The Last Quarantine

Season 2: Episode 13

That moment, hindi ko alam kung bakit parang ayaw gumalaw ng katawan ko at all. I was just here. Sitting. Letting Loie to just decide for my own while I am meeting the sad eyes of Santhy. It's as if he is begging me to join them.

Noong mga oras na 'yon, nalilito ako.

Sino ba ang pipiliin ko, si Loie o si Santhy?

Loie is my long-time boyfriend and I know for a fact that I just can't throw my feelings for him away. Lalong lalo na kung sa isang iglap lang, itatapon ko na lahat ng pinagsamahan namin. I really had to remind myself na nagmakaawa pa ako para bumalik siya sa akin. Pero . . . pero bakit parang okay na akong wala siya? Na parang okay lang akong matapos lang kami sa ganito?

Sathy is really a hard bargain. He protected me all through out this pandemic. He is my shield against all of the odds who tried to eat us alive. He practically didn't leave my side. And for that, he is remarkable. But, he is still a stranger. For pete's sake, kahapon ko lang siya nakilala pero bakit ang lakas na ng epekto niya sa akin?

I really don't know who to choose, that's for sure.

"Okay, so kami lang talaga ang lalabas?" Kuya Nero started while roaming his eyes around us. He is looking disappointed when he landed his gaze at me. I only look away.

"Alright," I heard him sigh, "let's move. Lahat ng gustong sumama sa amin, aalis na tayo."

From there, isa-isang nagsitayuan ang mga nag-taas ng kamay kanina. Pinangunahan ni Kuya Seiya ang paglabas sa conference room. Sinundan iyon nina Kuya Nero, Ate Bianca at Kuya Josh na buhat pa rin si Eirene. Then it was followed by the girls: Ate Cheska, Ate Athena and the three unknown girls. Then lastly, Santhy.

Santhy has this hopeful emotion on his eyes the moment he stared at me. He is pursing his lips as I saw his shoulders to lose it's broadness. Patuloy na bagsak ang kanyang mga balikat nang magsimula na siyang lumabas.

And I was still here.

Fighting with my heart and mind. Weighing the situation as if it's a matter of my eternal bliss or something. Analyzing all of the setbacks I might get for not choosing Santhy.

"Don't worry babe, safe ka sa akin. Hindi ko hahayaang masaktan ka." Loie pulled me for a tight hug. I found myself flinching. I let go of his hug.

"Bakit? Anong problema?" Loie is eyeing me with a sense of pain on his heart. He obviously didn't expect what I did.

Tumayo ako. Napapakurap, tumitig ako diretso sa kanyang mga mata. "Sorry . . ."

Napatayo rin siya. He tried to grab my arms but I only threw his hands away. "Sorry for what?"

"Iiwan kita. Sasama ako sa kanila." Those words seem heavy for me to let out. Hesitations are upon me but I am sure, it's Santhy whom I really want to be with at the moment.

Hindi siya nakasagot. Pareho kaming natahimik nang ilang segundo. Swallowing hard, I found the courage to turn my back at him. I was about to grab the door knob when Loie halted me.

"Venice, once you set your feet outside this room," napatingin ako sa kanya, his eyes are pleading me to change my mind. But my heart, the strongest part of my body is pushing me to just go. Because the idea of Santhy protecting me is all that I want right now, "once you went outside, we are done. We are fucking done, Venice."

Looking away, tinusok ko ang loob ng pisngi ko gamit ang dila. I was still looking away when I put Loie's hand off my arms. I was with heavy breathing when I grab the door knob. I found my heart breaking the moment I opened the door. And the intensity of the pain started to over rule my body when I started to storm out of the room. Leaving Loie there. Leaving him with heart being defeated by the girl whom he gave up yesterday.

"Venice?!" Ang bungad sa akin ni Santhy. Lahat sila ay nagsilingunan sa akin.

Seeing the smile of Santhy is touching my heart. It was suprisingly mending the bruise I've gained by leaving Loie.

"Shit, akala ko sad ending ang love story natin!" Tuwang-tuwang bulalas ni Santhy. I just gave him a shy smile as I look away.