William did everything as planned. Umuwi siya sa tinitirhang bahay sa US kasama ang mga magulang at nagpanggap siyang ayos lang ang lahat mula sa nangyaring therapy niya kanina. Just like what Jiv told him, nagpaalam din siya kung pwede ba siyang sumama sa pinsan ni Jiv at pinalabas may event doon kaya kailangan niyang sumama.

Surprisingly, their plan worked. His parents let him go without any kind of fuss or suspicion. Sinabihan lang siya na mag-ingat at mag-update kapag kaya niya. Everything was too smooth that William couldn't help but be doubtful na baka may kung ano rin na mangyari along the way. But before he knew it, there he was in the airport, already waiting for his flight.

"Sigurado ka na ba talaga rito? Wala nang atrasan 'to," Jiv's cousin asked. William filled him in with all the needed details about his situation. He was supportive, but he couldn't help but be worried as well. Kapag pumalya kasi ang plano, damay rin pati siya.

"I've never been more sure in my life. Aisleen's the best thing that has happened to me. Hindi ko kakayanin kung mawawala siya sa akin," William answered. He was on the verge of breaking down already. Masyado na siyang nagi-guilty dahil sa nangyari kay Aisleen, and he swore he would do everything to make up to her. Kung kailangang ibigay niya ang sariling mga mata, malamang ay gagawin niya.

"Let's just hope for the best," Jiv's cousin said as he tapped William's shoulder. And as they watched for the ticking of the clock, they knew that there's no turning back now.

***

William didn't manage to sleep during the flight. Naghahalo-halo ang takot, kaba, lungkot, at saya sa puso niya. Kahit na gustong-gusto na niyang makita at makasama muli si Aisleen, he knew that he needed to prepare himself for the worse first. Alam naman niyang hindi rin siya basta tatanggapin ni Aisleen sa buhay niya. A lot of time has passed by and a lot could have happened since then.

To be honest, he didn't know where to start. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba ay humingi muna siya ng tawad dito o kung dapat ba ay maghanap siya ng paraan para maging maayos na ang kalagayan nito. He couldn't get enough details about her situation yet and it's making him so frustrated. He tried asking for Jiv's help but to no avail. Hindi na raw pumapasok si Aisleen kaya hindi na rin ito makakuha pa ng balita para sa kanya.

And so when the plane landed in the Philippines, William did his best to know Aisleen's whereabouts. Through connections, he found out that she was still living with her parents in their home in Makati. The only difference was that she doesn't go out as much kaya mahirap na itong sundan sa kung saan.

Aisleen also changed her number and her social media accounts were closed. Hindi na niya alam kung paano ito makakausap. Getting close to her was getting more difficult than expected. He was so close to losing hope and giving up.

Not until he accidentally met her one time...

Nakita niya ito sa isang restaurant. He was supposed to meet Jiv to ask for updates regarding Aisleen at kung paano nga ba niya ito malalapitan. Before flying back to the Phlippines, he knew that it would be difficult to approach her again. Ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas matapos ang aksidente at malamang, hindi na rin talaga siya palalapitin pa ng mga magulang ng dalaga. In everyone's eyes, he abandoned her and simply chose the easy way out.

Nang pumasok siya sa restaurant, inikot niya ang tingin para hanapin ang kaibigan. Pero laking gulat niya nang may nakita siyang pamilyar na babae. At first, he wasn't quite sure if it was really her. Sa tagal na hindi sila nagkita, hindi na rin siya sigurado sa itsura nito. But when he looked a little harder, he finally confirmed that it was her. Mag-isa itong nakaupo sa lamesa and as he took steps towards her, his heart started to beat frantically.

With his heart on his sleeves, he sat in front of Aisleen. Kitang-kita niya kung gaano kaganda ito. She looked happy, glowing even. Mukhang nakakakita na rin ito, hindi katulad n'ong huling balitang narinig niya kay Jiv ilang buwan na ang nakalipas. If that was the case, he was genuinely happy for her, and unconsciously, a smile formed on his lips.

"You're done na agad? Ang bilis mo nama—" Napahinto ito sa pagsasalita nang makita siya nito.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?" malamig nitong tanong sa kanya. The smile on his face slowly faded nang mapansin nitong iba na ang paraan ng pagtingin ni Aisleen sa kanya. Gone was the love and happiness that he had always felt whenever they were together before. Kitang-kita ni William ang galit at sakit sa mga mata niya and he knew that it was his fault kung bakit biglang naging ganito.

"I missed you..." mahinang sagot ni William kay Aisleen imbes na sagutin nito ang tanong ng dalaga.

"Bullshit. Hindi mo na ako madadaan sa mga ganyan mo, William. You already ended everything between us the moment you left me while I was struggling in darkness."

"No, Aisleen. Listen mo to me," William told her as he tried to hold her hand that was on top of the table. Halatang hindi nito gusto ang ginawa niya pero hindi na rin naman ito kumilos pa. He didn't know how to start explaining things to her. He wanted her to understand the situation pero hindi niya rin naman alam kung pakikinggan pa nga ba nito ang mga paliwanag niya. Every explanation that he might say could only come out as a lame excuse. He knew he had caused her so much pain kaya ang hirap para kay William na makitang lalo siyang nasasaktan dahil sa nakita siya nito.

