Eight Years After

『 EIGHT YEARS AFTER 』

---mysteriasecrecy---

"Ahhh." After feeling the sensation of my can beer in my throat, I soughed.

"It's been a while, don't you think?" Narinig kong sabi ng kasama kong lalaki na siyang nakaupo sa tabi ko.



"Hmm." Tumangu-tango naman ako.

It's been really a while. Since we used to sit together like this. Beside each other but a few inches away. During a cold night in front of a quiet ocean. Habang kinukuyakoy ang paa mula dito sa itaas at ang kamay naman ay nakatukod. At syempre, the can beers na nasa pagitan naming dalawa kasama ng parehong chichiryang ginagawa naming pulutan.

"So, Attorney." After a few seconds of silence, nilingon ko siya. "What made you come in here?"

He sipped from his can after giving me a reply. "Same ol' reason." He had a quick melancholic smile. "Ikaw?"

"Copy. Paste."

Parehas kaming natawa sa sagot ko. Tinukod kong ulit ang dalawang kamay sa likuran saka tiningala ang langit. It was a starry night. Marahan akong napangiti habang nakatitig dito at dinadama ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. I could only hear the crickets and the sound of waves not so far from us as we were sitting on this blocks just beside a country road. Every car that must have passed thought of us as some weirdo, hanging out and staying here on 2am.

"Take this."

Bigla nalang lumipad sa mukha ko ang isang leather jacket. Inis ko naman yong inalis at nilingon ang mongoloid na katabi ko. Argh.

"Hindi mo ba pwedeng iabot sa akin ng maayos?!"

"What, you're not one of my chicks." Said he while chuckling.

I glared at him. "You know what? You're still a jerk kahit ilang taon pa ang lumipas! Argh!" Naiinis man, sinuot ko pa rin yung leather jacket. I was wearing a black fitted crop top paired with a white pants so having to stay in here, it was really cold and a leather jacket is perfect.

"At pikon ka pa rin."

"Yeah, whatever." I rolled my eyes. "Not one of your chicks, not one of your chicks.." I murmured annoyed. "I'm your best friend, you doofus! The one you should treat waaay better than your chicks!" Hinampas ko siya.

"Hell no!" Natatawa naman niyang sinangga ang hampas ko. "Look, I can risk my life for you but there's no way I'd treat you can beers for free. That's how best friends are."

"Youuu!" Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. "At least, look at me as a woman!"

Sandaling tumaas ang kilay niya. "Relax, will you. Nakikipag-away ka pa rin sa 'kin over trivial matter."

"Well, we've been together from high school until college at ngayon nalang tayo nagkita after eight years and you still do the same thing. There's no way na trivial pa rin-"

"Besides, I can't look at you as a woman." Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang putulin niya na naman ako habang nakatingin sa dagat.

Naningkit na naman ang mata ko. "Whaaat?" Agh, this guy's unbelievable.

"I should not." Lumingon siya sa 'kin at ngumiti. "Because you're my best friend." Binalik niya ang tingin sa dagat at nagkibit balikat. "Although I made that mistake when we were in high school. Remember?"

"Ahh." Napatangu-tango naman ako saka binigyang pokus naman ang dagat. "Yeah, that was hilarious."

"Hilarious?! How dare-agh! You call my feelings for you back then hilarious?!"

I chuckled. "Ngayon, ikaw 'tong nakikipag-away over 'trivial matter'?" Kinowt ko pa sa ere ang dalawang huling salita.

"Psh." Binalik nalang niya ulit ang tingin sa dagat. "Don't talk as if you didn't like me too during that four years in high school."

"Hmm." Tumangu-tango naman ako. "That was even more hilarious."

Inis na naman niya akong nilingon. "Hey, Doctor! Are you saying liking me is a hilarious thing?"

I looked at him, stared even. I was trying to be serious. But I couldn't help it. His expression was priceless. In the end, I bursted out in laughter. That made him more annoyed.

"Really!" Humahalakhak pa rin ako.

Siya namang naiinis ay uminom nalang. Maiiyak na ako kakatawa nang maisipan kong tumigil. Pero nakangiti pa rin ako nang magsalita.

