The Absolute Value

5 Years Ago

Her POV

"I hate you, Harvey! I hate you so much!"

Lasing lang ako noon at hindi ko nakontrol kung ano ba'ng ginagawa ko. Alam ko na may ginagawa ako pero hindi ko kontrolado ang lahat. I was shouting stupid things, blaming others, blaming myself, blaming anybody and anything na madaanan ng mata ko—even the innocent table napkin, hindi nakaligtas.

"Bakit mo 'ko iniwan? Bakit . . .?"

Normal lang siguro ang eskandalong nagawa ko kasi sinapian na ako ng espiritu ng alak and I didn't know and I didn't even fully remember what happened that night. I just woke up in the morning laying on somebody's heavenly bed.

I just woke up seeing someone in the same bed, giving me a smile while asking me the most ridiculous question a man can give to a lady with a hangover early in the morning.

"Do you believe in destiny?"

His POV

Sa totoo lang, I wanted to sit there in her table para lang damayan siya sa kung ano man ang problema niya.

Was she familiar? Yes, she was.

Sinong mag-aakalang makikita ko ulit siya sa lugar na hindi ko maiisip na pupuntahan niya?

Naimbitahan akong makita ang bar ng cousin ko, in case, gusto kong mag-invest sa bar niya. Just finished my bachelor's degree on business management last year, and surprisingly, I had enough savings to buy a house and a car, yet not spending it on anything luxurious as of the moment.

Nadagdagan pa ang surprise dahil nakita ko nga siya sa bar ng cousin ko at nalamang madalas siya roon kasama ang mga katrabaho niya sa office. So, why not invest?

Thought I hit two birds in just a single stone.

Did I remember who she was? Yes, I did.

Fifteen years old, and those memories can be recalled any time even when I'm twenty.

It was an easy recollection of the same face, the same voice . . . the same weep.

"I hate you, Harvey! I so hate you!"

She was making a scene. Hindi ko alam kung pipigilan ko na ba or hihintayin ko na lang na makatulog. Walang pumipigil sa kanya since magulo talaga sa bar and isa lang siya sa mga lasing na gumagawa ng eksena sa kasalukuyan.

"'Cous, why are staring at her? You don't like her here tonight? Masyado bang scandalous? Palalabasin ko na ba ng bar?"

Tiningnan ko ang pinsan ko at nginitian. "Don't have to, Trish. Not at all, don't mind me. And her, as well." Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanya. She was so drunk and I was just there in the counter, watching her . . .

Waiting for her . . .

Waiting for the right time . . .

Hmm . . . right time for what?

"Bakit mo 'ko iniwan? Bakit . . .?"

I couldn't believe na makikita ko siya after a very long time while she was devastated because of someone else . . . again.

That same face . . .

That same voice . . .

That same weep . . .

Isinubsob niya ang mukha sa mesa at nanahimik na.

Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman sa mga oras na 'yon.

Happy, because got to I see her again in a very unexpected moment like that.

Sad, because I got to see her again in her hopeless situation like that.

"Patrisha, I'll go back tomorrow for the agreement, ha?" sabi ko sa pinsan ko at tumayo na sa inuupuan ko sa may counter.

"Sure. Saan ka na ngayon?"

"Pad. And, I'm taking home a drunk guest of yours," sabi ko habang naglalakad palapit sa kanya.

"Whoah! Wait!" Napansin kong balak pa akong pigilan ng pinsan ko sa plano kong iuwi siya. "You're not gonna do anything stupid, right?"

Tumango ako. "Yeah."

"Anton?"

"Come on, 'Cous. Of course, wala! Actually, I knew her. We lived in the same village before. Just wanna help somebody I used to know."

Lumapit na ako sa table niya at tiningnan ang lagay niya. "Miss?"

No response.

I slightly bowed down and checked her face. Hinawi ko ang buhok niyang nasa mukha at sobrang basang-basa na 'yon ng pawis at luha.

"Leticia . . ." I almost whispered her name. "You wanna go home?"

Wala siyang isinagot. And I thought, I didn't need any of her answer kaya kinuha ko na ang gamit niya at binuhat siya.

Mag-react man siya or not, I didn't care. She was drunk and I was a good-hearted man. As always, hahaha!

"I think you need a helping hand here," sabi agad ng pinsan ko nang makasalubong ko ito sa pinto ng bar palabas.

"Nagkaroon ka na naman ng sariling mundo, Tony-boy," nakangising sinabi nito sa 'kin.

I smiled. I guess, Patrisha was right. Ni hindi ko na nga napansin na matao pala sa loob ng bar.

Feeling ko kasi, kami lang dalawa ang naroon. Ni hindi ko nga narinig ang music sa background. The place was so quiet while I was staring at her.

I don't know how, I don't know why.

Theory of relativity?

Or . . .

Magic, I guess?

"Just make sure, no fooling around," huling paalala ng pinsan ko pagkatapos nitong buksan ang pinto ng kotse ko.

"No fooling around," I repeat. Inilapag ko na siya sa passenger side at nilagyan ng seatbelt. "Tomorrow. Agreement," huling paalala ko kay Patrisha.

"Yes, tomorrow. Ingat ka pauwi. And, no—"

"Fooling around, yes. Good night, 'Cous." Sumakay na ako ng kotse at nag-drive na pauwi sa pad ko.

I couldn't help myself but smile at that moment. Wala akong balak na masama sa kanya or anything. I just wanted her to be safe, that was all.

Well, I know it was more than just her safety . . . self-satisfaction for me and a little bit of happiness might be on top of the list on my reasons, I guess.

Nakaabot na kami sa bahay and nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa architect ng family namin na gumawa ng pad ko as graduation gift ng parents ko. Naka-automatic lahat kaya hindi ko na kailangan pa ng magbubukas ng pinto para sa akin habang buhat siya.

I so love my life.

"Harvey . . . don't leave me, please . . ."

I stopped for a moment and thought . . .

I know ilang beses na niyang binabanggit ang kung sino mang Harvey na 'yon, but there was something inside me na nao-offend everytime na lalabas sa bibig niya ang pangalan ng dahilan kung bakit siya wasted that night. Inilapag ko na lang siya sa sofa bed ko sa living room. Medyo bumilib ako sa kanya dahil hindi siya ang tipo ng nagkakalat kapag nakainom.

I squat in front of her at tinitigan ko ang namumula niyang mukha.

That exact second, I convinced myself, it wasn't a mere coincidence. Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice.

♥♥♥