old man, there will be no other woman will get involve because Annalise is my first and will be my last. The only woman that I wanna marry..." He also clearly assured and walked away.

Sapat at tiyak na mga salita na kailangan niyang bitawan at panindigan sa kaniyang Dad.

•••

Bakit nga ba hindi? Hindi niya hahayaan na ang Dad niya ang magpapatakbo sa relasyon na iniingatan niya ng matagal na panahon. Kahit bata pa sila noon ay gusto na niyang siguraduhin na matatanggap din ng Dad niya si Annalise.

Akala niya ay ipagpipilitan ng kaniyang Dad ang pakikipag-hiwalay niya kay Annalise.

Ngunit nahinto ang pangungulit nito simula nung natapos ang burol ni Mrs. Delavanca. Parang hindi na rin maalala pa ng kanilang mga magulang ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

Labis din ang pagtataka niya at some point kung bakit kahit man lang anino ng nag-iisang anak ni Mr. Delavanca ay hindi nila nakita at hindi man lang nagpakita. Sabi nila nasa ibang bansa ang anak nito at hindi makaka-uwi. He was hoping na kung makita niya ito ay pwede pang magbago ang isip niya na pwede siyang makipagmabutihan dito pero hindi ito nagpakita. She never cared about everything. Now they want him to wait for her for lifetime? Goodies sake! He won't waste his precious time to wait for no one! Para sa kaniya, pagkatapos ng chance na binigay niya ay huli na ang lahat para magpakita pa ang Februarie na iyon. Kahit pangalan nito ay ayaw na niyang marinig.

"What kind of daughter is she? Ni hindi man lang sinilip sa huling sandali ang kaniyang Mom? Does she even exist? Tsk!" In his thought then he hissed.

"Hon!"

Maya-maya'y pukaw sa kaniya ni Anallise. Katabi niya ito na nakaupo sa isang bench.

"Hmm... yes?" Aniya na hindi pa napapalis ang pagkakangiti.

"Kailan ka magbabakasyon sa Philippines? Namimis ka na daw ng barkada."

"Hmm... I'll try next month." Tipid niyang sagot.

"Okay. " sabi nito sabay hawak sa kaniyang phone at nag-chat sa GC ng barkada at sinabing next month ito uuwi at sinisigurado nga nito na uuwi talaga though wala pang assurance from him.

"There! Nasabi ko na sa kanila na uuwi ka next month."

"What?! I said I'll try. That means I'm not sure yet!." Gulat nitong protesta.

"You said, you'll try. That means you have to make it or else you'll be punished!" Pagak na napatawa ito mukhang sanay na nga itong asarin siya that way. "Next time watch your words. Say yes if yes. No if no." Dagdag pa nitong pagppaliwanag.

"Okay you got me there! " Pangiwi nitong saad.

"Actually, always! I always win! Loser!" Biro ng dalaga sabay hagalpak na napatawa.

Later on nagpaalam sa kaniya si Annalise na may aasikasuhin daw itong importante. Napatingin siya sa kalawakan at nag-isip kung uuwi nga ba siya o hindi.

He's always saying that he misses home but his mind complicates his thoughts. May masama siyang pakiramdam baka may mangyayari na hindi niya malaman kung ikakatuwa niya or what? Matagal-tagal na din na gusto niyang maka-bonding ang kaniyang barkada. Madalas sa chat na lang ang bonding niya sa mga ito at katulad ng dati masaya silang kausap at punong-puno ng biruan na tila mga bata pa. Maya't-maya'y napangiti siya at napabuntong hininga ng malalim.

•••

While throwing a blank stare at the glass wall, he's thinking about Annalise.

Pauwi siya nun galing office hindi na siya tumambay pa sa café house. Hindi niya naiintindihan ang kaniyang pakiramdam na tila pilit siyang hinihila ng kaniyang mga paa para umuwi.

Pagkatapos niyang mareceive ang message na nagmamadaling umalis si Annalise na dala ang lahat ng gamit nito ay kinabahan na siya ng husto.

Pagdating niya sa kaniyang condo unit sa 15th floor ay bigla siyang nanlamig. Natulala siya sa paligid kasi sobrang linis. Yeah! Sobrang linis! Lalo na ang mga cabinet kung saan nakalagay ang mga gamit ni Annalise Nagtaka at nag-alala siya dahil first time lang ito na nangyari.

Dati kasi ay nagtatagal ito ng tatlo o limang buwan doon bago lumipat sa ibang lugar. Pero ngayon isang buwan pa lang siya at wala man lang itong paalam kung may urgent matters.

He tried to call her many times but she's unreachable. He even called his friends and Annalise's friends in Italy and in Philippines but nobody saw her yet. Nobody knows where she is, yet.

She's gone. Just gone like that? No words or any reasonable explanation why she did this. Where'd she go?

He's alarmed! He is confused between a thought of he didn't know what happened to her if she's fine, or maybe he did something wrong that made her leave. He is so clueless about it. Kung bakit hindi man lang siya nagpaalam. And everything is like a puzzle to him.

After he received a message that somebody saw her in Philippines, he settled his papers immediately without even thinking and wasting time to fly back home anytime. ASAP.

And now, at the moment he found himself sitting inside a Café house while waiting for his especially made coffee. He felt troubled while trying to recall everything from the start. He even tried to put all the blame on him just to find those missing answers to his questions that has been stuck in his mind. He felt broken and incomplete and alone!

She's just busy and she just forgot to tell you. A thought. But still not the answer.

"Your coffee Sir!" A woman interrupted his thoughts. He looked at her. She's smiling at him so shyly.

"Thank you!" He said casually and he looked at his coffee without looking back.

"Anything else you need, Sir?" The woman asked.

"Nothing! Thanks!" He just said to remind her to leave him alone in a casual way.

But his stare was stuck on his coffee for a long time.

He sighed.

Suddenly his phone popped a new message. It was Gio his closest friend amongst his friends.

"Men Annalise is spotted now in their house. Where are you? Are you already in Phil's?"

Nang mabasa niya ang message ng kaniyang kaibigan ay dagli siyang tumayo at patakbong lumabas sa Café house. Padilim na rin noon. He put on his hoodie and hurriedly walk until he reached the parking lot and all of a sudden nabigla siya nang may tao siyang nakabangga.

"Ouch!" Reaction nito at boses iyon ng babae.

He stopped and he looked at the girl and make a sudden stare. He can't recognise her looks he can't see her facial expression. Madilim na rin kasi ang kapaligiran.

"Damn it! Tignan mo naman kasi ang dinadaanan mo huwag kang paharang-harang diyan!" Pagsusungit niya.

And then he hurriedly get in his car and drove fast. And he didn't even dare to look back. Maybe the girl finds him so rude or so bad mannered person but he is not really in a good mood to care what will anyone think of him. He is in a hurry and that's what matters at the moment.

"Not this time. Not just this time!" He whispered.

And he turned on the radio to break the silence inside his car. It's gonna be a long rough way to go and it will take a whole night to drive before he'll reach his destination. Hoping that he'll find the answers and make things back to normal as the way they used to be. Hopefully!

-->> Live like time never lasts and give your best to it. If things go bad, at least you gave your best and there's no regrets.