The next day, Ashleigh was packing her things because she was returning to her province today. While she was packing, she noticed the photo with Aziel, and they were both happy and inlove with each other. Her smartphone rang, and she stood up to answer it.

“Hello?” tanong niya sa kabilang linya.

“Ash, puwede ba kitang makausap?” hindi siya sumagot sa tanong ni Aziel. Doon niya lamang na si Aziel pala ang tumatawag sa kaniya ngayon.

“Kinausap mo na ako.” sarkastikong sagot niya.

“What I mean is...can I talk to you in person?” bumuga ng hangin si Aziel matapos niyang sabihin ’yon kay Ashleigh.

“For what?” ikling tanong niya rito.

“Magkita tayo sa Roxas Boulevard,  I really want to talk to you, Ash,” malungkot na sabi ni Aziel kay Ashleigh.

“Okay!” sagot ni Ashleigh at pinatay ang tawag.

********

The sun was setting over the beach, casting a warm orange glow on the waves as Ashleigh and Aziel sat on a bench. They had been in relationship for almost two years, and this was their one of the favorite spot to watch the sunset together. But tonight, there was an air of tension between them.

“Ano ba'ng sasabihin mo?” She finally mustered up the courage to ask him why he wants to talk to her.

“Ash, I’m so sorry for what I have done to you...for hurting so much,” Aziel said, his voice quiet and serious.

Ashleigh's heart dropped. She had a sinking feeling that she knew what was coming.

“Am I not enough to you, Luke? Bakit kailangan umabot pa sa ganito? Ano bang kulang ko sa'yo? May kailangan ba akong gawin?” nanginginig ang boses ni Ashleigh.

“Ash, walang kulang... you're enough and I am the problem.” mahinang sambit ni Aziel sa huling linya.

“And, I don't think we should be together anymore,” Aziel continued, avoiding her gaze.

Ashleigh's eyes filled with tears as she tried to make sense of his words. “Kaya ba gusto mo akong makausap para opisyal kang makikipaghiwalay sa akin? Alam ko naman na darating ang araw na ito, Luke. Pero bakit sa ganitong paraan pa? Bat ang bilis naman atang dumating, hindi ko naihanda ang aking sarili sa pagdating ng araw na ito.” She asked, her voice shaking.

“It's not you, it's me,” Aziel replied, still not looking at her. “I just don't think we're meant to be together. We want different things in life.”

Ashleigh felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. “But we've been together for almost two years. We've talked about our future together,” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

“I know, but I've been thinking about it a lot and I just can't see a future with you anymore. Siguro magagawa mo ang mga ’yon pero hindi na ako ang nasa tabi mo, Ash.” Aziel said, finally meeting her eyes. “I'm sorry.”

Ashleigh couldn't believe what she was hearing. The man she loved was breaking her heart, and he didn't even seem to care.

Gusto niyang bigyan ng pangalawang pagkakataon si Aziel, pero naisip niya na hindi kailangan ni Aziel, ng second chance dahil wala itong plano.

“You're sorry? That's it?” she cried, standing up and pacing back and forth. “After everything we've been through, you're just going to throw it all away? Luke, gusto ko pa sanang sagipin itong relasyon natin mula sa pagkalunod pero sa'yo na mismo nanggaling na hindi mo nakikita ang iyong kinabukasan na kasama ako.”

“Ash, please don't make this harder than it already is,” Aziel said, standing up and trying to reach out to her.

But she pushed him away, her anger and hurt taking over. “How could you do this to me? To us? I thought you loved me,” she sobbed.

“I did love you, Ash. But things change,” Aziel said, his voice breaking.

Ashleigh shook her head in disbelief. “I don't even know who you are anymore. You're not the man I fell in love with. Sobrang laki na nang pinagbago mo Luke, simula ng dumating si Lily, nag-iba ka na.” she said, her voice filled with pain.

Aziel's face fell, and he looked down at the sand. “I'm sorry, Ashleigh. I never meant to hurt you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Never meant to hurt me? Pero sinaktan mo na ako simula ng dumating si Lily, alam kong aware ka na sinaktan mo na ako, Luke.” umiiyak si Ashleigh habang ang kaniyang kamay ay nakakuyom at magkaharap silang dalawa ni Aziel.

“Maybe this is how we really are. Just passing by, never to stay. Maybe we came to make each other happier. Maybe we just came to give life a little life.” aniya ni Aziel. Pinunasan ni Ashleigh ang kaniyang mga luha na patuloy sa pagdaloy.

“Luke, even if it hurts so badly and makes me want to die, know this. I love you more than life itself. By the time I saw you you let me experience what really loved is, I know I won't regret loving you so much.” sagot ni Ashleigh at binigyan ng matamis na ngiti so Aziel.

“Always remember, Ash. Minahal kita ng totoo.” humakbang si Aziel papalapit kay Ashleigh.

“Sana maging masaya ka, Luke. Sana kung magkrus man ang landas nating dalawa ay pareho na nating napatawad ang isa’t-isa, dahil aaminin ko hindi pa kita kayang patawarin ngayon dahil sobrang sariwa pa ang nangyayari sa pagitan nating dalawa.” kinuha niya ang kamay ni Aziel at itinapat niya ito sa kaniyang dibdib.

“Ikaw pa rin ang tinitibok ng aking puso, sa ngayon hahayaan ko na lang muna ang aking puso na ikaw ang sinisigaw, Luke. Maraming salamat sa mahigit dalawang taon nating pagsasama. Babaunin ko ito sa pag-uwi ko sa probinsya.” dugtong ni Ashleigh at humakbang paatras.

“Ashleigh, sandali!” sigaw ni Aziel, but it was too late. Ashleigh had already turned and walked away, at mabilis na nakasakay ng taxi pauwi ng kaniyang apartment.

His heart shattered into a million pieces. And as he watched the sunset alone, he couldn't help but wonder how everything could fall apart so quickly.

“Watching the sunset reminds me that even the most beautiful things must come to an end, just like some relationships.” mahina niyang sabi habang nakatitig sa palubong na araw.

“Sunsets are proof that endings can often be painful too, just like the end of a relationship can bring so much pain and sadness to the person.” sagot ng babae sa sinabi ni Aziel.

Tumayo siya at tumingin-tingin sa paligid, nagbabakasakali na makita ang babaeng nagsasabi ng mga salitang iyon. Naglalakad siya para hanapin ang babaeng kaboses ni Ashleigh.

Napaupo na lamang siya nang napagtanto niyang guni-guni niya lamang iyon.

©iKnowImNewbie