Andito ako ngayon sa lugar kung saan nagsimula lahat. From where we declared our love for each other, and now ending everything where we started.

 

The grass where we used to lay down. The way it touched our skin and laugh about stupid things we could think about. Oh to go back to that hapiness, to her.

 

"Hey Aeri" masakit, sobrang sakit. Just hearing her voice calling out for me hurts so much.

 

"Hey love" di siya sumagot, the silence is killing me.

 

"I know we're not together anymore, but can I call you that? Just this whole day?"

 

"Y-Yeah" parehas lang kaming nakatayo dito, no one wants to break the silence we're having.

 

"I'm sorry" panimula niya. "I'm sorry that this happened, I did love you I swear I did".

 

"Di ko lang aakalain na it'll be this hard, I'm not saying na you're not enough or you're no good for me" 

 

"Aeri you're too good for me, and di ko deserve yun"

 

"I just feel that if we held each other more we will fall apart"

 

"I know that I'm your first love, but please don't be afraid to love again" dun nako bumigay. Everything feels heavy.

 

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" she held me tight like it will be the last time. In fact, this will be the last time that she will hold me like this.

 

"Is there any other way?" ayun lang ang nakayanan kong sabihin.

 

"Don't worry someone will love you the way you love them, but that's not me Aeri" 

 

"Di mo na ba mababago talaga ang isip mo...?" 

 

"I'm really sorry Aeri, it's not your fault. It's just that after we broke up, I found peace, Lalo na nung nalaman ko na you did well sa law school. And nung mga panahon na wala ka, it's just that I know na this is the best for us" di na ako nagsalita at umiyak nalang sa bisig niya.

 

"I'll always cherish you, pero not in the way you want me to" 

 

"It's alright, I understand. I'm here for you. I'm sorry that I can't give the love that you wanted anymore" hinalikan naman niya ang ulo ko at niyakap ko lang siya nang mahigpit. Wala din pinipili ang tadhana no? bigla bigla nalang kinabukasan na mare-realize mo na hindi tama ang isang tao para sayo.

 

And I understand that kahit masakit, siguro denial lang ako ngayon. Pero feelings niya yun and I respect that.

 

Lumipas ang araw na to na ginagawa ang mga nasa listahan ko na di ko nagawa. Hawakan ang kamay niya buong araw. turuan siya pano mag bike. Treat her somewhere nice, I know it's too late pero today it is never late to do things na hindi ko nagawa nung kami pa.

 

It is hard nung natupad na niya ang pangarap niya. Pero bago pa nangyari yun ay hinanda ko na ang sarili ko sa mga pwedeng mangyari. 

 

Sa mga sched niya ay nandun ako ako halos palagi. I did everything to support her, pero siya yung sumuko. Her reason is masyado na daw akong nagtutuon ng oras sakanya, na nahihirapan ako mag review for the bar dahil I want to be a lawyer.

 

I said I can manage naman, pero pinilit niya parin na I only needed to focus on one thing and that is my dream. It broke me so much na I almost gave up. 

 

But if I did, parang napunta lang sa wala yung break up namin. So I reviewed at nakapasa sa exam.

 

I was so happy pero at the same time crying in pain. Kasi she's not with me anymore to celebrate, and I was so bitter at that time dahil I said na I was there when she achieved a lot of awards and wins.

 

Pero di naman yun sumbatan so I tried so hard to move on, she will check up on me twice a month. Nag-try din ako ng ibang coping mechanism at gumana.

 

 

 

 

 

Now I'm here sa court and I succesfully defended a case at naligtas ko ang kliyente kong na-frame sa isang krimen.

 

I became a trusted lawyer and got some awards. Kaya madami din nalapit sakin for help, at I am here for fairness and justice. 

 

"Miss Aeri!" lumingon naman ako at si Winter lang pala to.

 

"I told you don't call me that, tapos naman na ang trial kaya no need to be formal" 

 

"Okay sige Giselle" pang aasar niya.

 

"Ewan ko sayo Winter! Ano bang gusto mo?"

 

"Wanna have dinner with me?"

 

"Saan naman?"

 

"Secret hehe sama ka nalang, I'll drive" 

 

"Fine, eto yung susi dadaan muna ako ng cr" 

 

"Got it! See you!"

 

Currently andito ako sa cr at nag ring naman ang phone ko. Si ate Krystal pala to, agad ko naman sinagot dahil minsan lang to tumawag. "Hello ate?"

 

"Asan ka?"

 

"Kakatapos lang ng isa kong case, and I'll have dinner with Winter. Why?"

 

"Nothing naman, may papakita lang ako sayo pag uwi mo"

 

"Ate pag ayan bugaw nanaman I swear!"

 

"Hahaha! no kaya! basta uwi ka muna" 

 

"Alright, after ng dinner namin" 

 

"You like her don't you?"

