Half A Heart

If You Just Realized

Author's Note: So every five chapters (5, 10, 15 etc) will talk about the Present day. So in between chapters will be the flashbacks. 

Chapter 5: If You Just Realized

__________________________

Present Day

Alex woke up in her bed. Di niya alam kung paano siya napunta doon. 

Anong nangyari sakin? Nananaginip lang ba ako? Tumayo si Alex at naglakad sa apartment niya. Lumabas siya sa pinto ng kwarto niya nang narinig niya na bukas yung TV niya. Tumakbo siya papunta sa living room at nakita niya si Jovee at Shiela.

"Rise and Shine Princess!" sabi ni Jovee haShiela kumakain sila ng chips ni Shiela.

"Seriously?!" sabi ni Shiela kay Jovee at tumingin siya kay Alex "Mahal na prinsesa 2PM na po ng hapon. Ang tagal mong natulog. Okay ka lang?"

"Huh? Teka lang. Bakit ba nandito kayong dalawa?" nalilitong tanong ni Alex.

"Panu ka kaya nakauwi sa tingin mo? Do you think nakapagdrive ka kahapon?" Tanong ni Jovee sa nalilitong Alex sa harap niya.

"What are you talking about?" Alex asked and still very much confused why Jovee and Shiela is in her apartment.

Kinuha ni Shiela yung invitation sa center table at pinakita kay Alex.

"Shit..." sabi ni Alex at hinablot niya yung envelop kay Shiela. Pinunit niya yung envelop at binuksan niya ulit yung card. "Oh my gosh!"

"Wait... Di mo naaalala?" sabi ni Jovee "To refresh your memory... yesterday all of us got the invitations. And right after I read it, I called you... nabasa mo na din that time. You're driving home but I told you not to, I came and brought you home. Then kanina I called Shiela to bring breakfast then you walk out through that door and-"

"Stop..." Alex immediately muttered, two pairs of eyes watching her closely.

"Lex..." mahinahong tawag ni Shiela sa pangalan ni Alexandra.

"Just give me a moment" sabi ni Alex as she grip the invitation in her hands. Nakatulala at hawak niya lang yung card sa kamay niya.

"Gosh Lex, I didn’t give you up for her for you to be like that. Come on do something!" sabi ni Shiela sakanya. "If that girl didn’t end up with you, I will kill you! Naiinis ako kay Ysa sobra! Pigilan mo ko Jov!"

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Jovee "Girls are always unpredictable."

"Says the guy who’s best friends with three girls from his high school" sabi ni Shiela at inirapan niya si Jovee.

More or Less 20 minutes gone ganun pa din sila.

"I need you to say something Lex..." sabi ni Jovee sa kaibigan niya.

"Akala ko okay na kami. Akala ko hihintayin niya ko. Yes I left, but I told her I'll come back... But that message went unanswered. I even left you for her!" sabi ni Alex kay Shiela na ex-girlfriend niya, "Damn! And now she's getting married with him... LA? I dont even like that guy!" sabi ni Alex.

"You whoa this whole town Lex, even the whole country. You make it big after college. Lex, you owned I don’t know how many shops. You r****h these things with your talent every freaking day!" sabi ni Jovee kay Alex making sure his friend know what she really is, a freaking successful superstar.

"Not anymore, I lost the love of my life. I became too selfish, I lost her... I can still remember clearly when we're still younger I used to drag her sa hallway just to see her, talk to her or kiss her." sabi ni Alex as she reminisce every single moment she spend with Ysa. As the tear starts to come rushing in her face. "She's the reason why I’m like this. Successful and miserable at the same time."

"But?" sabi ni Shiela.

"But changes... No one can control it,not even me. I let change take over the both of us. Nakita ko yung ibang side ng love... Heartbreak. I saw it destroy the happiest couple I knew. I got scared, paano kung sakin nangyari yun? So I hold back. I got scared. I’m a coward" sabi ni Alex habang nakatingin lang sakanya si Shiela at Jovee

"So ngayon?" sabi ni Shiela sakanya.

"Ikakasal na siya..." sabi ni Alex habang umiiyak at natatawa. But you cant deny there's anger on that laugh.

"And how's that make you feel?" sabi ni Jovee.

"Like vomiting..." sabi ni Alex as she shakes her head in regret and everything in between of all the emotion coming towards her.

"Ikakasal na siya Lex, ano ba?! As in Kasal!" sabi ni Shiela sakanya.

"Alam ko!!!" sabi ni Alex.

"Marriage! Lex Marriage! Ikakasal na siya sa lalaking makakasama niya pang habang buhay?! Tapos yan lang nararamdaman mo? Like vomitting? What the heck Lex!" sabi ni Jovee as he tries his best to get a reaction or any kind of emotion from Alex, he wants his friend to get the anger out, everything.