"I didn't know what on earth happened. Nang magkamalay ako, dinala na pala ako nina Dad sa ibang bansa. Trust me, I wanted to go back and be with you pero hindi ko magawa."

"Well, I guess you didn't try hard enough. You simply gave up on the idea of going back here because that's much more convenient nga naman, 'di ba?"

"No, of course not."

"Save it, William. I won't listen to any of your lies anymore," matigas na sagot ni Aisleen. She then pulled her hand away from William and looked around the restaurant, as if trying to find someone. Agad nitong nilabas ang phone at nang nakita ito roon, kumunot ang noo nito at napanganga rin bigla, para bang hindi makapaniwala sa nabasa niya.

"Fuck. Gago talaga kahit na kailan," Aisleen cursed under her breath. Halatang-halatang naiinis na ito at hindi malaman ni William kung dahil ba sa kanya o sa nabasa nito sa sariling phone. At any point, he still wanted to clarify things with her.

"H-ha? Were you referring to me?" naguguluhang tanong ni William kay Aisleen. She then looked at him sharply. Agad na napalunok si William dahil sa paraan ng pagtingin ni Aisleen sa kanya. If looks could kill, baka kanina pa siya nakabulagta rito dahil sa talim ng pagkakatingin nito.

"Yes, alam kong gago ka. In fact, wala na nga yatang mas gagago pa sa 'yo but unfortunately, I was referring to someone else. Don't take the crown today, okay?" she said, her voice lacing with sarcasm. She then left some cash on the table and picked up her bag. Just when she was about to stand up to leave, he still tried his luck to stop her.

"Hey! Saan ka pupunta? We're not done talking yet."

"Mukha bang may time pa ako para makipag-usap sa 'yo?" mataray nitong sagot sa kanya.

"Aisleen, please. Love naman..."

"Gago. Love mo mukha mo. Nakita na ngang may hinahanap ako, 'di ba? In case you missed it, I'm on a date with someone else. Go ahead and eat our order or whatever. Just don't show up again in front of me. Pasalamat ka at busy ako. I would have slapped you more than a hundred times right now kung wala lang akong hinahabol," Aisleen coldly said to William and she immediately left the restaurant. As he looked at her retreating back, at that moment, he knew he came back a little too late.

***

"What on earth were you thinking?!" William's mom asked the moment he answered her call. At this point, she might have known that he had left the US and that he was in the Philippines already. Kahit na tumaas ang boses nito, alam naman ni William na hindi nito kayang magalit talaga sa kanya. She liked Aisleen very much when they were together kaya alam agad ni William na ang daddy niya ang nagpupumilit na paghiwalayin silang dalawa.

"Mom, relax. I'm fine," mahinahong sagot ni William sa kanya. He then heard her sigh na para bang hindi ito makapaniwala sa naging sagot nito sa kanya.

"How could you leave like that?! Halos magwala ang daddy mo when he found out that you left. My goodness, William! You just recovered! Paano kung may nangyaring masama sa 'yo?" William's mom said at bakas na bakas doon ang pag-aalala. He couldn't blame her though. Alam na alam ni William kung paano magalit ang daddy niya noon. Malamang, ang mommy na naman ang napagbuntungan nito ng galit. Nag-aalala man sa lagay ng ina, wala na rin namang magawa pa si William. Importante rin sa kanya si Aisleen pati na rin kung paano niya maaayos ang relasyon nila ng dalaga.

"I had to, Mom. It was my fault why Aisleen ended up losing her sense of vision." William's mom gasped, as if surprised by this revelation. The moment they left for the US, nawalan na rin kasi ang mga ito ng balita tungkol sa dalaga. All that mattered to them was the recovery of William.

"S-she lost her sense of vision?" William's mom asked, as if trying to confirm what her son had said.

"Unfortunately, yes. The accident caused a great impact to her. According to Jiv, she even had to settle for homeschooling dahil hindi na niya kinaya pang makapasok nang maayos sa school. People were mocking her because of her disability. My conscience is killing me, Mom. If I have to beg and kneel for her forgiveness, I would," sagot ni William sa ina. Minutes passed and silence enveloped them. It was as if they were trying to process everything that they have talked about. When William regained his composure, he began telling his mom what happened earlier between him and Aisleen.

"I already saw her a while ago, Mom. Sobrang sama ng loob niya sa akin. Ramdam na ramdam ko yung galit niya at hindi ko naman siya masisi roon. You separated us right after the accident. Noong panahong hirap na hirap siya at kailangan niya ako, I wasn't there for her. Kung tutuusin, kulang pa nga yung masasamang salitang nasabi niya sa akin... If she had tried to hurt me physically, I would have accepted it too," William said as he tried to stop himself from crying. Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya pa rin matanggap na ganoon na lang ang nangyari sa relasyon nila ni Aisleen. For him, she was his source of strength and happiness. Ang tagal na panahon bago siya nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob ng aminin ang damdamin sa dalaga at dahil lang sa ginawang paglayo sa kanya ng mga magulang niya, nawala ang lahat ng iyon na parang bula.

"Son..." mahinang ani ng mommy ni William.

"It's okay, Mom. I'll just try my best to earn her trust again. I know it would be difficult given what has happened to her while I was away, pero susubukan ko pa rin. I can't lose her, Mom... I can't..."