The Art of Falling

29- End

29- End

Third Year College

Nanlaki yung mga mata ni Caeus. Napansin ko yung paglunok niya. Mabilis niyang itinago ang gulat niya.  "Are you tired from the trip? You should get inside and rest. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?" Sunud sunod niyang sabi na parang hindi narinig yung sinabi ko.

"Caeus,"

"We're not breaking up. I love you, okay? I love you so much. We're not breaking up." Hinila ako ni Caeus para yakapin. Sobrang higpit ng yakap niya halos 'di ako makahinga.

"I'm sorry pero ayoko na. Ayoko na talaga." Pilit ko siyang itinulak palayo sa akin.

Caeus' eyes were watering when I managed to pull away from him. "Jess, don't do this please. Remember we promised each other we'll stay together 'di ba? You and me. Things are hard right now. I know that but we're gonna get through it together. Remember our plans? You'd go to med school, be a doctor. Then we'll get married after you pass the boards, right? That was our plan."

"Ikaw naman hindi sumunod sa plano e."

Umatras siya nang bahagya. Nakita ko sa kanyang mga mata na napagtanto niya na kung saan ako nanggagaling.

"Oh my god. This is about my MBA? Are you still blaming yourself? We talked about this already, BG."

"Caeus, I'm sorry. I don't want to be in this relationship anymore."

"No. No. Ayoko. Jess, please. Mahal na mahal kita. Please, don't do this. Almost three years, BG. Please don't throw all of that away. I can't lose you. I need you. I love you so much. I'll do anything. I'll go back to the States. That's what you want, right? I'll finish my masters. Then come back to you. Just don't break up with me. Let's not break up, huh? We're still together, okay? Jess, I love you. I love you. I love you."

Niyakap niya akong muli. Dahan dahan ko ring ibinalot sa kanya ang mga braso ko. Ito na ang huling beses na yayakapin ko siya.

"I'm really sorry." I tapped his back and pulled myself away.

"Noooo." he cried. Hinayaan ko siyang ikulong muli ako sa mahigpit na yakap. Paulit ulit niyang sinabing, "No." habang umiiyak.

Ang sakit. Ang sakit sakit. Parang may sumasaksak sa dibdib ko. Hindi ako makahinga. Parang pinipilipit yung puso ko. Ang sakit sakit talaga.

Mahal ko si Caeus kaya ko ginagawa ito. Hindi ko kayang tuluyan siyang hilahin pababa kasama ako. Ito ang tama.  Kailangan kong gawin ito para sa aming dalawa.

"Bye, Caeus."

*****

"Hello? Sino 'to?" sagot ko sa tumatawag sa akin. Kanina pa ako tinatawagan ng unknown number na 'to. Hindi naman talaga ako sumasagot ng hindi ko kilalang number pero kanina pa siya tumatawag.

"You fvcking bitch!" sigaw nung babae sa kabilang linya. Mabilis kong inilayo sa tainga ko yung phone pero nabosesan ko kaagad kung kaninong sigaw iyon. "This is all your fault! Don't you dare show your face here because I will destroy you! Stay away from Caeus, you low-life selfish mountain loser!"

Pinatay ni Amber yung tawag pagkatapos niya akong sigawan. Hindi ko pa napoproseso yung mga sinabi niya nang si Issa naman ang tumawag.

"Jess, 'san ka?"

"Sa dorm. May problema ba?"

"Caeus got into a car accident last night. He's in the hospital but he's okay now. Thank god, minor injuries lang."