"Ano bang gusto niyong dalawa na sabihin ko?!!" sigaw ni Alex kay Jovee at Shiela habang gigil niyang hawak yung invitation card na nagusot na sa kamay niya.

"s**t Lex! Ikakasal na si Dennise! Naiintindihan mo ba?! Marriage! As in magcecelebrate sila ni LA ng anniversaries, magkasama sila matulog sa gabi. Magbabakasyon sila sa probinsiya nila ng asawa niya!" sabi ni Shiela as they try to lit the fire under Alex’s ass.

"f**k! Bakit niyo ba ko sinisigawang dalawa?!" sigaw ni Alex sakanilang dalawa. "Alam ko, okay? I know she's getting married!"

"Do you? Huh? Married. As in they'll have s*x and children and own house!?" sabi ni Jovee.

"Alam ko! Stop saying that!" sabi ni Alex na nagagalit na sa dalawa kasi feeling niya tinotorture siya ni Shiela at Jovee ng katotohanang ayaw niyang tanggapin.

Eh ano naman! Masakit naman talaga?!

"Oh? Ano nang nararamdaman mo ngayon?!" sabi ni Shiela sakanya.

"Galit ako!" sumigaw si Alex and finally Jovee and Shiela felt what they were doing is working.

"At? Ano pa?" sabi ni Jovee habang nginitian niya si Shiela.

It’s working. Persuasion level 100!

"I really want to punch something!" sabi ni Alex as she tightens her hold sa invitation.

"Yun na yun? Hanggang diyan ka lang Lex huh?" sabi ni Shiela.

"No! I felt like regrets taking my whole body! I’m hurt! Im in pain! Feeling ko sasabog na ako!" sabi ni Alex.

"At anong nararamdaman mo na yung lalaking pinaka ayaw mo is hinahalikan si Dennise ngayon? Yung babaeng minahal mo ng sobra!Yung babaeng ipinalit mo dito sa babaeng katabi ko ngayon?! Yung babaeng nakasama mo sa lahat ng first time mo Lex ikakasal na sa iba?!" sabi ni Jovee.

"My heart! Half my heart was ripped off my chest! It hurts so much, okay?!" sabi ni Alex

"Oh ano pa?" sabi ni Shiela.

"Akin lang si Den!" Sigaw ni Alex that made Jovee and Shiela smile internally.

"And?" sabi ni Jovee.

"Hindi siya pwedeng hawakan ng lalaking yun!" sabi ni Alex. Tumayo siya and she starts walking around the living room. Di niya maexplain yung adrenaline niya.

"Sige pa! Ano pa Lex!?" Tanong ni Shiela kay Alex.

"A-a-and like shouting at her that it's a mistake! What she's doing is a big mistake!" sumigaw si Alex at hinampas niya yung noo niya habang umiiyak siya. Her tears start to drop on the floor. "She should be with me! She should've been with me! She should be marrying me! And she knows that! She f*****g knows that!"

"Paano mo gagawin yan ha, Lex!? Anung gagawin mo?!" sabi ni Jovee with strong motivation sa boses niya.

"I-I-Im gonna go there! Pupuntahan ko sila! Pupunta ako! Susuntukin ko si LA at hahalikan ko si Den! Ysa ko!" sabi ni Alex.

"Teka! Wait Lex. No! Teka lang. Take it easy..." sabi ni Shiela as she stop Alex from walking on the room.

"No! Let's go!" sabi ni Alex.

"No no no no no... Gusto ko yang galit mo Lex! s**t ayan na! Gustong gusto ko ginagawa mo but we need to plan everything!" sabi ni Jovee.

"A plan? Yes! Plan! Ano? Anong gagawin natin?!" Tanong ni Alex at umupo na siya. Hinawakan niya kamay ni Shiela at tumingin kayJovee. "Anong klaseng plano?!"

"Yes yes yes. Win Ysabelle Dennise Garcia Back Plan!" sabi ni Shiela.

"That's good. You're so smart Shiela! Gosh! You are so smart! I like you so much! My heart is rising! Di ko maexplain!" sabi ni Alex as hurt and pain became excitement and a bit of hope started forming from her body.

"Kausapin mo si Tita! Kung may taong nakakakilala sainyong dalawa ni Den. Yung mommy mo yun Lex!" sabi ni Jovee.

"Yes! Tama tama! Babalikan ko lahat. Our first date. Yung highschool natin. Yung gym. Yung Theme park. Yung coffee shop ni Daddy! Yung kwarto ko! Yung quarters ni Max! Maybe I’m just forgetting everything we had, I’m pretty sure that the old me is still inside of me. I can feel it, I want her back, the old me... that the only thing in mind is how to keep our love alive... I'll remember!" Sabi ni Alex while Jovee and Shiela frantically nod their head.

"Well then now fix your s**t together before it’s too late!" sabi ni Shiela.

