Song: Don't Give Up On Me- Andy Grammer 

Complete

Alisha already knows where to bring me after what happened at the supposed engagement party of Timothy and I.

I told her to drive as fast as she could so I can now talk to the most important people in my life and finally tell them that I can remember everything now.

Hindi ko na alam kung ano nang nangyari simula ng umalis ako. Thankfully, Xander is there to update us.

Timothy and Isabella is just out of my concern now. All I care about is Zach. Iniisip ko kung anong magiging reaksyon niya.

Tatanggapin niya kaya ako ulit?

Will he push me away just like I did to him before?

I sigh. That would be possible, right? I caused him pain. Sobrang sakit ng ipinaramdam ko sakanya noon. Kitang kita ko iyon sa mga mata niya.

I just hope that he accepts me again. Handa akong gawin ang lahat basta ba tanggapin niya ulit ako.

I shake my head and let out the negative thoughts in my head. Sa tingin ko napansin iyon ni Alisha.

"Nervous?" tanong niya. Walang pangaalinlangan akong tumango.

I saw her smile.

"Don't worry," her voice sounds reassuring. "I know he'll accept you again. I'm sure he can't wait to have you again. He loves you so much, Sam."

"But what if he already gave up?" I almost whispered. "What if the hope that's left in him is gone? P-Paano kung... ayaw niya na talaga?"

"Don't be ridiculous! You cannot give up on love that easily. I'm sure you still have a space in his heart. O baka nga ikaw parin ang nasa puso nun. Mahirap nang punan muli ang pusong nagmahal ng sobra."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at pinaglaruan nalang ang aking mga daliri.

I just can't help but think like this. Tandang tanda ko pa iyong naging huling usapan namin ni Zach. He looks like he's about to give up.

I can see that he's tired. He's tired of hoping.

"Paano kung... Paano kung naghanap na pala siya ng iba?"

Bahagya akong nilingon ni Alisha at tsaka kinunotan ng noo.

"That girl will have a hard time for sure."

"Bakit naman?"

"Mahirap nang punan ang pwesto mo sa puso ni Zach. Minahal ka nung tao ng sobra. Sigurado akong hindi na niya kaya pang higitan ang pagmamahal na binigay niya sa'yo."

I pressed my lips into a thin line. Sana talaga maging maayos ang pag-uusap namin. I want to make it all up to him.
"Don't worry. We're getting nearer. Makakausap mo rin siya."

Kahit papano napagaan noon ang loob ko. Knowing that I'll finally have the chance to talk to him again—a chance to finally take it all back—somehow makes me feel relieved.

I nod my head and waited until we arrived at our house.

I can still clearly remember how he surprised me with this house. Akala ko kung kaninong bahay na iyong pinuntahan namin, 'yun pala sa amin na iyon.

He's really that sure that he's going to spend the rest of his life with me. He planned everything ahead.

Handang-handa na siya para sa buhay naming dalawa.

Kaso nga, naudlot iyon. At kakaibang sakit pa ang dinanas niya nang dahil doon.

Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng sasakyan nang makarating na kami sa bahay. Hindi ko na hinintay pa na makababa si Alisha ng sasakyan.

I rushed to the door and knocked with all my might.

"Zach! Zach!" I called out. Kumatok pa akong muli.

Tila ba nabigo ako ng kaunti ng hindi si Zach ang sumalubong sa akin nang bumukas ang pinto. Ryan has a surprised and a confused look on his face. Kumunot ang kanyang noo.

"S-Sam?"

My lips quivered as I see my best friend again. The person who has been there with me from the beginning. He's seen me through my downfalls and yet, he never left my side.

"What are you-" he never had the chance to continue that because I already crashed him into a hug. I cried on his shoulders.

I was shaking so badly while hugging him. I miss them. I didn't know how much I missed them until now.

Hindi agad nakayakap pabalik si Ryan sa akin. Sa tingin ko nagugulohan parin siya sa nangyayari. Later on, I saw Tony approaching us. Inalis ko ang sarili sa pagkakayakap kay Ryan.

