Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 22

“Bakit ka tumatawa?” tanong ko kay Shania nang bigla itong tumawa habang pareho kaming nakaupo sa beach chair. She was looking at her phone then laughed. 

“‘Yung kakilala ko sa hospital, sinabing nagpunta raw si Neus ngayon-ngayon lang. He didn’t know na umuwi na rin tayo that same day.” She smirked.

“Anong nakakatawa ro’n?” naguguluhan kong tanong. 

“Duh? Nagmukha siyang tanga.” She rolled her eyes then froze. “Why did I sound like Micaela for a moment?” Pareho kaming natawa. 

“Wala ka bang contact kay Mica?” I really want to talk to her. Especially now that I finally remember her. 

Shania shook her head. “Wala eh. After graduation, she suddenly disappeared. Pero ang alam ko, nasa London siya. Well, ‘yon ang sabi niya bago siya nawala. She said doon muna siya kasama ang family niya and she plans to start a business there. To sum it all up, ako na lang ang naiwan sa ‘tin dito.”

I looked down. “Sorry.”

Shania waved her hand dismissively. “Ano ka ba, tapos na ‘yon. Nandito ka na.” 

“I’m not staying though ...”

“At least I know your location. ‘Di gaya dati.” 

Niyakap ko ang mga binti at nilingon siya. “Did you have a hard time while I was gone?” She froze. I looked away. “Naisip ko lang. You said Mica disappeared after graduation so I’m guessing, mag-iisang taon na mula nang wala kang marinig mula sa kaniya. Habang ako, walang paramdam. Bigla ko tuloy naisip kung ... kumusta ka habang wala kami?”

“Not okay. Maliban kay Keith, kayo lang naman ang kaibigan ko. When I saw your social media account, I contemplated if I should message you. I’ll admit, nagtampo ako. But when I found out about your condition, I knew what I felt was nothing compared to what you’re going through.” 

“Kaya isinantabi mo nalang,” I concluded. I heard her chuckle.

“Relate much? Kaya magkaibigan tayo, eh,” pagbibiro niya. Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako kapagkuwan ay ngumiti. Tama naman siya. 

“Eh, kay Mica?”

“Sa kaniya? I can’t blame her kung malalaman kong sinadya niyang huwag magparamdam sa ‘kin. If you remembered, Keith is—”

“Mica’s ex,” I finished her statement. She nodded. 

“Yes. Naiintindihan ko naman kung saan siya nanggagaling — if she’s mad at me, that is. Ako ang palaging nagsasabi sa ‘tin na hindi dapat pag-agawan ang isang lalaki. I was even mad at her when she told you that she likes Neus even when I knew she was faking it. Tapos heto ako, kasal sa kaisa-isang lalaking sineryoso niya.”

“Hindi ko ‘to natanong sa ‘yo dati because I find it disrespectful. But hearing your conclusion as to why Mica cut ties with you, I must ask. You knew about Mica’s past with Keith. You were aware that of all Mica’s exes, si Keith ang pinaka-nagustuhan niya. Pero bakit—”

“Bakit ako nakipagrelasyon sa kaniya?” She raised both her brows and smiled. “Sa tingin mo, Anj. Can you resist falling in love?” I slowly shook my head. “Sinubukan kong pigilan but it only made me suffer. Kaya hinayaan ko na lang. Those were the times that I realized that my happiness matters more than a friendship rule. I feel bad hurting Mica but I don’t regret being with Keith. He makes me happy.”

I get it. She chose herself. She chose her own happiness. At ngayon, kuntento siya. This is what Auntie wants me to achieve. To choose myself and feel contentment and joy.

Napakasimple lang pero bakit nakakatakot? 

“It wasn’t easy, really. Ramdam ko rin na gusto akong komprontahin ni Mica but she never brought it up. She just slowly ignored me hanggang sa nawala na lang siya bigla. These past few years, I felt like she’s only staying close because she wanted to help find you. Kahit pa nag-sorry ako at sabi niya naiintindihan niya, alam kong hindi siya okay. That’s how she is. Palaban siya sa ibang tao pero kapag malapit na sa kaniya, she tries her best to be as understanding as possible.” Her face became more somber. I suddenly regretted opening the topic.