"Remember how we used to stay here in our college days, to get ourselves drunk because we were so fucked up of our relationships?" Sabi ko habang inaalala ang mga gabing yon.

"Yeah. Now, that is what's hilarious." He heaved a sigh. "But look. Nagkita tayo ulit dito because of that same fucking reason."

"You're the one who cut connections?!"

"I didn't, okay! Sadyang nawala yung sim card ko. You never created any SNS and you moved to America. WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE TO YOUR 'FIRST LOVE'." To mock me, kinowt niya naman ang dalawang huling salita sa ere.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, past is past. Forget that."

"No." He disagreed in an interrogative tone. "If it's not because of past, hindi tayo magbest friends ngayon."

Natawa naman ako. "Oo na." Saka ko muling kinuyakoy ang paa ko habang nakatingin sa dagat. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya.

There was a moment of silence between us. Even after eight years of having no any connection, even having nothing said between us yet for the past years, it still felt comfortable with him. Alam mo yung kahit gaano kayo katagal na tahimik, hindi ka maiilang? Even after eight years. That's the kind of bond I have with him.

"You know, I'm wondering.." He broke the ice between us. "Ano kaya kung nagawa kong umamin sa 'yo non? Na gusto kita?" He paused. "Actually, I thought I only like you back then. Pero looking back at time right now? I can say that was love."

"Lasing ka na ba agad?" Tanong ko sa kaniya habang hawak ang sarili kong can beer. "Over two can beers?"

He tssed. "As expected from someone who's been in America within eight years."

Natawa lang ako saka ko siya inakbayan. Nagulat nga siya kasi inalis ko yung distance sa pagitan namin pero nung inoffer ko yung can beer ko, nakipagcheers din naman siya. Sabay kaming uminom at sabay rin kaming napa 'ahh' kaya naman parehas din kaming natawa.

"Kung hindi ka ubod ng babaero noon, naisipan ko pa sigurong umamin kahit na ako ang babae. But, heck! You were one of a hellish guy of the campus, Attorney. I couldn't even accept the fact yet that you've become a knight of justice."

"And Doctor, do you think I have already accepted the fact that the girl who always told my chicks the harshest things about their relationship with him in a harshest way has become someone who cures a human through psychiatry?"

Napataas ang isang sulok ng labi ko at tinaas baba ang tingin sa kaniya bago ko siya naiinis na siniko. Napaungol naman siya sa sakit pero wala naman akong pake.

"I'm not one of the goody-good heroine who's okay of being wronged and having to receive verbal abuse."

"Said by the woman who used to send guys in the school clinic after learning Taekwondo in our second year high school."

"And I don't also tolerate bullies whenever I see them mugging someone. And hey! You were the one who recruited me?!"

"Oo. Pero nirecruit kita non hindi para madamay sa mga binubugbog mo kundi para sa point na makukuha ko sa pagrecruit." Ginulo niya ang buhok. "In the end, as the president of the Taekwondo club, I had a lot of paperworks because of your mess."

Nagkatinginan kami saka nagtawanan. Really. It's good to reminisce the old days even if how many times we do. It will always be a good memory. Nagkaroon na naman ilang segundong katahimikan bago ko namang naisipang basagin ito.

"So, what really happened to this relationship which sent you back here?"

"She just broke up with me."

"Really? Gaano na ba kayo katagal?"

"A year and a half?"

"Why would she waste that?"

"Well, our jobs collide. And she couldn't accept how mine works." He waved his hand. "Enough about me. What about you, Doctor? What sent you back here?"

"Well.." Napangiti ako saka tumingala sa langit. "Before coming back to the Philippines a week ago, I broke up with him."

"How long have you been together?"

"A year."

"And why would you waste that, Doctor?" He asked, mimicking the same tone I used earlier.

"Well, he's asking way too much from me. And he's way too manipulative. Yeah," Tumangu-tango ako. "One manipulative narrowminded bastard."

"That's one hellish nickname."

Parehas kaming natawa, tumahik at bumuntong-hininga. "Isn't it nostalgic to you? Well, you see, we've come here a lot in our college days. Whenever one of us feels having a break down because of our sick relationships." I heard him say.

"Nostalgic includes happiness. Yelling curses here isn't happy, you know." I murmured in response.

