Hello Lust, Goodbye

Prologue

Jemina's POV

Pout wouldn't get out of my face. My birthday celebration was about to end, but Rimuel was still not around.

Unti-unti ng nagpaalam ang mga bisita ko hanggang sa wala ng matira. Bagsak ang balikat kong nagtungo sa sofa.

Mom sat beside me. "Jemina anak, why are you sad? Come on it's your birthday. Cheer up!"

I pouted at mom while my brows were crossed. "Nakakainis si Rimuel mom, hindi niya man lang sinabing hindi siya makakapunta." I sighed. "Tapos aalis na tayo bukas, do we really have to go?" Sadness was all over my eyes.

Mom looked away as sadness also flashed on her face. "Anak, napag-usapan na natin 'to right? Mas magaling ang mga doctor--"

"Yes mom, I get it." I stood up. "Akyat na lang po muna ako sa kwarto ko." Yukos akong naglakad paakyat sa ikalawang palapag.

I didn't let mom continue what she was saying, because I was so tired of hearing it over and over again. It was so hard to accept the I wasn't an ordinary human. I wasn't like Rimuel and I couldn't even admit that to him.

Bago pa 'ko makapasok sa kwarto ko, may nakita akong sticky note na nakadikit sa pinto.

I picked it up and read the handwritten letter.

Hi Jem! Since it the birthday of my special lady, I prepared a little surprise. Go back to your mom and ask her about a sticky note. 

A smile quickly appeared on my lips. I ran back to my mom. I knew it was Rimuel, it was the penmanship of Rimuel.

"Mom!"

Agad siyang ngumiti nang makita ako. "Yes anak?"

"I saw a sticky note on my door." I showed her the sticky note, giggling.

"Oh well, that's because you're supposed to, anak." Mom stick a paper on my chest.

My brows crossed as I got it.

Nagtampo ka kasi wala kang gwapong bisita 'no? Well tampo no more, look at your mom's neck, there you will see my wonderful gift.

My eyes were brighter than the stars when I saw mom wearing a necklace with a pendant of my name 'Jemina'

Inalis niya 'yon sa leeg niya at saka kinabit sa 'kin. "Yes anak, this is for you. Kaya wag ka na magtampo sa best friend mo." Mom kissed my cheeks. "Go on our pool, someone is waiting for you."

My lips parted in excitement. I ran as I fast as I could.

"Dahan-dahan lang Jemina!" Mom's voice was nervous, but I didn't care. I wanted to see him.

I stopped and looked around our pool area. My shoulders dropped when I saw no one; I sighed. Paasa!

"Looking for your handsome friend?"

Tumalikod ako at doon ko siya nakitang papalapit sa 'kin. I pouted, but later on a smile appeared on my lips.

Nang makalapit siya sa 'kin, hinampas ko agad siya. "Akala ko hindi ka na pupunta! Nakakainis ka."

There, I saw my favorite laugh of him. "That's imposible Jem, it's your nineteenth birthday. Hindi pwedeng walang gwapo sa birthday mo."

Hinampas ko ulit siya. Napakayabang talaga, pero totoo namang nakakabighani lalo na ang kulay abo niyang mga mata. Kaya madami ring naiinggit sa 'king babae kasi matalik ko siyang kaibigan. Hindi alam ng mga babae na sila ang kinakainggitan ko, kasi sila may kakahayang makasama si Rimuel nang matagal, ako? Hindi ko alam; nakakatakot ang buhay para sa akin.

"Jem ako lang 'to. Natutulala ka naman masyado."

My sense was back when he went his handsome face closer to mine. Umayos siya nang tayo at saka tumawa.

"Lakas mo talagang mang-asar eh 'no?"

Sumisikip na ang didbib ko sa kaisipang ito na ang huling araw na makikita ko ang nakakahawa niyang tawa.

"You're welcome my lady." He bowed like a prince charming.

"Oo na, thank you na." I held the pendant on my chest that he gave me. "Salamat dito."

His eyes were like a dazzling diamonds. "Sabi na bagay sa 'yo eh."

I bowed my head when I felt my cheeks went hot.

"Bagay sa 'yo nag ba-blush." He chuckled.

I glared at him, but I ended up smiling. "Tara na nga! May natira pa 'kong handa roon. I'm sure you're hungry. Ikaw pa ba." I pulled his wrist and he didn't resist.