Mukhang nandito silang lahat ah? Nandito rin ba si Zach? Kung ganoon nasaan kaya siya?

"W-What's happening?" tanong ni Ryan. "Aren't you getting married soon?"

Napahawak ako sa aking bibig. They all think that I was getting married to that man huh? They thought that I gave up on Zach.

Humikbi ako at umiling.

"Hindi na matutuloy 'yon, Ryan..." I said. His forehead creased a little. Tumabi naman sakanya si Tony at tsaka kuryoso ring nakisali sa usapan.

"B-Bakit?" nangingilid na ang mga luha sa mata niya ngayon. Tony must've noticed it so he wrapped his arms around Ryan's shoulders.

"Kasi nakakaalala na ko..." I said in between my tears. "I remember everything now, Ryan. I've found out that they're lying to me."

Ryan pressed his lips into a thin line to stop his tears. Pero kahit na sinubukan niyang pigilang lumandas ito, hindi niya parin kinaya. Tears immediately started streaming down his face.

Mamaya maya pa ay unti-unti siyang napapangiti. Sa tingin ko nagdududa pa siya kung totoo ba ang sinasabi ko.

"Totoong naaalala ko na ang lahat, Ryan," I reassured him. "Ikaw 'yung manager ko diba nung nagsisimula palang ako sa modeling?"

Napapikit si Ryan at humagulhol na. Mas lumapad ang ngiti niya ngayon. Humakbang siya palapit sa akin at agad akong niyakap muli ng mahigpit.

"Oh, Sam..." his voice broke. "You don't know how much we've waited for this!"

"Me, too... Me, too..."

Nang inalis niya ang sarili mula sa pagkakayakap niya sa akin ay nag-aalala niya akong tiningnan. His eyes went to someone behind me. Namilog ang kanyang mga mata.

Nilingon ko rin si Alisha at nakitang tipid lang siyang nakangiti sa mag-asawa.

"She helped me with my plan. Hindi ako makaalis sakanila Timothy kung hindi rin dahil sa tulong niya."

"What happened to them? Hindi ba't-"

"I'll explain everything later. Right now, my concern is to know where's Zach. Kailangan ko siyang makausap. Andyan ba siya?"

Hindi agad sumagot si Ryan. He pursed his lips and turns to Tony. Napabaling rin ako ng tingin sakanya. I waited for him to answer.

He hesitated for a bit ngunit nang nakitang tinanguan siya ni Ryan ay nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga.

"Tell me!"

"He's at the airport." Tony said simply. My jaw dropped.

"What?! Saan siya pupunta?" medyo natataranta kong tinanong.

"He's going back to the States today. Ang sabi niya mas magfofocus nalang siya sa trabaho niya doon. He wanted to forget. Hindi na raw niya kayang manatili dito." Paliwanag ni Ryan.

My forehead creased. No... he can't leave! Kailangan ko pa siyang makausap! I still have a lot of explaining to do!

Agad na nangilid ang mga luha ko. Hindi ko siya pwedeng hayaan na umalis! I almost panicked. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong gawin.

"U-Uhm... saang airport siya? Anong oras flight niya?"

Tony checked the time on his wrist watch. "In one hour." Medyo malungkot niyang sinabi.

I was taken a back with that. In one hour?! Isang oras nalang ang natitira sa akin para habulin siya! How can they expect me to arrive at the airport in just one hour?!

"J-Just text me all the details after his flight," sabi ko at tsaka ibinigay sakanila Ryan ang numero ko. I need to throw this phone away soon. Pero ngayon, kailangan ko siya kaya hindi na muna.

"I'm going after him." I announced to them.

They both looked surprised. Tony looks taken a back while Ryan have his mouth opened.

"Pero baka di mon a siya maabutan! Kung magmamadali ka baka kung anong mangyari sa'yo!" nag-aalalang sinabi ni Ryan.

Umiling ako at hinawakan siya sa balikat.

"No. I'll be fine. I just really need to run back to him."

