End of the Road

The last Chance

"One year is still not yet enough?"

Napa tingin ako kay Jose na kasalukuyang umiinom ng alak mula sa baso na hawak nito. It's raining outside, kaya naman nag kasya na lang kami sa pag upo dito sa balkonahe at panunuod sa malakas na patak ng ulan.

I can see gray everywhere. Walang kulay, walang buhay. I am watching the rain drops falling from the sky intently. The wind is cold but my crochet long sleeve top is enough to give me warm.

Napa buntong hininga ako at saka ibinaling sa dagat ang mga mata. "No." I answered honestly.

"How long are you gonna sulk here on this island? The world is waiting for you, Eros."

"But I'm waiting for that one person too."

"He never show up even once?" Kuryosong tanong ng kaibigan.

I shook my head.

"Have you forgive him already?"

"There's nothing I can do to fix what happened before. But one thing is for sure, leaving him is the only sane thing that I can do to save myself from falling hard. Pero sa pananatili ko sa isla, hindi ko alam kung bakit pakiramdam ko ang laki ng kulang sa akin. There's this tugging feeling inside everytime I am alone, hoping that a man will come to see me. Will beg for my forgiveness and try hard to get me again. But it's been a year."

"You mean to say, you're only waiting for him to beg his way back in with you?"

"I love, Tyzer."

Jose smirked. "What a lucky bastard."

"I will try my best to understand him this time."

"Maghihintay ka pa din dito kahit matagal pa mangyari iyon?"

"I love this sanctuary. I will stay here until I can."

"Your skin is getting tanned. You're not the same naive little Eros I met before. You matured over the year."

I smiled sadly. Inilabas ko ang kamay at itinapat sa ulan. "Love can do wonders."

"I know." He cleared his throat before touching my wet hand and wipe it using a clean cloth. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning. My paper works are now piled up and waiting for my return. I would love to stay more here with you but the world can't wait for me. I need to face my responsibilities and do my job. Please take care of yourself here. Pero alam ko naman na may kaibigan kang maasahan dito. I hope Fabian will continue to do his job and protect you at all cost."

Natawa ako at saka napa iling sa binata. "Fabian is not my bodyguard, Jose. I will be fine here. Mag-iingat ka pabalik ng Metro."

Ngumiti ito na tila may kung anong itinatago sa likod ng matamis na ngiti. "You're clueless."

Napa kunot noo ako at saka pinakatitigan ang mga mata ng kaibigan. "About what?"

"Kung gaano ka niya piniprotektahan."

"Ni Fabian? He's drunk all the time, I'm the one who is protecting him."

"It's creepy when I think about it, but I can understand his hunger to protect you and to make sure that you will be his until the perfect time."

Inagaw ko ang kamay sa binata at naiinis na sinipa ang paa nito. "What the hell are you talking about?"

He shook his head and stood up. "I'll ready my things. Thank you for letting me stay here. I will see you again."

Naiwan akong naka kunot noo sa pinag sasabi ni Jose. Pero napa tayo ako ng marinig ang tila nabasag na bote at bumagsak na kung anumang babasaging bagay sa bahay ni Fabian. He is living near from my apartment kaya naman dinig na dinig ko ang nangyari.