That One Match

Chapter 18

NEVER did I ever imagine that this day will come- I'm sitting in a coffee shop, looking on the floor, waiting for a word from the man I love.

It's awkward. I can't even sip on my hot chocolate drink.

How are you?

Kumusta si Asul?

These are just two questions I badly wanna ask. I missed him so much. I missed his voice. I miss his touch. I miss his gentlemanliness. I miss him.

"About what happened.."

Umayos ako ng pagkakaupo at tiningnan na sya. His eyes are locked on me. I wonder kung kanina pa ba sya nakatitig o baka ngayon lang din.

"There are three things I want to tell you today. If it's alright with you, I will entertain questions after I presented everything."

My left eyebrow moved in a rude manner hearing his tone. Why did he become so serious right now? Well, he has always been serious but this tone? He is using this tone on me?

"Pwede bang makipag-usap ka naman ng maayos?"

I can't help but hiss.

"Para namang wala tayong pinagsamahan sa tono ng pananalita mo. As far as I know, I am not your business partner or client."

His apple moved. He didn't respond to what I said, instead, he started telling me his three points.

Mukhang nagmamadali. May lakad ka gorl?

"I wanted to say sorry for not telling you about Asul's condition. Right after the accident, you two were both rushed to a nearby hospital. Pareho kayong malala ang kondisyon. You woke up first though and you were normal. Hindi kita nagawang bisitahin dahil iba ang naging kondisyon ng anak ko."

He said "anak ko". Kahit papano ay nakaramdam ako ng kasiyahan. It looked like he is finally embracing the fact that Asul is his son. Ito siguro ang naging bunga ng nangyari sa anak nya.

"He was in a critical condition. We needed to fly him to the States and have him treated there. I wanted to visit you that day you woke up, but I realized there's no need for that."

Tumaas ang kilay ko huling sinabi nya. What does he mean by 'I didn't need that'?

Sa ilalim ng mesa ay hindi ko mapigilang pisilin ang mga kamay ko. He's talking as if his words don't shoot like daggers to me.

Does he even care about how his words might hurt me?

I bit my lips and tried to ease the pain of his hurtful words.

"Second. I want us to break up."

"HA?"

I blinked.

"Ha?"

I asked again. I looked around, hoping there would be someone who will jump and scream, "It's a prank!" but there's none.

"Why?"

Pakiramdam ko'y namumula na ako sa mga puntong ito- hindi lang dahil sa galit kundi dahil sa biglaang pakikipaghiwalay nya. I should have seen this coming, but for an unknown reason, it just fucking hurts and I felt like he is being unfair right now.

"You're blaming me for what happened to your son, right?"

I looked straight to his eyes. He looked away.

"I said, I will be entertaining questions after-"

"Fuck, Blank."

I firmly responded in a low voice.