Oh I will miss this kind of little moments; our body touching together, I will surely miss his presence.

Sana nga kaya ko. Sana may lakas ako ng loob na sabihin sa kanyang aalis na ako at hindi ako sigurado kung kailan ako babalik, pero natatakot ako. Natatakot ako na baka hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko, mapuno na ng luha ang mukha ko. Natatakot ako na baka 'pag nalaman niyang may iba sa 'kin, hindi niya na ako gustuhing maging kaibigan. Nakakatakot maging ako; ayoko na sanang maging ako, pero wala akong pagpipilian.

It was seven p.m and my mom wanted me to sleep but I couldn't. I sighed as I stare at the blank paper on my study table. I held my pen firmly, trying to stop myself from crying while writing my letter of goodbye for Rimuel. 

Rimuel's POV

Dinarama ko ang bawat hampas ng hangin sa aking balat habang nakaupo sa malambot na buhangin at mahigpit na nakahawak sa isang liham; liham na isinulat anim na taon na ang nakakaraan.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngayon kumakapit pa rin ako sa liham na ito. Damn myself for still hoping that she was going to come back, because she would never.

I gripped at the paper as I looked at it intently. f**k! I badly wanted to forget you but my mind wouldn't.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago simulang basahin ang liham na mahigit isang daang beses ko na atang nabasa.

Hello my dear friend,

It's me, your lady Jemina. Probably by the time you're reading this, you already know that I was gone, and I'm so sorry for leaving you without saying goodbye. I'm really sorry Rimuel. I badly wanted to say it yesterday, but I didn't know where to begin with.

Pakiramdam ko nagsisimula pa lang akong magsalita, naluluha na ako at ayaw na ayaw mong nakikita akong umiiyak diba? Kasi sabi mo nasasaktan ka rin kapag nasasaktan ako. Pasensya ka na rin kung hindi ko masabi sa 'yo ang dahilan ng pag-alis namin. Siguro sa tamang panahon malalaman mo rin at sana kapag dumating 'yong panahon na 'yon, kasama na ulit kita. Kasi paniguradong mami-miss kita Rimuel. Magmula sa paglalaro ng patintero hanggang sa mobile legend, ikaw na ang kasama ko, kaya sigurado akong sobrang mami-miss kita.

"Oy Rimuel!" Napaigtad ako nang marinig si Karmina kasabay ng pagtapik niya sa balikat ko.

Nilukot ko agad ang papel at saka siya tinignan nang may gwapong ngiti. "Yes young lady?"

Tumingin siya sa papel na nilukot ko bago niya binalik ang tingin sa 'kin. "Hinihintay ka na sa kubo. It's lunch time."

"Ganoon ba? Sige susunod ako, alam ko namang hindi kayo makakakain kapag wala kayong gwapong kasama."

Natawa na lang ako sa paglukot ng mukha ni Karmina. "Shut up Rimuel." Pailing-iling siyang tumayo. "Lakas talaga ng hangin kapag nadidikit ako sa 'yo. Anyway bilisan mo, kung gusto mong may abutan pang pagkain."

I smiled as I watch him ran away from me. "Aminin mo na kasi gwapo ako!" Parang baliw na tinawanan ko ang sarili ko, pero agad ding tumila nang magbalik ang tingin ko sa nalukot kong papel.

I hissed as I fixed it again. Ginawa ko lahat ng makakaya ko para maalis ang lukot, pero hindi talaga maalis. Huminga ako nang malalim nang mapagdesisyonang ipagpatuloy na lang ang pagbabasa.

Di bale, susubukan kong bumalik. Sana lang kapag pinalad akong makabalik, kilala mo pa rin ako; sana ako pa rin ang lady Jemina na nagpapasaya sa 'yo.

By the way, I also don't want you to be sad, so please always smile. Lagi kitang inaasar kapag tumatawa ka, sabi ko ang panget mong tumawa, pero ang totoo niyan, bagay na bagay sa 'yo ang pagtawa mo. Kaya sana kahit wala na ako, manatili ka pa ring masiyahing tao. Palagi kang tatawa ha?

Thank you for the friendship; I will always cherish the good times and the bad times that we have shared together. Please always remember that I am forever thankful that God have gave me a loving best friend like you.

'till we meet again Rimuel, good bye