Didn't We Almost Have It All Novels & Stories

"Marami na kasing guards sa bahay namin, delikado na masyado if umalis ako ng walang bodyguards." Narinig niya ang malakas na mura ni Alli. Marahil ay naka-inom na ang mga ito. "Alam mo nagtatampo na kami sayo ha. Imagine nag-asawa ka ng biglaan, hindi tayo nagkikita masyado kahit pa noong bago ka pa ikinasal ngayon na isang gabi lang naman hindi ka makakapunta? Magpasama ka na lang ng bodyguard. Na-miss ka na namin eh."

“Together. That’s all that matters.” The rest of the morning was spent packing our things, getting ready for the flight. I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey we’d just shared. This trip wasn’t just about the destination, it was about rediscovering each other, about building new memories after everything that had happened. It felt like a fresh start. The plane ride back to Manila was quiet. We both found comfort in the fact that we’d made it through this time, reconnected, and had a moment to simply breathe. But the closer we got to home, the more I could feel the weight of responsibilities waiting for us.

Tulala pa din si Sol at ramdam ko pa din ang panginginig ko dahil sa kabang naramdaman hanggang sa makalayo na kami. We stopped when we reached a fast food restaurant. Medyo hinihingal pa kami dahil walang tigil at dire-diretso kaming naglakad palayo. Wala tuloy kaming nabili kahit na isang gamit gaya ng plano. We both released a sigh of relief. "Ano bang ginawa mo?" agad na singhal niya sa akin. I scoffed. What the hell? So, ako na ngayon ang may kasalanan?

Hindi ko siya kayang tingnan but I could tell he’s walking towards me because of his footsteps. He didn’t say a word but he kneeled and now, we’re looking at each other’s eyes. I could see a part of him through Jeremy. Kahit na iba na ang buhay ko, I am still happy that I still got a different version of the dream life we wanted. We spent all those years dreaming of our future together. We wanted to have a family. When we were planning our wedding, halos wa na akong mahiling pa na iba because I was already living my dream pero iniwan niya ako. Galit na galit ako sa kanya pero ni minsan, hindi ko hiniling na sana mawala siya.

“Sure? Baka mamaya ay may problema!” “Trust me! Magugustuhan mo ang lupa. Malaki at malawak tapos…guwapo pa ang may-ari!” Inirapan ko siya. She’s being nonsense, I swear. Good thing that our foods arrived. I missed this! Our bonds. Eating together that we last did in college. We spend another hour by eating because Jess didn't run out of stories. “Well… I won't let this night go by without us going to the bar!” Kelvin giggled.

“Whatever it takes, huwag mong isusuko ang mahalagang bagay sa’yo para lang sa’kin, okay?” Agad siyang tumango sa akin, kaya ngumiti na lang din ako muli, and we cooked. After we cooked, ay nanood na lang din kami. We slept and went back to watching, at natigil lang kami sa panonood nang mawalan ng kuryente. We then tried the generator, pero mukhang may problema rin iyon dahil hindi iyon nagbukas na dapat otomatikong magbukas kapag nawawalan ng power.

Naalala ko ang mga late-night phone calls, mga study dates, at ang mga pangarap namin ng sabay na future. Akala ko, we were building something real. Akala ko, sabay kaming nangangarap at nagtataguyod ng relasyon. Pero ngayon, malinaw na ako lang pala ang kumakapit. Matagal na palang binitiwan ni Kurt ang mga pangarap namin, bago ko pa siya nahuli kasama ang ibang babae.

Umiling ang binata, "ayoko ng Tv niya hindi flatscreen." Hindi alam ni Ruth kung maasar ba siya dito matataawa, napapailing nalang siya habang inaalala ang una nilang pagkikita. Ang pagkahulog niya sa kama dahil sa takot, ang pagpuna nito sa panis na laway niya. Ang pagrereklamo nito ng walang air condition ang kuwarto nila, walang vacuum cleaner, walang video games at walang flat screen na TV.

he whispered, voice catching slightly, eyes on the moon but hand lingering near mine. Together, almost in unison, we finished, "To a world without us!" The silence afterward felt heavier, closer. Our knees still lightly brushed. Our hands were separated now, but I could still feel the heat where we'd met. I didn't know if it was hope or just a fleeting illusion, but for that moment, it was enough.

Sabi ko sabay hiwalay sa dalawa. "Pasalamat ka at nandito si Trixia! Kun'di a bugbug ka ni Berna!" Nagtawanan naman kaming lahat maliban sa dalawa. Para silang aso't pusa kung mag-away, I think bagay nga sila. Matapos ang ilang sandali nag-ayos kami upang kumain at mag-celebrate sa aming pagkapanalo. We won this time, nakuha namin ang ikatlong dyamante!