Glimpse of Stars

31

Heard

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't know."

I ran up to Benj and embraced him tightly. Hinayaan niya lang akong yakapin siya. Hindi niya ako hinapit para mas mapalapit sa kaniya.

I burst into tears because of his treatment towards me. Tinapos ko ang yakap at tumingin sa kaniya. Nakatitig lamang siya sa unahan. Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang mukha para ibaling sa akin ngunit binalik niya rin agad sa dating puwesto. He looked mad. Galit ba siya sa akin? Bakit?

"B-Benj, nandito na ako."

"Bakit ka pa pumunta rito?" halos matuod ako sa kinatatayuan nang marinig ang malamig niyang boses.

"Bakit ngayon pa? Sanay na akong wala ka. I waited for you for ten years. . ." he stopped to grasped for air. "Ni isang beses hindi mo ako dinalaw," his voice cracked. He looked hurt. I could feel my heart constricting in pain.

"Kaya. . . bakit ngayon pa? O-Okay na ako, eh. Sanay na ako na wala ka. B-Bakit?" he asked, in pain.

Nangilid ang luha sa kaniyang mata ngunit pinipigilan niya ang sariling umiyak. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganito siya.

"B-Benj, I also waited for you," I whispered. Nahihirapan akong magsalita dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman. "It was also hard for me. I suffered, too. Pero. . . ang sabi nila patay ka na."

"What?"

"K-Kaya h-hindi na kita hinanap. Ang sabi nila matagal ka nang w-wala. I even went to your condo because I don't believe them. B-But. . . lahat sila 'yon ang alam. 'Yon ang s-sinasabi nila sa akin," I wiped my tears and tried to calm myself. I was shaking so bad. "I. . . was in a coma." I whispered but enough for him to hear.

I heard all three of them gasped, except Celeste. They didn't know? Bakit hindi nila alam? What happened in the last ten years?

"W-What are you saying?" he was just staring blankly but his face says he was hurting. Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo habang mariing nakakuyom ang mga kamao.

"I was in a coma, Benj. F-For ten years. I. . . I just woke up recently. . ." and we have a daughter. I wanted to add it, but it wasn't the time yet.

Nakita ko ang panghihina ni Benj kaya naman lumapit ako para alalayan ito ngunit naunahan ako ni Kayleigh. I saw how Benj held onto her for support. Nakaramdam ako ng sakit.

Right, maybe. . . maybe there was something going on between them. I was out of the picture for ten years.

Naputol ang pag-uusap namin ni Benj nang dalhin siya ni Kayleigh sa loob. Nakita kong may inabot ang babae na white cane rito. He used it as a support so he could walk. Napatakip ako ng bibig sa nakita.

This is my fault. Ako ang may kasalanan kung bakit ganito siya ngayon.