"Okay okay. Im a s**t right now. Im a s**t. I feel young! God! I feel younger... The love I have for Den nung highschool bumabalik! Im on fire! Dammit! Dammit!" sabi ni Alex. Tumakbo siya sa bedroom at hinagis niya yung maleta niya sa kama niya. At ang naririnig lang ni Shiela at Jovee na sinasabi ni Alex ay puro s**t lang. Nakangiti sila habang pinapanuod si Alex. "What the hell you two looking at? You're all coming with me!"

"Easy Lex... Oo sasama kami!" sabi ni Shiela.

"Yup. Fix your s**t together Lex. Dapat matagal mo ng ginawa yan! Damn you're freaking stupid! You really waited for a wedding invite just for you to work your ass off! Crazy Lesbians!" sabi ni Jovee at tiningnan siya ng masama ni Shiela at Alex. "What? Just saying... Okay?"

__________________________

Ella rushed as she received the invite sa Apartment ni LA at Ysa. Mabilis niyang pinatakbo yung sasakyan niya at tumatakbo siya papunta sa unit nila Den. Di siya mapakali sa elevator. Nung nagclick sa 7th floor tumakbo siya at kumatok... halos masira niya yung pinto. Binuksan ni Den yung pinto at nakataas yung kilay niya.

"Besh muntik mo ng masira yung pinto. What's with that? Ang aga aga..." sabi ni Den at direderetso lang si Ella sa loob.

"Nandito ba si LA?!" sabi ni Ella.

"Wa-wala... bakit ba parang hinabol ka ng aso. Have a seat. What's wrong?" sabi ni Den at nilock ni Ella yung pinto. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? Den! What. Are. You. Doing!?" sabi ni Ella.

"What? I don’t understand..." sabi ni Den "If this is about the wedding... Besh I’m sorry. But LA is a good guy. I’m marrying him."

"No he's not! Come on! Good guy huh? Besh naman!" sabi ni Ella at hinawakan niya si Den

"Besh... I know. Team Alex ka, and I get that...But she left me, she never came back, she didn't even leave anything for me to hold on to, Besh I’m tired of waiting," Naiiyak na si Den "But all I want right now from my best friend, that was you, was your support. Please. Respect my decisions. Its what I needed" sabi ni Den.

"Needed? But you want this? Do you want to marry him?" sabi ni Ella.

"Ye-yes ofcourse I do!" sabi ni Denden.

"Have you heard?" sabi ni Ella.

"Heard what?" sabi ni Denden at pinunasan niya yung luha niya.

"Alex's here, she came back... Nandito na siya. Last week ata siya dumating, magkikita dapat kami yesterday but this freaking invitation was brought to my house... Jovee and Alex met already. What are you doing?!" sabi ni Ella.

"What?! She's..." sabi ni Denden.

"Back! She came back! Did you give her an invite? Have you sent her something?" sabi ni Ella.

"I didn't know... Sa coffee shop niya, dun ko inaddress yung invitation. Akala ko kasi wala pa din siya sa apartment niya... Hindi ko alam..." sabi ni Denden.

"Siyempre di mo alam! Kasi kung alam mo di mo itutuloy to! Gosh! Besh!" sabi ni ella.

"Stop shouting at me! Okay? You know what?! Dumating o hindi si Alex papakasalan ko si LA! Case closed! Ikaw din! Im not forcing you to come at my wedding day! Kung ayaw mo ehdi wag!" sabi ni Denden.

"Are you serious?! Then okay! I wont! Maghanap ka na ng bagong Bridesmaid mo!" sabi ni Ella at pumunta siya sa pinto. Sumunod naman si Denden sakanya at binuksan yung pinto. Humarap si Ella kay Denden "But please, what you two did on the past? Dont do it again. Dont make decisions that you know you'll regret eventually. Napagdaanan niyo na yan once, twice gosh! sobrang dami niyo nang napagdaanan!. Besh...Just make sure that whatever you do, you're a hundred percent sure..."

"I do... I do... Lo-love him. I do" sabi ni Denden.

"Keep telling that to yourself, hanggang mapaniwala mo sarili mong mahal mo si LA. Sa nakikita ko? Even yourself is not sure if you love him... or you just really want to settle down... Best wishes" sabi ni Ella at umalis siya.

Sinarhan na ni Den yung pinto. Pagkalock nung pinto napaupo sa sahig si Denden at umiyak...

"L-Lex..." at yan lang nasabi ni Den habang umiiyak siya. She looked at her finger where Alex's promise ring was placed before she removed it after she said yes to LA. She felt her finger like the ring never left her hands. Kahit wala na yung singsing na binigay ni Alex nararamdaman niyang suot niya pa din yung ring na yun. It never been removed, and never will be. It's like invisibly tatooed in her fingers... 

Just like her feelings for Alex, you may not see it. 

But it’s there. Always there.