"Tito, our new engineer..." Lumapit na ang boses ni Gov. Matthew. Alam kong nandito na siya sa loob. "Engr. Rafael Ravello, Ilocos Norte new provincial engineer."
Nang banggitin ni gov ang buong pangalan ng tinutukoy niyang engineer, napatingin na ako sa pinto.
Para akong nanlamig sa kung sino ang nasa likod ni Gov. Matthew.
"Come here..." Tuluyan na silang pumasok. Nasa harapan na namin sila. Nasa harapan ko na ang engineer.
My reaction towards him was also his reaction towards me. I saw it on his eyes, I feel it.
"Si Tito Greg... si Tita Irene, asawa niya. And silang dalawa, si Steffy and si Stella... they're sisters." pagpapakilala ni gov saamin sa bago nilang engineer.
No need to introduce us to him, we knew him. I knew him, we knew each other so damn much.
Tita Irene and Ate Steffy stood up and offered their hand. Tito Greg looked at me before he stood up and offered also.
I know Gov. Matthew was watching me, he was very confused about my reaction - our reactions.
I stood up even though it feels like my legs are shaky. My lips started to form a bit smiled as my eyes are little teary. I stared at him from head to toe, he stared at me too with so much surprise written on his eyes. He was wearing a white polo and his hair are neat and clean.
My heart beats faster when my eyes froze on the necklace he was wearing. The necklace he was wearing same as the necklace I have.
He still have it, he still wears it.
"Kamusta?"
The tears that I controlling earlier was like drops of water that fell down to my face.
His voice, his eyes...
Everything about him.
I can't stand this anymore, I can't just stand in front of him. I ran away in the office, while tears are streaming down to my face.
"Raf..." I uttered.
Napaluhod ako. Napapikit ako ng mariin. Sobrang sakit ng puso ko. Kanina pa naninikip, kanina pa ako nanghihina.
That man...
Engr. Rafael Von Ravello...
He's my ex. My first boyfriend. My first love. The man that I fought against my dad, against all odds.
"S-Stella..."
For how many years, for how much pain I feel from losing him and losing us - I heard my name again from him, calling me.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin. Patuloy na rin ang luha na umaagos sa mga mata niya.
Sinubukan niya akong itayo pero itinulak ko siya.
"I'm sorry..." Lumuhod siya sa harap ko. Hindi niya pinakawalan ang mga kamay ko. "I'm s-sorry... sorry... please... l-let me explain." napapaos at utal niyang sinabi.
Halo-halo na ang nararamdaman ko. Nasasaktan, nagagalit at nangungulila.
I slapped him so many times. He still holding me, he stood up and hugged me so tight.
"I didn't mean... I didn't me to just left you. P-Please, listen to me." he said gently against my ear, almost begging for his life.
"Raf, ang sakit... sobrang sakit." I yelled.
I removed myself from him, from his hug. I can't even see clearly his brown eyes, it's pool of tears.
"B-Bakit ka pa bumalik? Tangina! Umalis kana!"
Mabilis na lumapit si Ate Steffy saakin at niyakap ako. Itinutulak naman palayo ni Tito Greg si Rafael.
"T-Tito, sorry po... I need to talk to her." pakiusap niya kay Tito Greg.
Galit na ang mababakas kay Tito Greg.
Patuloy si Rafael sa paglapit saakin, "P-Paking...gan mo naman ako oh..."
Nanghihina na ako, naghahabol na rin ako ng hininga. Ibinigay na ako ni Ate Steffy kay Tita Irene, alalay na rin si Gov. Matthew kay Tito Greg.
"S-Stella... please, mag-usap tayo." pagmamakawa pa niya.
Halos mawalan naman ng balanse si Rafael nang walang ano-anong sinuntok siya ni Tito Greg, pigil hininga na rin si Tita Irene nang tutukan ni Tito Greg si Rafael ng baril.
"Stay away from her! Don't make her life in mess again. She goes through hell... that's fucking enough!" Tito Greg shouted to him.
In just a glimpse, Ate Steffy went to Rafael and slapped him. "Sinira mo ang buhay ng kapatid ko! Ikaw ang rason kung bakit tuluyan silang nasira ni dad. Pinaglaban ka niya... pero anong ginawa mo?"
I can't take this anymore. Everything became so blurry.
"Clarey!"
My name calling by them, the last thing I heard before I just passed out.
I moved on but I never say that it didn't hurt me anymore. The truth is, it's breaking me. My feelings for Rafael are gone, the only came back is the feeling of so much questions of "why" and "what ifs."
"Bong, I need you..."