 

"Shut up ate!" 

 

"Hahaha no need to deny, di na kita masyadong gigisahin. Enjoy!" nag bye lang ako at binaba na ang tawag. I went to the parking lot and I saw Winter just leaning sa car.

 

I'm not gonna lie that this woman is really attractive. Nanliligaw siya sakin for like 3 years, and di ko pa siya sinasagot for the same reason. And the reason is Ning.

 

Di ko naman sinasabi na di pa ako nakaka move on sakanya, I am happy for her kasi ang layo na ng narating niya sa buhay. She will have a new album this summer at madaming concerts.

 

She stopped checking up on me when I became a lawyer. Nung baguhan pa nga lang ako lagi kong hinihintay ang mga texts niya sakin. Pero wala ng dumating kaya I stopped hoping din.

 

And honestly that helped me more sa pag mo-move on ko. Pero medyo fresh pa ang sakit sakin neto so I am afraid of saying yes to Winter. 

 

Pero I should really give her a try, she's everything I could ever ask for. 

 

"Hey Win" 

 

"Hey Gi, ready to go?"

 

"Yup!" pinagbuksan naman niya ako at inalalayan makapasok at nag init ang mukha ko dahil dun. Since when pa ako nagka ganitong nararamdaman when she's being a gentlewoman.

 

I am very tired kaya pinikit ko muna ang mga mata ko. 

 

 

 

 

"Hey Gi?" Winter tapped me gently enough to wake me up.

 

"Hmmm?"

 

"We're here na, pero since you're tired do you wanna go home nalang? I'll cook dinner for us" 

 

"No it's alright, we'll have dinner here. I just need a nap and I'm okay na" I smiled at her and she did the same.

 

"Alright miss, I'll go get the door for you" 

 

"Ang cheesy mo" 

 

"Then call me cheesy all you want, as long as I can treat you like a queen" 

 

"Gosh Winter nagbibiro lang ako!"

 

"But I'm not" she chuckled at lumabas na para pagbuksan ako.

 

 

 

"Good evening, reservation for Winter Kim" 

 

"Alright! right this way ma'am" 

 

Kala ko ba kakain kami? bakit may elevator pa kaming sasakyan? 

 

Tinignan ko ang floor na pinindot nung guy and it is the 20th floor?!

 

Turns out na hotel with resto pala ito, and they take reservations para sa rooftop.

 

Sakto naman bumukas nag door at nandito kami sa may rooftop nila. Winter planned all of this? Buti nalang at di ako pumayag na umuwi dahil sayang ang effort niya.

 

Pumunta na kami sa nag iisang table and pinag hilaan ako ng chair ni Winter. I smiled and said my thanks at nag simula na kaming mag scan ng menu.

 

"Anong gusto mo?" 

 

"I would like the ravioli and steak please" 

 

"Nice choice ma'am, how would you like your steak cooked?"

 

"Medium rare" 

 

"Alright and for you ma'am?" 

 

"Just steak, medium rare too please" 

 

"Alright, any wine you wanna partner it with?"

 

"Do you have rosé?"

 

"We do have Mateus Rosé ma'am"

 

"Alright we'll take it" 

 

"Would that be all?"

 

"Yes"

 

"Alright will be right back with your order" nilabas ko naman agad ang phone ko at nag take ng pictures.

 

"Do you want to take some pictures over there?"

 

"Di mo ba ako itutulak?"

 

"Silly! Kita mong may harang eh" 

 

"So may balak ka nga?"

 

"No! Sinasabi ko lang naman huhu" nag pout naman siya na parang bata. Well she is indeed younger than me, wiser than me din. Nag bibigay pa yan nag advice sakin simula nung nasa law firm palang ako. And I have my own na din, sinundan naman ako ni Winter nung umalis ako sa previous law firm namin.

 

"Hey...you're spacing out, okay ka lang ba?"

 

"Nothing, may na-alala lang ako" 

 

"Alright, let's take a picture na dito" we took a lot of pictures, and inakbayan niya ako at niyakap nang mahigpit. "Take a picture of us being like this" nag init naman ang mukha ko at dali daling pinindot ang screen.

 

"Hahaha sorry if ang sudden, did I make you feel uncomfy?"

 

"N-No, nagulat lang pero it's alright by me" 

 

"You sure? namumula ka oh" 

 

"Ikaw ba naman yakapin nang mahigpit eh" natawa nalang siya at nag peace sign pa. Bumalik na kami sa table namin at nag kwentuhan about sa friends namin, kamustahan ganun indirectly nga lang.

 

"Excuse me, here's your Mateus Rosé" teka familiar yung boses na yun ah. Lumingon ako at si Ning ang una kong nakita. Nagulat kami parehas pero agad naman siyang natauhan and poured our glass with the wine. 

 

"I assume you're the owner here?" 

