Faded Love

25

XXV.

"Goodmorning." Bati ko sakanila habang nagkukusot ng mata.

Puyat na puyat ako kagabi kakaisip kung ano mangyayari o kung anong nangyari back then.

Nakangiti silang lahat sa akin.

"Is there something on my face? Bakit kayo nakangiti dyan?" I asked, pero instead of answering me iba yung nagsalita.

"Goodmorning Dons, surprise! Hehe"

I became speechless? Janina's here? May hawak siyang tasa ng kape habang nakatingin sa akin, big smile on her face.

"G- goodmorning.. what are you doing here? Ang aga pa ah?" Tanong ko. Shit.

"Wala lang, Hannah called me eh, she said na pumunta daw ako dito ewan ko kung bakit?"

Nag- kibit balikat na lang ako at umupo na, Janina's on my left side and ate Ella's on my right side. Habang kumakain ako, biglang nagsalita si Hannah.

"Kuys, you always came home late, may nililigawan ka na noh?"

Muntik ko na maibuga yung sinisipsip kong kape dahil don. "Hans! Kagabi nga lang ako umuwi ng late?" I glared at her.

My whole family's laughing including Janina.

"Oh chill bro, I'm just asking, too defensive.. pero ano nga? May nililigawan ka na ba?"

I looked at Janina beside me who's now sipping from her coffee, "Hmm, not yet.. not the right time" I said at binalot kami ng awkward silence.

"Oh but did you found the right person already?" Benj suddenly asked.

Sinandal ko ang likod ko sa upuan and looked at her again. "I think so, Benj."

Dude, I don't know kung saan ako nakakakuha ng lakas ng loob sa mga sinasabi ko ngayon? Katabi ko pa si Janina ha? Parang ang tapang ko ata ngayon.

Tapos na kaming mag- breakfast at andito kami nina ate Ella, Benj, Hannah at Janina ngayon sa garden, kanina pa nila ako inaasar about doon sa nangyari sa amin ni Alliah and Janina seems not comfortable about it pero go with the flow pa rin siya. Until nadako kami sa usapan about Hannah and Andre,

"So, sinagot mo na?" Janina asked out of nowhere na siyang kinatigil naming lahat.

All of our attention is now at Hannah.

We know she already said yes to Andre but it's better if she'll tell us too.

She giggled, "Bakit ko pa papatagalin kung hulog na ako? Baka mamaya bigla pang mawala."

Tumawa kaming lahat dahil doon. I'm happy for my sister because after what David did to her, she finally found someone who's close to God, and I know their relationship will last because He is the center of it, and when God is the centef of one's relationship, it will last because God's love is also endless.

We continue chitchatting and teasing each other pero nag- aya na din si ate Ella pumasok pero nagpaiwan na ako dito.

"Oh bakit di ka sumama sa kanila?" Tanong ko kay Janina.

"I better choose staying with you.."

Nag- aalma na yung puso ko dahil kay Janina pero I should keep it lowkey. Donny, don't be attach too much.

"You're cheesy.." I said.

She giggled at me, "Cheesy but lovely," she said tapos bigla siyang nagwacky.

Ang cute.

Habang minamasdan niya ang nga bulaklak sa garden, minamasdan ko siya. Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko iyong pagdududa ko sa kanya.

"Janina, may I ask?"

"Hmm?" She answered.

Nilingon na niya ako, hindi ko alam kung tama ba itong gagawin ko at sasabihin, pero gusto ko na talagang maging kampante at sigurado. Pero kung ano man ang malaman ko ngayon, papaniwalaan ko. I can't force someone to tell me something that isn't allowed to be told.

"Ilang years na kayo magkakakilala nina ate Ella at Hannah?" Kumalabog ang puso ko after I said that to her while she's infront of me, just chillin.

"We've known each other for almost 7 years? I think? Basta matagal na, pero I left and the three of us didn't talk for almost 10 years, and bakit mo natanong?" Sagot niya.

Seven years? Ten years? Seventeen years? What? How? How can my siblings have a friend that I don't even know? I know all of my siblings' friends and why is Janina an exception?

"How about me? Ilang taon na tayo magkakilala?" Suminghap ako. "And may I know why'd you leave?"

She looked away. Inayos niya ang buhok niya at tumingin sa akin.

"It's, it's confidential Donny but the two of us, we've known each other for.." she stopped.

"Janina how long?"

"For a month. Duh Donny kakakilala lang natin ng isang buwan diba? Tss," At umiwas na ulit siya ng tingin sa akin.

"For sure? I mean SEVEN YEARS na kayo magkakakilala ng mga kapatid ko, how come you don't know me? Imposible naman na hindi tayo nagkikita?"

Damn it. I can't stop myself. And besides I'm right. Pero kung nagkikita man kami, sana tanda ko? Sana aware ako? Sana kilala ko siya? Lol, wala akong matandaan. Wala naman akong nalimutan nung nangyari sakin yon.

Suminghap siya bago ulit ako lingunin, this time, nangingilid na ang mga luha niya, I can assure you, she's close to crying.

"Donny, do you really wanna know?"

I nod my head. My heart is beating really fast. My hands are shaking. Ang daming what ifs na pumapasok sa isip ko. What if I still have selective amnesia, what if I know Janina din, or else, what if.. what if she became part of my life? Damn, that's really impossible.

"You g--"

Biglang sumigaw si Dom kaya napatigil siya sa pagsasalita.

Oh yeah damn, I forgot that I texted him to come with me today for an important matter.

"Janina we'll talk again, I'll just talk to Dom.."

"So she's the important matter, dude?" Dom teased.

"finally, nagpakita ka na sakin after ilang buwan!" Sigaw ko kay Dom papalapit sa kanya.

Pero habang lumalapit ako sa kaniya, I noticed a ring na kumikinang sa daliri niya. "You're married??"

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thank you for reading guys! yellow you all!

xoxo, cass 🌙