Armil's Point Of View

"Saan ka magc-college?" Amos asked.

"My family and I will fly to the US to get proper treatment. Doon na rin siguro."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Amos sa 'kin. 

"Sasama si Denni?"

"I don't know. Wala siyang nasabi sa 'kin. But I know she will, I'm her boyfriend after all."

Amos let out a soft chuckle. He handed me a beer in a can and I drank it straight.

"She's not your girlfriend, bro."

"She is," I insisted. 

"Hindi nga. I'm going. It's not yet too late, buddy. Go and chase your woman," giit nito. "I sent it to your email. The video I mean. Dalawa 'yon. Enjoy watching. She's in PVU, malayo dito pero kung mahal mo kaya mong gawin ang lahat mapuntahan lang siya."

"PVU? The fuck you are talking about, Alagadmo?"

"Pleasant Valley University. I love you, bro. Thanks me later, good luck."

Hinabol ko ito ng tingin hanggang sa makalabas ito. I contemplated with the wall for a second. 

"De Luna, uupo ka lang ba riyan o magsisimula ka na sa pag-empake?" tanong ni Mommy.

"Oh, hey, Mom."

"Don't 'hey' me, young man. Start packing your things."

"Okay."

After Mom left, I took my laptop from my desk and opened my email. He indeed sent something to me. The first video was in our classroom Pinagsama-sama ang mga nalikom na random videos at pictures. It was weird. Zethadel Scendra and I... we're too close with each other. Palaging magkahawak ang kamay o 'di kaya ay naka-akbay ako sa kaniya sa lahat ng picture. I never knew we were this close. But I'm mad at her for the rest of the second semester. Why? What is this?

I clicked the second video and felt uneasy for a bit.

"Hi, this is Zethadel Scendra Colina and you are watching Documenting Your Life by yours truly, our section," she grinned.

She looks so adorable and happy. At the back of the camera was Jareyn's voice, together with our classmates.

"First question, who is your love interest?" asked by Jareyn.

"Oh, that's easy. It's him." The camera turned around and it pointed directly at me.

"Who is your favorite person as of the moment and why?"

"Kailangan ba talaga sagutin 'yong why? Hindi ko kasi alam."

"Oo! Kasali 'yon eh!" always the loudest, Roxanne.

"Bakit nandito ka? Nasa gym ka dapat." She squinted her eyes which I find cute.

"Makiki-tismis lang, go ka na."

"Okay. Well, anyways, Armil John De Luna is my current favorite person. Why? Maybe because he's mine and I'm his. Eme. Armil John is my boyfriend, he's sweet, caring, and is willing to do crazy things with me. Tumataba rin ako dahil sa kaniya, araw-araw ba naman akong binibilhan ng pagkain."

All those blurry events... it was not Denni. It was her.

"Nagkakilala kami dahil sa puti niyang brief. Crazy but yeah, that's how we met and the rest is history. Long story short, niligawan niya ako at sinagot ko siya. To my pahinga, my hon, I love you so much. Kahit minsan ay napaka-seloso at possessive mo. Thank you for letting me have this chance to love someone like you. Mahal kitang palagi po, hon. Bibilhan kita ng maraming brief na kulay puti kapag naging mag-asawa na tayo." 

The video was cut off for a second. After a few seconds, the video came back, and it was her but in a new room.

"Hi, hon. Pina-edit ko lang 'to kay Amos," she softly chuckled. "I'm here to tell you that I love you even though you didn't remember me. Nagseselos ako palagi kay Denni, pero ayos lang kasi nakikita ko namang masaya ka sa kaniya. Kapag lumalapit ako para kang leon na handa akong pabagsakin eh. You're still protective and territorial, sadly hindi na sa akin, but I understand. That's the way how life goes for me, for us. I wish you all the best, hon, and thank you for creating me. Alam kong masasaktan ka sa pagkawala ko, sa pag-alis ko, but that's what I think is better for us."

I paused the video. Napatingala ako at mapaklang natawa. Naalala ko na. Naalala ko na kung sino si Zethadel Scendra sa buhay ko. Napapikit ako ng sumidhi ang kirot sa ulo ko. It hurts so bad I can't even stand. Kahit na gano'n ay pinilit ko pa ring panoorin ang video.

"You still have the chance to change yourself and the future, mahal ko. May this experience serve as a lesson for you in the future. As what I have said, mahal kitang palagi. Masakit rin sa akin ito pero inaalala ko ang kalagayan mo. You can't keep me forever, Armil. Kasi... kasi wala naman talagang ako simula pa lang noong una, hindi ba? I am thankful that I was able to be part of you but this is all wrong. Lahat ng nakapalibot sa 'yo ay mali. All of this... it's unhealthy for you, honey. Oras na... para mamuhay ka ng totoong ikaw. Buhay na wala ako. Buhay na walang Scent."

Napasigaw ako sa sakit ng ulo ko. Parang binibiyak ito at nakakabaliw. I helplessly laid down on the floor while holding my head. My head feels so heavy and about to explode. I can't help but cry and shout. 

"Armil! Anak... anak ko," dinaluhan ako ni Mommy at sa likuran niya ay si Daddy.

"Dadalhin ka namin sa ospital, hang on there, okay? Magiging maayos ka rin. Magiging maayos rin ang lahat," Dad smiled.

Mom, Dad, I'm in deepest pain. How do you stop this?

From a blurry vision, I saw my brother, Travis, who entered the room and accidently played the video on my laptop. I gasped as the darkness started eating me. Before I lost my consciousness, her voice was the last thing I heard aside from my crying parents. 

"Thank you so much for creating me and this wonderful world, my love. I regret leaving you but I have to. Go and live your life to the fullest, okay? You can do it. Nasa puso mo lang ako palagi. Mahal kita, mahal ko. Sa wakas ay babalik ka na. I, Zethadel Scendra Colina, the love interest of Armil Johhn De Luna, is finally cutting the connection between us. I wish you a happy and contented life. Goodbye, my love."

*****