Her Heart

Chapter Sixteen

ALONE again with your ex was never easy for her. It gives her stupid hopes, she doesn't want to expect that they will patch things put. As what people had said, it is all in the past. But him being with her alone, was something for her. Lalo pa't walang pakialam ang binata sa dati nitong kasintahan.

Pero ano nga ba rin siya?

Hindi ba dating kasintahan rin lang? Kagaya ni Daisy. She was his first love sa kanya man nagtagal ng ilang taon ay hindi naman siya ang kasalukuyan ng binata. Just like any other girls she used to be jealous with. Aakalain niya noon na madali lang ang relasyon dahil bukas siya sa lahat ng posibilidad.

But when they were together, daig niya pa ang apat na taong gulang na bata kung mag-isip. Everything angers her, kahit konting salita lang na sa palagay niya ay nag-iiba agad ang timpla niya. Lalong-lalo na pagdating kay Daizy.

Hearing her name angers her, kahit sa loob ng ilang taong magkasintahan sila ni Von Rix ay isang beses lang ito nagparamdam sa binata. It drove her insane, that for two nights she would fight with him. Insisting Daizy as a topic. Galit na galit siya, kahit pa dalhan siya ng binata ng paboritong niyang pagkain ay gigil na gigil pa rin siya. Especially when the ex-girlfriend asked if they could talk through video chat.

"Ang lalim yata ng iniisip mo," Von Rix suddenly asked out of the blue.

Napaawang naman ang bibig niya sa gulat, "Ah—may naalala lang ako. It's nothing."

"Okay lang ba na nandito ako?" she was taken aback by his question.

Napakurap siya saglit bago tumugon, "Oo, bakit hindi naman?"

"Wala lang. Kasi nga 'di ba, you never believe in the quote that exes could be friends," pabirong saad ng binata.

He remembers, she smiled and wanted to laugh bitterly but she reprimanded herself. Mariang marupokpok pa rin talaga siya hanggang ngayon. Kahit limang taon na ang nakaraan, marupok pa rin siya pagdating sa binata.

"Sanay ka ngang kaibigan mga ex mo, eh." She said without hesitation.

"Hindi naman sa ganoon iyon—" pangangatwiran ng binata.

She shook her head, "Nah. It is okay, past is past nga 'di ba. Saka, I know how much you treasure your friendship with anyone."

Kahit na ikagalit niya pa noon, she would cry until her eyes hurt but he stands firm in his friendship with anyone. Kahit pa pinapili niya ito noon, but he will always choose his friends. It broke her countless times. Siya iyong girlfriend ng ilang taon. But he can never turn any of his friends down. Even if it means turning her down—hurting her feelings.

Silang dalawa lang ngayon ang nasa labas ng bamboo house, her friends were busy swimming. Probably enjoying things, they'll be staying for the night, iyon ang napagkasunduan nilang magkakaibigan. The married couple, didn't bring their child with them. Mahirap na, but it is just for a day and a half. They will be leaving tomorrow for lunch.

Kung noon ang prayoridad nila ay ang mga sarili. Ngayon marami na silang dapat isa alang-alang. Hindi lang sarili nila kundi pati na ang pamilya, anak at kung sino pa ang maapektuhan sa mga desisyon nila sa buhay.

"Kamusta na ang ex mo?" she innocently asked, she tried not to sound bitter.

"Ah, si Daizy?" gulat na bulalas nito. "Kilala mo pa pala siya."

Kung alam lang nito kung gaano niya ka kilala ang dalaga. Sa sobrang tumatak ito sa kanya ay hindi na niya ito malimutan pa. Just like how her love for him was carved in her soul. Ganoon rin ang sakit na dulot ni Daizy sa kanya. Even if the pain was only self-inflicted. Daizy's name and memory left a scar on both her and Von Rix's soul.

"Maayos naman siya. Naghiwalay na raw sila ng asawa nito," pagpapaliwanag ni Von Rix.

"Eh, 'di may pagkakataon ka nang balikan si Daizy?" halos pabulong niyang usal.

Seryoso ang mukha nito, halos magka salubong na ang kilay nito.

"Bakit ko naman siya babalikan?"

She smiled, "Bakit nga ba? She was your first love right? Saka 'di ba first love never dies."

"If she was mine, matagal na sana kaming nagkabalikan. Kaso hindi—"

"Sabi mo first love never dies nga 'di ba," pangangatwiran niya pa.

"Eh, sana hindi naging tayo hindi ba?"

She made a face, "Ba't ako nasali? First love nga 'di ba."

He smirked. "Eh, sana kami na ulit 'di ba? Hindi naman so quit it."

"Maybe it wasn't the right time. Baka nga ngayon, eh. Isa pa baka nga 'di ba anak mo iyong panganay niya."

"Ave!" sawat nito sa kanya.

She immediately apologized, "Sorry. I was out of the line."

Nadala lang talaga siya ng emosyon niya. It feels like she was given the time to burst out all of her feelings, kahit matagal na panahon na ang nakalipas.

"Alam ko na alam mo, Daizy's daughter wasn't mine. She was the daughter of Daizy's ex-boyfriend who became her husband. Please stop being mean, hindi magandang pag-uugali iyan."

Von Rix got cheated on by Daizy and her ex-boyfriend. She and Von Rix were in a long distance relationship, he was in Maupad City and she was from Evalardee City. Sa pagkakaalam niya the two met through common friend na unang niligawan ni Von Rix but Von Rix fell in love with Daizy. He gave her everything, he drove hours and hours just to see Daizy. But before they could celebrate their first anniversary Daizy was pregnant already. It broke Von Rix for years so was she.

She doesn't really want to sound rude or anything. Sadyang iba lang talaga ang epekto ni Daizy sa kanya. She loves kids, wala naman siyang problema sa mga bata. However the anger she had kept for years tries to come out. Kaya hindi niya mapigilang makapagsalita ng hindi maganda. But she doesn't want any harm against Daizy.

She smiled and nodded, "I'll go swimming muna."

She excused herself, tinanggal niya ang suot na flat sandals. She let her feet feel the warmth of the sand, hindi siya lumingon. Kahit gustuhin man niya pero pinipigilan niya ang sarili. She doesn't want to 'cause if she'll look back hinding-hindi siya makakausad sa sakit.

When she reached the end, she took off her white summer dress. Flaunting her flaws and scars. Unti-unti siyang nagtungo sa tubig. Ninanamnam ang lamig nito. She wasn't a good swimmer, hanggang sa malapit lang siya. She tried being one with the water rather than being one with her thoughts. Natatanaw niyang pinapanood siya ng binata, she wanted to say something but she reprimanded herself.

Sa may hindi kalayuan na hagip ng mata niya ang mga kaibigan. They were heading to their bamboo house. Galing ang mga ito sa may rock formations.