Nagdalawang isip si Ryan sa sinabi ko. Bakas sa mukha niya na hindi niya alam kung papayagan niya ba ako o hindi. He's scared that I might get into an accident again. I understand that he's just being careful.

I waited for his answer. Nakita niya siguro ang pagmamakaawa sa mukha ko kaya sa huli ay pumayag siya.

"Fine. Sasabihan ko rin siya na papunta ka."

Tumango ako at nginitian siya. "Thank you."

Hinarap kong muli si Alisha. I nod my head at her. Sabay kaming nagtungo sa kanyang sasakyan.

Nagdasal ako na sana maabutan pa namin si Zach. I couldn't let this day pass without talking to him. I just need to hear his voice again. I need to see him again.

Hindi ko maiwasang wag mag-panic habang patungo kami sa airport. I keep on looking out of the window. Sana lang talaga walang traffic ngayon!

Unfortunately, luck isn't on our side today. Kung kailan malapit na kami ay doon pa nagkaroon ng traffic! Marami bang aalis ngayon kaya ganito nalang ang traffic dito!?

"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath.

This is so frustrating! Kung kailan may hinahabol kaming oras, tsaka may ganito? What sorcery is this?!

"Sam, calm down..." ani Alisha.

"How?! Paano kung hindi ko siya maabutan? Paano kung nakaalis na siya? Alisha, I really need to talk to him. Hindi ko basta pwedeng palampasin ang araw na 'to nang hindi ko siya nakakausap!"

"I understand your frustration. But honestly, it won't help. Just relax. Ako ang bahala sa'yo. Aabot tayo." Her voice sounds so sincere that it's enough for me to trust her words.

I leaned back on my seat and sighed heavily. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at nagdasal muli.

Lord, please let our paths cross again...

Nang oras na makapasok na ang sasakyan ni Alisha sa airport ay hindi ko na siya hinintay pa na makapaghanap ng mapapagparkingan. I immediately opened the shutgun door and started running towards the departure area.

Muntikan na akong harangin ngunit nang sinabi ko na may kasama ako na nasa loob na ay agad rin naman akong hinayaan makapasok.

Ramdam ko ang paninitig ng mga tao sa akin. Some were even looking at me from head to toe. I know I'm not wearing the usual airport outfit. But I'm in a hurry! At tsaka galing ako sa sinira kong engagement party kaya ganito ang bihis ko!

Hindi ko nalang pinansin pa ang mga titig nila. Agad kong hinanap ang help desk. It was hard running in heels but that's least of my concern now.

"Hi. I just want to ask... nakaalis na ba ang flight PR 127?"

"Wait a minute, Ma'am." Aniya. May kung ano siyang tiningnan sa kanyang computer. Inangat niya muli ang tingin sa akin at agad akong nadismaya sa sinabi niya.

"Boarding na po in fifteen minutes, Ma'am."

My eyes widened. "What? Is there any chance that you can stop it? May kakilala kasi ako doon at kailangan na kailangan ko siyang makausap ngayon."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Wala po akong magagawa. Baka kasi po madelay na 'yung ibang flights kapag ginawa ko 'yon."

I let out an exaggerated sigh. "Can you just page a guy named Zachary Dela Merced? Tell him that someone's looking for him. Please..."

The lady looks hesitant. Nagugulohan siguro sa nangyayari.

"Please." I repeated.

Nang tumango siya ay agad akong lumakad palayo sa dati kong pwesto. I couldn't just wait until she paged Zach. Kailangan ko rin gumawa ng kilos.

I tried getting into the immigration area but the guards are quick enough to stop me.

"Ma'am, hindi po kayo pupwede dito."

"Pero, Kuya, may kailangan akong makausap! My boyfriend is inside! I need to talk to him."

"Ma'am, kung may problema kayo ng kasintahan mo, wag na po kayo gumawa ng eskandalo dito."

Kinunotan ko ang gwardya ng noo. Anong eskandalo? Hindi ko naman aawayin si Zach para gumawa ako ng eskandalo dito. Nagmamakaawa lang ako sakanila na papasukin ako kasi kailangan na kailangan kong makausap si Zach!

