Prologue

Big smile was formed on my lips as I kept stroking his smooth black hair. Hapon iyon at heto kami’t nakaupo sa tuktok ng hagdan. The breezy air that touches our skin is very calming and seeing on how the sun is setting down made the atmosphere more exciting.

I was sitting on step of the stairs with my feet crossed while he was lying down. His head was placed on my lap and he smiled at me when his eyes met mine.

“You’re so cute!” Nanggigigil nitong saad kasabay ng pagkurot niya sa pisngi ko.

“Love!” Pagrereklamo ko sa kanya at sumimangot. He lifted his head and gently kissed my left cheek that he pinched earlier.

Still frowning, he tried to look at me pero iniiwas ko ang paningin ko sa kanya. Maya-maya pa ay itinukod niya iyong isa niyang kamay sa semento at pilit sinasalubong ang aking mga mata.

“Hey, love, I’m sorry,” panunuyo nito sa akin. He even tucked some of my hair strands.

Hindi na nakatiis, malakas akong tumawa dahil sa kalokohang ginagawa ko. I’m just trying to act in front of him and I didn’t know he would buy that act.

“It’s a prank!” I exclaimed happily.

“You got me there.” Narinig ko na rin ang pagtawa nito at muli niyang ibinalik ang ulo niya sa may kandungan ko.

Again, I stroke his hair. Nilalaro ko na nga iyon sa totoo lang. His hair is as smooth as feather and I won’t get tired playing with it.

I looked up in the sky, inhaled a large amount of air. Then long silence embraced us.

“Megan, look at me,” tawag niya sa akin, seryoso.

“Hmm?” I smiled but that smile couldn’t outdo the pain in my voice.

“Love,” tawag niya ulit sa akin.

“I’m alright. I’m just sad but I’m alright." Pag-amin ko sa kanya, nakangiti pa rin.

Agad itong bumangon at pinunasan ang luha ko. Hindi ko na nga naramdaman na lumuluha na pala ako. Saka niya ako niyakap nang mahigpit. Sobrang higpit na tipong ayaw niya akong pakawalan.

Niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. Mahigpit. At kung pwede lang na huwag ko siyang pakawalan ay gagawin ko. Pero ayokong maging makasarili sa oras na ito.

“Aldridge!” sabay kaming napalingon sa tumawag. It was Tita Amelia, his mom. She was standing in front of the airport. Beside her was his husband, Tito Rafael.

Ibinalik ni Aldridge ang tingin niya sa akin. Kahit masakit ay tumango ako sa kanya.

He stood up, offered me his hand afterwards and I took it. Nang makatayo kami pareho ay hindi na niya binitawan pa ang kamay ko at sabay kaming lumapit sa parents niya.

Today is his flight. And here I am, kahit masakit ay gusto ko siyang ihatid paalis.

As we got inside, while hearing the final boarding call, hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanyang kamay. Because minutes after this, I won’t be able to hold his hand so tight like this again.

He faced me and dried the tears on my cheeks.

“Will you really be alright if I leave?” he asked me.

Tumango ako sa kanya at ngumiti pero unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pagdaloy ulit ng mainit na likido sa aking pisngi. What I told him is not the same as to what I’m feeling right now.

“Babalik ka naman ‘di ba?” Tanong ko sa kanya, umaasa.

“Of course, I’ll be back, love,” sagot nito pero naroon ang pait sa kanyang tono.

Pinilit kong huwag gumawa ng ingay sa aking pag-iyak dahil alam kong walang kasiguraduhan sa mga salitang kanyang binitawan pero naroon ang kaunting pag-asa sa dibdib ko.

I need to trust Aldridge. I need to trust us.

“I’ll be back when the right time comes,” he added and kissed me, and he hugged me again for the last time.

“When the right time comes.” Pag-uulit ko sa sinabi niya.

That moment, I watched the man I love walked away from me. Not because he wants to, but because he needs to. He has to.

Pagkalabas ko sa airport, tumingin ako sa itaas. And seeing that plane becoming smaller and smaller in my eyes, my heart twitched in pain.

I raised my right hand as if I’m holding that plane. Even if it really hurts, I smiled.

“I’ll wait for you and we will be together again... when the right time comes, love.”