LOVE IS WAR(M).

29

Laurice.

Halos mapabalikwas ako sa kama at tarantang napatingin sa labas ng balcony para tingnan kung anong oras na. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makitang madilim pa pala sa labas. I reached for my phone na nasa gilid lang ng unan ko, 2:15AM palang pala. Maybe my mind was overthinking na baka malate kami sa flight namin kahit na tulog pa ako at kahit na hapon pa rin ang flight namin. Napailing-iling nalang ako at muling bumalik sa pagkakahiga ko.

I stared at the ceiling for a long time. I tried going back to sleep but it felt impossible. Not when I'm in the same room with him... after what happened to us last night.

I slowly crawled to the side of my bed to check his condition. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita kong payapa ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa himbing ng kaniyang pagkakatulog. I wonder how our conversation last night felt for him. Did he felt like a boulder was lifted from his chest too? Kasi ako, oo. Maliban doon ay parang nabunutan din ako ng tinik na matagal ng nakabaon sa puso ko. I'm glad that everything between us is finally settled when we part ways once he leaves for the Philippines. It was the closure I never knew I needed.

Babalik na sana ako sa orihinal na pwesto ko nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"Laurice..." He called my name.

Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin ako sa kaniya. W-wait, gising ba siya? I pressed my lips together as my hand reached for his face. I started waving my hand in front of him to check if he's awake but it seems like he's in a deep sleep. Pero bakit nabanggit niya ang pangalan ko?

"Don't leave." He pleaded.

Tuluyan nang napaawang ang bibig ko nang marinig ko ang huling sinabi niya. I waited for a few seconds to see if he will say something again but he just turned his body to the other side instead kaya hindi ko na siya makita. Napakurap-kurap ako habang nakatitig sa malapad na likod niya. Was he dreaming of me?

"I'm just right here, Sebastian." I replied as if he would hear me. Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko matapos kong sabihin ang mga katagang iyon. It's not like what I said will matter especially when he's in a deep sleep and he'll be gone from my life forever in a couple of days. Hindi ba pwedeng sulitin ko nalang ang mga natitirang sandali habang nandito pa siya? This is going to be the last time anyway.

"Mag-iingat kayong dalawa ha? I-update niyo kami pag nakauwi na kayo." Sambit ni kuya Quen at niyakap kaming dalawa ni Sebastian. Tinapik niya pa ang likod naming dalawa.

"Advanced goodbye nalang sa'yo, Baste. Uuwi ka na rin sa Pinas next week, 'di ba?" Ani ate Rachelle.

Nandito na kami sa airport ngayon. We went here 3 hours before our boarding time, 12PM pa lang ngayon at 3PM pa ang lipad namin. We'll be in New York around 8PM. Sana nga hindi ako majetlag dahil may work na ulit ako kinabukasan.

"Goodbye in advance, ate." Nakangiti namang tugon ni Sebastian kay ate. Pinigilan ko pang matawa dahil mukhang ginaya niya pa ang kalokohan ni ate Rachelle, it was not so him.

"Thank you for letting us stay with you. We had a great time." Dagdag pa ni Baste.

"Nako, wala 'yon! Pamilya na tayo rito e." Ate Rachelle crinkled her nose. Hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili kong mapangiti ngayon. I just feel happy that him and my family gets along with each other. No awkwardness, no formalities, no unnecessary tention.

"Goodbye, aunt Lori and uncle Bastie. Until we meet again." Si Kendra naman ang lumapit sa'min.

"Til we meet again, Ken." It was Sebastian who answered. While me, inilapit ko lang ang mukha ko sa tenga niya at bumulong.