Way back into Love

Way Back 39

Iya's POV

Nagkita kami ni Eric sa park kung saan kami palaging naglalaro noon. Dito rin kami nanonood ng sunset dati. 5pm ang meet up namin but I'm here since four.

"Sorry, I'm late." Humahangos niyang sabi.

I looked at my watch and it says 4:45. "No, just in time." then I smiled.

We settled and sit here in the Park. Madami akong gustong itanong sa kanya. But I just settled for...

"Can you.. bring me to Tita Erica?"

Pumayag naman siya. Thank God! After 15 minutes, narating na namin ang libingan. Mostly like, museleo kasi nandito yung mga abo ng mga namatay.

Maria Erica G. Del Rosario
Feb. 16, 19** - March 25, 20**

Napaluha ako. Eric gave me time to have a moment with his mom.

"Hi, Tita. Kamusta po? I miss you na po. Kaya pala hindi ko na po kayo nakikita." I tried to crack a joke.

"Tita, kung alam ko lang. Sana hindi na ako nagsayang ng panahon. Sorry po. Sorry for disapponting you..."

"And sorry... for hurting Eric more. I'm so selfish, tita. Sorry po." Napahagulgol pa ako lalo. Iyak lang ako nang iyak doon. Pinahid ko ang luha ko nang makitang papalapit na si Eric.

He stood beside me. "Alam mo ba, bago mamatay si Mommy may sinabi siya sakin."

Napalingon naman ako sa kanya at tinuloy niya ang sinasabi. "He said to take care of you next to my dad. And so I promised her. I'm guilty kasi feeling ko hindi ko ginawa yung pinromise ko sa kanya. Kung nandito siya, baka nabatukan na ako."

Bahagya akong tumawa. "Hindi mo naman kasalanan, eh. Eric, sorry. Sa lahat lahat. All along sarili ko lang inisip ko. Akala ko, ako lang 'yong nasaktan. Ni hindi ko man lang kayo naisip nina Tita. Kayo, na hindi ako tinuring na iba noon pa."

"It's okay. Pareho tayong nagkamali."

Yeah, maybe...

Bumalot ang katahimikan. Kaya nagsalita ulit ako.

"Eric, gusto kong bumawi. Kung... okay lang sana."

"Sure. But maybe not now, Iya."

What?

"I know you still love me. Ramdam ko. And I still do too. But maybe this is not the right time yet. Tama si dad, we both have to be healed. I'm going to New York next week."

"Kelan... kelan ka babalik?" naluluha kong tanong.

"I don't know yet. But if we're still meant for each other that time, then we will be. Basta, babalik ako." He said to me. Then he hugged me and kissed me on my forehead. "I love you, Iya. 'Til we meet again."

---

Iya's POV

After that day, wala na kaming communication ni Eric. Maybe he's right. We needed this. We need to grow. Then find and love ourselves first. I understand now.

It's been two years since that day. At sabi sa bali-balita, sumama daw si Chesca sa kanya. Well, ayoko na ulit mag-assume sa mga bagay bagay kaya nagkibit-balikat na lang ako doon.

That week, si mama ang umattend sa Oath Taking Ceremony ko bago siya bumalik sa Canada. She wanted me to go with her but I rejected it. Kailangan ako dito. Hindi lang ng sarili ko o kung sinuman, kung hindi yung mga taong kailangan kong tulungan.

And as I promised, I applied in Home for the Angels and now, I am a registered Social Worker there. And I can say that I am very happy with my job. This is my dream, anyway. 

"Hija, pahinga din, ha." paalala ni Tita.

Nagmamadali na ako dahil may meeting ako ngayon sa partner naming institution. Kinuha ko ang bag ko at jacket at humalik na kay Tita.

"Yes, 'ta. Aalis na po ako. Bye."

And for what is worth? Marunong na akong magdrive! Nasa biyahe na ako nang tumawag si Kaitlyn sa akin, kasamahan ko sa trabaho.

"Kai?" I answered the phone.

"Ma'am, na-cancel po ang meeting today. Na moved po next week."

"Huh? Oh-okay, sige. I'm on my way but thanks for the info, Kai!"

"Welcome, Ma'am. Ingat po."

Naiilang akong tawaging 'Ma'am' kasi minsan mas matanda pa sila sa akin. I always insisted na Iya na lang but they always insist too to call me Ma'am.

I U-turned papunta sa Home for the Angels. I ate lunch with them. But at five, I feel like visiting Tita Erica's tomb. Kaya naisipan ko munang dumaan. Then dadaan na din ako sa park nearby to watch the sunset.

-

ERIC'S POV

It's been two years since I left Philippines for New York. Nakapagtrabaho naman ako dito. Actually, dinala ko dito yung business namin ni dad. In short, we extended here our business. Nakaka-homesick, yes. And I missed her. Everyday. But I need to endure it. I know we need to.

Two years na rin ang nagdaan kaya naisipan kong umuwi na muna ngayon. Dad always call me to tell me to go home already. But I know it's not the right time yet.

But I am ready now. And here I am. Surprise! Wala kasing may alam na uuwi ako ngayon.

I arrived at NAIA at 3pm. I took a cab since hindi nga alam ni Daddy. Naisipan kong si Mommy muna ang puntahan. I told the taxi driver the address.

At 5pm, nakarating na ako sa puntod ni mommy.