5 years later...

The wind touches my skin as the smell of the sea penetrated into my nose. I could feel the coldness of December season. I threw the cigarette stick when I saw na papaupos na pala ito. I am in the veranda para makalanghap ng malamig na hangin. The view in front of me helps me relax.

"Congratulations for the successful engagement, Bro." I turned my head and saw Chino walking towards me. I just shortly smiled at him.

I'm glad that I am finally one step away from having my own family. I am almost 30 years old now. Jeb and Gareth have been married for 3 years already. Same with Angel and Chastity. They even have a cute one-year old son.

Siguro, it's now my time to settle down.

"Are you happy?"

Napalingon ako dahil sa sinabi ni Chino. Malayo ang tingin niya sa harap at parang ang lalim ng iniisip. There's no hint of humor on his face. Pero ipinagsawalang bahala ko na lang ito.

"Of course..." I answered him after a few seconds, "why wouldn't I?"

I could feel his intense stare at me. "How about her?" seryoso niyang sabi.

I froze and my heart jumped for a while kahit hindi niya pa pangalanan. I knew that he's talking about her.

"What about her?" balik na tanong ko sa kanya.

He heavily sighed. "Do you have any news about her whereabouts?"

I shook my head. "Wala akong balita sa kanya. And I don't think if it's still important. It doesn't matter now."

"But did you try looking for her when you received the letter?"

I nodded. "I did..."

Hindi na siya sumagot at muling itinuon ang paningin sa dagat. We have been avoiding to talk about her because we promised that we won't let anyone ruin our friendship again. And hindi namin namalayan, 5 years na pala ang lumipas.

"Why did you hate her back then?" he suddenly asked, "she may look tough, but I could tell that she's kind and vulnerable." Seryoso pa rin ang mukha niya.

I don't know why he suddenly brought her up ngayong kakatapos pa lang ng engagement ko. "Why are we talking about her?" Medyo naiinis na ako sa patutunguhan ng usapan namin.

He chuckled. "Chill. I just want to make sure if you made the right choice this time. Alam natin kung gaano ka ka-impulsive. You make decisions without thinking thoroughly," he said.

I didn't respond. He was right. I was always confused, indecisive and impulsive. But I know this time, I made the right choice.

"So, why did you hate her?" muling tanong niya.

"What's the question for?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I just want to know. Why can't you just answer it?" Ramdam ko ang pang-aasar niya sa akin.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at umiling. Chino had changed a lot. He matured. He's no longer the Chino who annoyingly laughs to senseless things. I don't know if it's because of the age, or if it's because of the girl he met before.

He never shared about the girl. But she changed him. A lot.

"Haha. Sagutin mo na, Matapang," he said habang hinang napatawa.

I released a heavy sigh before I answered him. I know he won't stop sa pangungulit kapag hindi ko sasagutin ang tanong niya. "She's the waitress who was caught having an affair with my sister's ex boyfriend," I told him. I paused for a while before I continued:

"Precious hurt herself because of the cheating. And you know how much I hate seeing my sister and mother hurting. My mother and sister were being cheated on. And parehong klase ng babae. Gold-digger and home-wrecker."

I could still remember how much I loathed girls na walang delikadeza na mang-agaw ng mga lalaki na may nobya o asawa for the sake of money.

"But did you ask her to confirm if it's true?" tanong niya sa akin.

"I didn't..." I answered. Actually, I already knew that she's not the girl I thought her to be. Naramdaman ko 'yon sa mga panahong magkasama kami. She has a beautiful heart. She was only acting that she didn't care, but she actually did care. Ayaw niya lang ipakita ang vulnerable side niya.

But I was afraid to take risk again. So, I chose the safer option.

Nagpakawala siya ng mapaklang tawa. "You're impossible, Bro. I don't know if manhid ka lang or insensitive na hindi malaman what kind of person she is. She even gave us 'thank you' letters despite sa lahat ng kasalanan natin sa kanya."

"I know..." hinang boses na sagot ko sa kanya, "but she suddenly disappeared without any trace after that day."

"Yeah..."

I remembered asking anyone kung saan siya nakatira at tsaka pinuntahan lahat ng posibleng lugar na pupuntahan niya. I was searching for her for a year. But I hadn't found her. Karen also didn't go to work since that day. They just disappeared. With no traces left behind.

"Saan kaya sila?.."

"I honestly don't know..."

"I wish they are okay..."

"I wish too..."

"Hey boys!"

We turned our heads and saw April walking towards me and kissed me on the lips.

"Sige, iwan ko muna kayo," pagpapaalam ni Chino at diretsong naglakad pabalik sa party venue.

I felt April hugged me tightly. "Hon, why are you here? Hindi ka ba nalalamigan?"

"I just smoke one stick," I answered and gave her my sweet smile.

"I hate December. It's usually rainy and very cold..." she said, "buti pa ang month of April, warm and sunny because it's summer season."

I just gave her a short smile and hugged her tightly. I hate the fact that even with her absence, she let us feel her presence.

I also hate December. Do I?

***