when everything feels like the movies

Scene 52 Gone With the Wind

SA CHILDREN'S PARK kung saan sila huling nagkita ni Holly ang napili ni Steve na lugar upang basahin ang letter na hindi niya inaasahang iiwan sa kanya ng kababata niya.

Nang makaupo siya sa swing ay nanginginig pero maingat na binuksan niya stationery envelope na may nakasulat pang "To Steve" na nasa sulat kamay ni Holly. As expected of Holly, her letter was printed in a floral-scented stationery paper. Yes, printed. Hindi iyon nakasulat kamay tulad ng inaasahan niya. He wants to know why but it's not important right now, he needs to read the letter.

Huminga muna siya ng malalim saka sinimulang basahin ang sulat.

My Best Friend Steve,

I can't believe that the last time I might be able to talk to you is through my words on paper. Me writing this letter is my uncertainty that I may not be able to make it and it's sad to think that I might not also be able to see you again, dear Steve, our dearest Steve, everyone's Steve. I wonder if you think this is unfair having to said all these through a letter? Pero sana maunawaan mo dahil naniniwala akong walang kasiguruhan ang buhay. Pero lalaban ako, lalabanan ko ang sakit ko at baka sakaling masabi ko 'to sayo lahat ng harapan kapag binigyan ako ng Diyos ng pagkakataon. After our last talk at the park, you made me realize that I should go on with life dahil andiyan ka, si Nick at ang pamilya ko. Sumuko na ako n'on to the point na isinuko ko rin ang ang dapat sana'y magiging anak namin ni Nick. Kaya hindi kita masisi kung hinusgahan mo ako, pero hindi ako nagalit dahil kung hindi dahil d'on hindi ako magkakalakas-loob na aminin ang totoo kay Nick tungkol sa bata.

Nais ko nga palang magsorry nang gabing pinagsabihan kita na tigilan na ang pagvivideo games mo, I know I shouldn't be in a place na parang pinangungunahan kita sa mga gagawin mo. I realized maybe it's what really makes you happy and I shouldn't have belittled you about it. Perhaps it's your way to release your stress and I don't see anything wrong about it as long as hindi mo napapabayaan ang studies mo. Sana mapatawad mo ako.

Alam mo ba, ang unang katanungan ko noong nagkita tayo ulit pagkalipas ng walong taon? "Anong nangyari?". Oo, nagtaka ako nang tingnan mo lang ako na parang nakakita ng multo sa iyong nakaraan, excited pa naman ako n'on na kwentuhan ka sa nangyari sa buhay ko. Umasa ako n'on na maibabalik natin ang dating closeness natin nung mga bata pa tayo pero sabi nga nila 'change is inevitable'. I knew from that moment on that you changed, for the better I guess? Hindi na ikaw y'ong mahiyaing Steve na ipinagtatanggol ko sa mga bully niya. I didn't expect that you grew up fine, and can I add? Good looking. And that's why I never bothered to get close to you again, ever since we were kids, my only wish for you is to become confident of yourself and you did, that's why I said you're everyone's Steve, kasi kahit saan ako dumako gaganon ang mga tao, "Ah, si Steve, yung mabait sa kanilang apat. Si Steve, yung approachable na daig pa ang anghel ngumiti." kaya naman kahit nakakatampo ang pag-iwas mo sa akin, pinili kong isipin na ayos lang dahil kaya mo nang tumayo sa sarili mong mga paa and it was better that way.