 

"Yes ma'am the name's Ning Yizhuo" 

 

"Wait your name's familiar"  alam lang kasi ni Winter ang name ni Ning, not the full name pero yung name lang. Anong gagawin ko? 

 

"You're that singer! Am I right?"

 

"Ahh haha yes po, this is my business din. I sometimes serve the diners here" 

 

"That's cool, respect kasi you have schedules pero may time ka pa mag serve here. Anyway sorry for taking up your time" 

 

"My pleasure, I'll leave you guys now, hope you enjoy the food" nag bow naman siya samin at umalis na, nakatingin lang ako sakanya hanggang sa pasarado na ang elevator at saktong nagtama ang tingin namin. Napa iwas ako ng tingin.

 

"She's really cool pala, and isang singer at owner ng isang sikat na resto and hotel. Buti nakakaya niya pa" 

 

"Well I heard naman na siya na ang nagha-handle ng mga promotions niya dahil may sarili na din siyang entertainment" 

 

"Really? that's really nice!" 

 

"Haha it is I guess"

 

Dumating naman na ang pagkain namin at nag chikahan lang kami about sa trial ko kanina. Next week pa kasi ang trial niya at kakatapos lang daw niya makipag kita sa client niya kanina. Buti daw sakto ang dating niya at tapos na ang trial ko.

 

 

 

 

 Asa car lang kami at kumakain ng ice cream. Ang random lang kasi kakagaling lang namin sa isang fancy resto, Ning's resto to be exact. Tapos biglang gusto niya ng ice cream.

 

"Hey Gi" 

 

"Hmmm?" I said biting my ice cream. "What the, you bite your ice cream?!" grabe parang mali tong way ng pag kain ko ng ice cream sa reaction niya.

 

"I like biting it para di matunaw agad"  

 

"Well can't judge you for that" natawa naman kami parehas. Nag clear siya ng throat "So...I want to ask you about something, you don't have to answer it" sumenyas naman ako na ituloy niya lang dahil kinakain ko pa ang ice cream ko.

 

"Ex mo ba yung owner ng resto?" nasamid naman ako bigla sa tanong niya. Akala ko di niya mahahalata dahil ang clueless niya tignan.

 

"You mentioned your ex's name before, inisip ko na baka mali lang ako kanina pero yung reaction niyo sa isa't isa says a lot" she chuckled and her ice cream.

 

"You don't have to answer though! Baka kasi mali din ako" 

 

"Yeah that's Ning" yun lang ang nasabi ko at natahimik kami for minutes.

 

"Look, I understand your feelings about her. Pero umm Gi if wala talaga akong pag asa sayo, please tell me right away" tinignan ko siya at kita ko sa mga mata niya ang lungkot.

 

"Hey no, I am just confused pa about my feelings. And ayoko pa mag salita ng tapos kaya please wait for me more" tumango nalang siya at bumalik sa pag kain.

 

"You know...you should definitely talk to her" 

 

"I mean so you guys should clarify things more" napa isip naman ako sa suggestion ni Win. 

 

"I don't know how though, it's been years na din Win" 

 

"Well it's never too late right? Di rin maganda na kimkimin mo lang yang mga nararamdaman mo. And malay mo may gusto din pala siya sabihin sayo" 

 

"Pero kung ano man mapag usapan niyo, if you're decided na siya talaga ang gusto mo it'll be alright with me. You know I respect you so much right?"

 

"Yeah...thank you Win, thank you always" 

 

"It's nothing no! basta ako parin ang favorite mong partner sa mga case" she will always be my favorite, and tama siya I need to clarify some things with Ning. Ang huli lang naming pag uusap ay sa garden sa likod ng school namin where we officially know that we can't be together anymore.

 

Hinatid na niya ako pauwi at kumaway na siya paalis, I did the same at pumasok na. Nakita ko naman na nanonood si ate sa living room.

 

"Hey ate" 

 

"Oh Riri andiyan ka na pala, come sit at may papakita ako sayo" kinabahan naman ako bigla, what if may letter na nagbabanta about sakin? 

 

"Here oh, sorry kung nabuksan ko na" binuksan ko naman ang isang maliit na purple envelope, card siya na maganda ang design. It's a...wedding iinvitation...?

 

 

You are invited to our wedding 

Miss Ning Yizhuo and Miss Song Yuqi

 

Monday. October 26th at 2:00 p.m

At Parish of San Miguel Archangel

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

 

We hope to see you there!

 

Reception to follow.

 

"I see...good for her then" it is Ning's dream dati pa na makasal sa Palawan, it's nice to see her dreams are coming to life one by one.

 

*Flashback*

"Babs! alam mo may naisip ako" bigla namang kumandong sakin si Ning habang nagbabasa ako about a case.

 

"Hmm? Ano yun?" binaba ko ang libro at inalis ang