"Kuya, please! Importante 'to!"

"Ma'am, we are just following our protocol. Hindi po talaga pwede. At isa pa, wala ho kayong ticket. Paano namin kayo papapasukin?"

"Edi bibili ako!"

"Ma'am, please... marami na pong naantalang pasahero."

"Kuya, please rin... just let me!"

"Hindi po talaga pwede-" hindi na niya naituloy pa ang kanyang sinasabi dahil sinigaw ko na ang pangalan ni Zach.

"Zach! I'm here! Please talk to me! Please!"

Naging alerto ang ibang gwardya. Kaya dinaluhan nila ang kapwa gwardya na kanina pa ako pinipigilan.

"Ma'am, hindi ka pwede dito!" pagalit na sinabi ng isa. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Pero kahit na ganoon ay hindi parin ako tumigil sa pag-sigaw.

"Zach! Zach! Zach!"

Sa kasisigaw ko ay napilitan ang mga gwardya na paalisin ako sa immigration. People are now looking at our way. Iniisip siguro nila na baliw ba ako at bakit ako nakapasok dito sa airport.

They dragged me back to the entrance.

"Hindi pwede, Kuya! Paalis na 'yon! Kailangan ko siyang makausap."

Umiling siya at hindi ako pinagbigyan. "Ma'am, alis nalang po kayo. Marami pong naiistorbo."

"Kuya, please-"

"Ma'am, sorry po talaga..."

Pumikit ako. I cursed softly. So, ano paano na? Paalis na siya. Hindi ko na siya makakausap!

I'm slowly losing hope that I would still see him. His flight is probably on board now and I can't do anything about it anymore. He's just so ready to leave.

Should I book a flight? Should I... should I... Oh gosh! I don't know what else to do! My mind is blank!

I slumped down on the floor, in front of a lot of people who probably thinks I'm crazy. But they couldn't care less, right? Because all that they think about is their flight and not on some girl who's crying vecause the love of her life just left her for good.

I broke down in tears because I couldn't handle it anymore. Everything's crashing down on me and I can feel the weight of it.

Kung kailan naman nakakaalala na ako, tsaka pa siya aalis...

I covered my mouth with my hand to stop my loud cries but I can't.

"I'm so sorry, Zach... I'm so sorry..." I whispered to myself.

I continued to cry. Hindi ko na iniisip pa kung mukha na ba akong tanga o kung pinagtitinginan parin ako ng maraming tao.

I am in pain!

Nagpatuloy ako sa pag-iyak. Alam kong walang maitutulong sa akin ito pero wala na akong ibang maisip na gawin. Sinubukan ko naman, e. Pero wala. Paalis parin siya ngayon.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Zach..." I repeated and repeated until I hear a familiar voice behind my back.

"What are you sorry for?"

It feels like my whole world stops when I heard his voice again. I wiped my tears aways and I slowly went up to my knees.

Did I really hear that right? Is it really his voice? Or am I hallucinating?

"What are you sorry for huh? Sam?" his voice broke a bit.

I think my breathing hitched when I heard his voice again. It feels good to hear him say my name again. I smiled despite the tears in my eyes.

He didn't leave the country after all.

Nilingon ko siya at hindi naiwasang maluha muli. Tears are falling down on my face non-stop.

"Zach..." I called out his name. I tried to catch my breath after crying so much.

A small smile appeared on his lips. "So you're coming back to me now huh?"

Mabilis na bumuhos muli ang mga luha ko. I shake my head as I ran to him and crashed him into a hug. I cried in his arms. Again. Just like what I do when we are still together.

I cried for the months that we lost.

I cried for the pain that I've given him.

I cried for the treatment that he got from me, when all he ever did was to tell me the truth.

"I am so sorry..." I whispered.

Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga at tsaka ako niyakap ng mahigpit. I felt his tear fell on my arm.

He kissed the side of my head.

"I miss you." He whispered on my ear.

Ngumiti ako at mas niyakap pa siya ng mahigpit. And this is all it took to make me feel complete again.