"But, well, having each other's shoulder is the sole happy thing back then." Said he.

Lumingon siya sa 'kin. Saka niya ako dahan-dahang nginitian. Napangiti din ako.

"That's why I'm wondering if what could've happened if one of us had the courage to take a risk and confess." He added.

"I was too afraid of losing you as a friend so I kept those unsaid." I shrugged.

"Yeah, we always had the same mind set. That's one of the best reasons why we became each other's best friend."

"Since you're all curious, Attorney." I showed him my seductive smile which I knew he knew it's one that meant to mock him. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinila siya palapit gamit ang polo. "Why don't we try it? We're each other's first love. It's always said first love never dies."

Ilang segundo... Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo kaming nasa ganoong posisyon. He didn't response and kept his look at me. Tapos nagulat ako nang bigla nalang niya akong pinitik sa noo. Napalayo agad ako at napawak sa noo ko.

"Aw!"

"You.." Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi niya at akmang ipanghahampas pa sa 'kin yung can beer niya. "Look who's drunk between us over a few cans of beer." Napailing-iling siya. Tinungga ito. Pinunasan ang labi saka ako nilingon na naman. "Are you having me as some rebound?"

Natawa ako. "No. I believe I've been completely fell out of love of that manipulative narrowminded bastard even a few months earlier. I thought my heart's gonna hurt so bad but instead I felt very much relieved. So, Attorney." Mahina kong pinangtap ang can beer ko sa chest niya. "Kung mayroong mangri-rebound sa atin, ikaw 'yon. Kasi she's the one who dumped you."

Matunog siyang napangisi saka napailing-iling. Binalik ang tingin sa dagat, tumungga at ilang segundong tumahimik. "I'm getting tired of these relationshits. I can't be committed to you in this state."

Natawa ako. I don't know if was he taking this seriously but I answered in a kidding manner. "Don't tell me, you still have the fear that held you back in high school."

"No. If things don't work out, we're already matured to settle things, right?"

Napangiti ako. We really have the same mind set. "Exactly, Attorney."

"Yes. But I repeat, not in this state. We are not even sure if our heads are all clear while saying all these stuffs."

Natawa na naman ako saka napatangu-tango. "Indeed!" Tinungga ko ang alak ko. "We are not even stable right now. When things become stable."

Natatawa at pabiro siyang sumagot. "And when will that be?"

"After eight years!"

"What, another eight years!"

"Yes! Since nagkita lang naman tayo ngayon only after eight years."

As best friends for so long, we were both pretty sure. That night, we were just very drunk, very devastated to say all those stuffs. Parehas naming tinaas ang can beer saka sabay na sumigaw,

"AFTER EIGHT YEARS!"

Saka kami nagtatawanang nakipagcheer sa isa't isa.

Ngayon, natatawa nalang ako habang inaalala ang gabing 'yon eight years ago. Natawa din ang katabi ko saka ako inakbayan habang nakatayo kami sa parehong pwesto at tinatanaw ang parehong dagat sa parehong oras eight years ago.

"That's hilarious." I blurted out with a smile curved on my lips.

"Indeed."

"H-Hey!" Nagulat ako nang buhatin niya nalang ako bigla in a bridal style. "Put me down, Attorney!"

"Why? Why would I put my bride in her gown down?" He gave me one naughty smile and gave me a smack. "And Doctor, I believe we should start calling each other Mister and Missis instead."

"Oh, my deity above! How did my best friend end up being this cheesy with me!" Sigaw ko sa maningning pa ring kalangitan.

Parehas kaming humalakhak. Kinapit ko naman na ang dalawang kamay ko sa batok niya at nakangiting sinabi. "Don't you think it's weird we stopped by here first instead of going directly to our hotel?"

"No." Dinikit niya ang noo niya sa noo ko saka nakangiting bumulong. "It's just one good way to tell us the answer to the wonder we had eight years ago.."

Ngumiti ako at sinabayan ang alam kong sasabihin niya.

"What could've happened if we ended up together?"

•

One shot story of Doctor Fianna and Attorney Adrian Willingar. Piece written on May 5, 2019 by Satara Kim aka Mysteria Secrecy. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity with existing place, people and events are purely coincidental. Public copying is a violation act of applicable laws.