The Last Seven Days, Part 1: Friends

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It was 4 days ago, nang nakipag-break si Joey.

A day after that, pumunta si Seph sa bahay niya asking for explanations.

For a couple of hours, they were quiet, hindi nag-aaway, hindi nagsisigawan, hindi nagsusumbatan. Joey explained, and he heard the things he never imagined he would hear from her.

3 days ago, Seph didn’t showed up for work. Inubos niya ang buong araw na naglalasing.

2 days ago, same.

Yesterday, ganun pa rin.

Early this morning, nakatanggap siya ng text mula sa isang College friend nila ni Joey.


To think na 3 years na silang hindi nagkita-kita na magbabarkada, he never expected na kokontakin siya ni Treena. Natawa na lang si Seph, gusto nyang sabihin na 3 days na siyang umiinom.

10 PM, sa Metrowalk, nagkita-kita ang magbabarkada, nakapwesto na sila Treena, Lex at Faye ng dumating si Seph.

Treena: Finally! Akala ko i-indyanin mo na kami.

Seph: Sorry, mahirap mag-park eh. Kamusta na? Long time no see...

Lex: Heto, climbing the corporate ladder.. but, we're not here to talk about us, we're here to talk about you. What happened man?

Seph: Joey... She quit on me pare...

Treena: Just like that? 5 years, and just like that?

Faye: Ano daw reason?

Seph: Sabi niya, she doesn't know me anymore.. that she wants to find herself..

Lex: That cliche again?

Faye: Ano ba, as much as its cliche, that's real...

Lex: What? Ano kailangan mong hanapin, if you're happy with the person..

Faye: Well, kung ganun ang decision niya, wala na tayo magagawa, just give her time and space.

Seph: But I love her!

Treena: Yes, we know, and I believe she knows that as well, pero, sometimes, love isn't enough.

Lex: Bullshit, kanta yan eh...

Treena: Shut up! Alam mo, Seph...

Faye: Teka, dude, baka naman wala ka nang time sa kanya?

Seph: I always have time for her. Yes, busy minsan, pero pagdating sa kanya... sa tingin ko hindi naman ako nagkulang...

Lex: Baka naman may third-party involved?

Seph: Wala siyang sinabi, pero may kutob na ko noon pa...

Lex: Fuck!

Seph: She has this officemate na panay ang buntot sa kanya...

Lex: Yun na yun dude, lumandi ang gaga.

Treena: Watch your mouth Alex, friend din natin si Joey, wag mo siyang husgahan..

Faye: Well, kung ganyan na, sa tingin ko, wala na tayong magagawa, kilala nyo naman si Joey, when she makes up her mind di ba, hindi mo na mababago yun... Just, accept it, and move on...

Lex: There are many fish in the sea, pare! All of them, wet!

Treena: Well, seriously... Seph, that's life. Alam ko, first girlfriend mo si Joey, and, bilib na bilib ako sa tagal n'yo, ako wala pa kong relationship na umabot ng ganyan katagal, witness ako sa kung gaano kayo kasaya, nakita ko kung paano mo siya inalagaan, and I think you've been happy for, what, 5 years? Ni hindi ko kayo nakitang nag-away. Sa tingin ko naman it was all worth it.

Faye: Right... you know, that's life. Nothing lasts forever.

Lex: Right, so, how about a toast for Joey and Seph, and the 5 happy years between them...

Hours later, Seph was driving home, half-drunk.

Past 1 AM na, hindi na masyadong marami ang sasakyan sa kalsada. Seph was driving trough Ortigas, then turned to EDSA. As he entered Ayala, napadaan siya sa building kung saan pumapasok si Joey. Memories flashed trough his head, sandali niyang pinunasan ang mga luha na nangingilid sa mga mata niya, at pagbalik ng tingin niya sa kalsada, he saw a woman crossing the street right in front of him. Masyadong mabilis ang takbo niya para pumreno kaya kinabig niya ang sasakyan sa kanan, until his car mounted the curb. Umikot ang paningin ni Seph, di na niya alam kung anong nangyayari, he kept on pressing on the pedal, pero hindi umeepekto. He took a deep breath as his windshield shattered, he closed his eyes and he saw Joey's face.

Seph: Joey... Joey...


Itutuloy >>>

Comments

  1. khai12:37 PM

    kabitin nman sensei :D update me sa susunod na kabatana.. ok

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paul Piloton6:57 PM

    "Give me time and space..." -Astronaut

    ReplyDelete

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