Aubrey (completed)

18. Love is crazy

Naaalala nya nung tatlong taon pa lang ang relasyon nila ni Aubrey. He messed up so bad. Nag-bar sya kasama ng mga barkada nya. He got so drunk. He remembered a girl kissing him. At dahil nakainom na nga sya, nagpadala sya sa udyok ng barkada nya. He did not know what happened next, ang alam nya na lang ay nandon na si Aubrey at sinusundo sya. Ayaw pa nyang umuwi non. But Aubrey was persistent. She was the reason he was there in the first place. She was so busy na kahit isang reply lang sa text nya ay hindi nito nagawa.

He remembered pushing her away. He remembered telling her that he kissed another girl. He remembered the look on her face. He remembered her asking him to choose. Ito o ang barkada nya. And he chose to stay with his friends. Nagtatampo pa rin sya sa kawalan nito ng oras sa kanya. She broke up with him.

Naalala nya na ilang linggo syang nagmukmok. Masyado syang nasaktan. Mas na-realize nya lang kung gano nya ito kamahal nung wala na ito sa kanya. He realized that time that he can't lose her. He can't lose Aubrey.

Nagmakaawa sya para lang tanggapin ulit nito. Nagmakaawa sya bumalik lang ulit ito sa buhay nya. He begged her to stay. He begged her to be with him again.

And she forgave him. Tinanggap ulit sya nito ng buong-buo. Bumalik ito sa buhay nya. And he promised to stick with her. To stand beside her.

But promises are made to be broken. So was his heart.

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"Kuya?" Narinig nya. Masakit ang ulo nya. Mabigat ang talukap ng mga mata nya. He stayed still.

"Kuya?" Narinig nya ulit. Dahan-dahan nyang binuksan ang mga mata nya. He is still in Aubrey's room. He is lying in her bed. Napapikit sya ng madiin.

"Aubrey." Tanging nasambit nya. Napadilat sya ng may kamay na humaplos sa pisngi nya.

"Magiging maayos din ang lahat, anak. Kakayanin mo to." Umiiyak na sabi ng Mama nya. Hindi na sya sumagot. What's the point?

"Shawn, you'll get through this. Just be strong. Kaya mo to." Sabi ng Dad ni Aubrey sa kanya. He stared into the distance. Hanggang ngayon ay magulo pa rin sa kanya ang lahat.

"Aubrey loved you, Shawn. Alam mo yan. I'm sure hindi sya matutuwa na makita kang ganito." Sabi ng Mom ni Aubrey sa kanya. Mapakla syang natawa.

"Pero hindi nya na ko makikitang nagkakaganito. Hindi na." Naiiyak na sabi nya.

"It's okay, Shawn. Everything will be okay." Sabi ng Dad ni Aubrey sa kanya.

"I need her." Umiiyak na sabi nya.

"You'll get by, Shawn." Sabi ng Mama nya.

"It's my fault. It's all my fault." Sinabi nya sa mga ito. Hinawakan ng Mom ni Aubrey ang kamay nya.

"Stop blaming yourself, Shawn. Stop it." Sabi nito sa kanya.

Pumasok si Mike sa kwarto ng may dalang isang basong tubig. Iniabot nito iyon sa kanya pero hindi nya kinuha. Hindi sya nauuhaw. Hindi nya rin kayang lunukin iyon.

"I'm sorry, Shawn. I'm sorry this happened to you." Sabi nito sa kanya.

"Bakit ganon? Kasama ko lang sya. Palagi ko lang syang kausap. Pano nangyaring wala na sya?" Hindi pa rin makapaniwalang tanong nya.

"You are sick, Kuya." Umiiyak na sagot ni Sean. Tumingin sya rito. He felt fine. Hindi naman nya nararamdamang may sakit sya. Naguguluhang tinignan nya lang ito.