Promise Ring

Chapter 1

May nabasa ako somewhere, di ko maalala saan pero sabi dun " pag daw tama yung kasama mo sa buhay ang ibibigay sayo peace of mind, pero kung hindi sakit sa ulo ang ibibigay " hindi ko na matandaan saan ko to nabasa o nakita pero sobrang tumatak tung kataga natu sakin. Naiiyak tuloy ako anuebayan.

"Aya?"

Naiisip ko tuloy, san ba ako nagkulang? Sa pagkakaalam ko, ginawa ko naman lahat. Hindi pa ba sapat?

"Aya?!"

Tinititigan ko si Ella, parang may sinasabi sya na di ko maintindihan.

"Aya??! Nasa universe ka pa ba?!"

"Huh?" Napagtanto kong an lalim na pala ng iniisip ko. Nakalimutan kong may kasama nga pala ako.

" Anong HUH girl, kanina pa ako nagsasalita akala ko naman nakikinig ka. Ano ba iniisip mo? At parang ang lalim lalim? Iniisip mo na naman ba yung kumag na yon?" She said sabay higop sa kape.

" Maybe. Saan ba ko nagkulang Ella? " I frowned.

" Hindi ka nagkulang, talagang hindi lang sya makuntento " saad niya.

Nakakapagod na. For the past 8 years siya lagi kong inuuna. Pweding ako naman?

" I am sorry girl, pero I think you need to think about yourself this time. This time, kaligayahan mo naman ang isipin mo. "

She's right. I should have done this a long time ago. Why didn't I?

Napa okay gestures nalang ako sa kanya, sabay tayo.

" I need to go, Ella. I will be late for my shift. Thanks for listening and for the coffee." Aalis na sana ako ng hinawakan niya yung braso ko.

" What? " I asked.

" Pupunta ka diba? Please think about it. " She said kissed my cheek and left.

Yeah. I almost forgot about that. Ella, is my bestfriend. We've been together since we were kids.

She knew me very well, and likewise. She wanted me to go to that high school reunion. At bakit? Di ko alam.

Ella sent me multiple messages this morning saying I should attend this reunion, kasi daw minsan lang to and our friends back then would be there as well.

I opened my closet and check if may maganda ba akong isusuot, ever since Kiko and I broke up wala na akong inisip kundi magtrabaho ng magtrabaho at nawalan na'ko ng time magshopping o kaya mag personal care. I was so devastated, to the point na gusto ko nalang magwork kasi na oocuppy ng work yung isip ko.

While picking what to wear, I remembered may dress nga pala akong binili before that night. Kasi niyaya niya akong lumabas and we've been together for 8 years so I thought mag propropose sya sakin.

*FLASHBACKS*

At the restaurant –

" Hi, Babe! " I said sabay yakap sa kanya. He kissed my forehead sabay asked

" Traffic ba? "

" Yeah. Walang humpay na traffic. Buti nalang talaga, maaga akong umalis kaya hindi ako late ng sobra. " I said while kinakawayan ko yung waiter for water at tsaka narin sa napili naming orderin.

" That's fine. I just missed you, how was you work? " tanong niya, pero nakikita ko sa mata niya na parang balisa sya na ewan.

I just answered him politely and we talked about this and that when suddenly his phone rang.

" Babe, it's Boss. " Saad niya.

" Oh, okay. Take it " Tumayo na sya at lumabas. Kasi maingay sa loob, there this classical music kaya hindi masyado magkarinigan if you're calling from phone.

I waited for 30 minutes. Our order was already served pero hindi parin sya bumalik. So I decided to follow him outside. I looked for him but I couldn't find him, so I went to the parking lot. He wasn't there also, so I thought maybe he went to the garden. Since it's quieter there. I was about to call him but I was too shocked by what I saw. He was there with a woman, and they were kissing. I don't know what happened next as I was too stunned to speak. He saw me, and my tears began to fall. I snapped out and I ran. I ran as much as I could and what hurts me more? Hindi niya man lang ako hinabol.

I reached home, and there was no single message from him. And that's when I conclude na wala na kami. Until then, hindi na sya nagparamdam at nawala na sya ng parang bula. 8 years and in a blink of an eye wala na.

*END*

I texted Ella to let her know that I'm on my way. Makulit pa naman yun. Sinuot ko yung dress na ginamit ko that day, eh bakit ba. Ang mahal kaya nito, kaya dapat lang na gamitin. Kaysa naman sa bahay lang diba?.

Ang layo naman ng venue, nagmukha tuloy retreat. Bumaba nako ng kotse, at pumasok sa loob.

While roaming around, looking for Ella and of course our friends from highschool hindi ko mapigilan kumuha ng glass of wine na daladala ni kuya waiter. In fairness, yayamanin yung party.

Nasan na kaya yung bruha, napaka impatient ko pa naman. Uwi nalang kaya ako?

" Having a good time, huh. " Napalingon ako ng marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses galing sa likod ko.

" Uno! How are you?! " He's still the same. The goodlooking, Uno. Oh, wait? Did I say good-looking? Omg.