Work Text:
Colet awoke from the bright shades of the sun touching her face, she groaned in annoyance. She looked over to her side to scold her girlfriend but she found no one.
Baka maaga ang pasok sa trabaho
She stood up from the bed and folded the sheets neatly and stacked up the pillows.
She heaved a sigh of relief when spotted her girlfriend in their kitchen making breakfast.
“Hey, you’re awake na pala” Aiah greeted her with a wide smile before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Ang dami mo namang luto na breakfast, sinapian ka ba?” Colet teased her, Aiah rolled her eyes playfully. She snuggled close to Colet, trapping the latter in her arms as they also embraced the silence in between.
“Ayaw ko kasi na nagugutom ka” Aiah told her “How was your sleep, ga?” Aiah asked her, “I slept well. Muntik lang pumangit gising ko noong hindi kita mahanap sa tabi ko” Colet smiled, peeking through her lover's face.
“Eh Ikaw, bakit sobrang aga mo gumising eh weekends naman, usually tanghali ka na gumigising” Colet asked.
Aiah stared at her “I’m excited” Colet raised a brow “Excited ka saan?” Aiah gave her a huge smile “To go sa church”
“I’m excited to tell him about you, Langga” Aiah said.
—
The ambiance of the restaurant was classy, Aiah loved that. It was a busy sunday, after the church mass they attended earlier they drove off to catch their reservation.
A lot of people are dining in and the servers are occupied. The sound of the utensils clanking against the plate towered over the voices of the conversations shared by the individuals inside.
They were seated in the middle of the crowd, at a table for two.
"When did this place become a lot colder than before" Aiah comments while she brushes her hands through her arms. She was wearing a black fitted dress.
Colet looked at her softly before removing her black blazer, she stood up from her seat and carefully wrapped it around Aiah's shoulder.
"I was wearing this for a reason" Colet smiled at her. The latter was wearing a black turtleneck paired with jeans and a blazer which she handed to Colet a while ago.
The waiter then served their food and he also proceeded to fill their glasses with red wine.
Aiah was about to start peeling shrimps but Colet stopped her. “Langga, Ako na, you had your nails done kahapon right?”
Colet started peeling shrimps for Aiah, the latter stared at her with much adoration in her eyes.
“Do you remember my best friend?” Colet asks her “The one in Lisbon?” Aiah responded.
“Yeah” Colet nodded, “I remember her, Why? Is she coming home?” Aiah took a sip of the wine in her glass. “No, pero she’s inviting me sa kasal nila ng girlfriend niya sa New Zealand”
“Wow, congrats pasabi, and you can go, I can manage..” Aiah sounded unsure, Colet teasingly smiled at her “Kaya mo na wala ako?”
“It’s just for a few days” Aiah said, “Do you remember when I needed to go on a business trip in Japan for two days and you called me crying because you missed me?” Colet reminded her.
Aiah shuts her eyes out of embarrassment. She was drunk, and when Aiah is drunk she usually needed Colet’s warmth but the latter was in Japan, the only thing she could do was call her and complain.
“Huwag mo na ipaalala, Shux, I was like a kid na nawawala sa mall with how I bawled” Colet laughed, “You don’t have to miss me kasi she wants me bring you as my date”
“Okay. I’ll file for a leave, But where do we leave our kids when we fly out?” Aiah asked her.
“May mga anak tayo?” Colet was a little confused. “Yeah, si Ling and Paning? Our cats, our kids.” Aiah replied.
“Oh…Our kids...I like the sound of that”
—
After the dinner they left the restaurant with their hands intertwined, Aiah was still wearing Colet's blazer. The wind outside was even colder than the air condition inside the restaurant. They finally reached the parking lot where Colet parked her car.
Before Aiah could open the car door, Colet already beat her to it.
"Thank you" Colet had always been a gentlewoman, she's careful around Aiah.
She treats Aiah like a fragile glass and she will never let her break into pieces. She holds onto her like her life depended on it.
"Are we gonna go home and watch a movie or you still plan on going somewhere?" Aiah asked Colet when the latter was already seated on the driver's seat.
"I'm going to take you somewhere first..." Colet paused and went near Aiah. She was too close so Aiah grabbed the chance to steal a peck on Colet's soft and warm lips.
Before she could even register what just happened Aiah already had her arm around her neck and drew her in, her hands running through Colet’s hair, crashing their lips for the second time.
"I was gonna put your seatbelt on, but that was amazing" Colet comments, a sly smile forming in her lips. Aiah blushed and laughed it off.
Aiah loved looking outside the window while watching the cars move while listening to Same Ground.
“Alam mo, langga, nagugulat pa din ako everytime I remember na you listen to Kitchie Nadal”
“Hindi ko ba branding?” Aiah asked, Colet nodded while laughing.
Colet loved staring at Aiah everytime the traffic lights turned red. It was dark in the road but she could clearly see the reflection of the stars on Aiah's eyes. She could clearly see her smile that was brighter than the sun.
She can see Aiah clearly even when it's dark.
Aiah was all she could ever see.
"I love you," says Colet.
"I love you too," Aiah replied and moved close to give her a kiss on the forehead.
Under the red lights, were two people whose heart was content.
This was the kind of love they would keep.
The car ride took half an hour before they arrived at the said place. Aiah saw the city lights from the top of a hill.
“Ang ganda” Aiah exclaimed while looking around the place. She closed her eyes feeling the cold breeze touch her skin.
Colet smiled, her eyes glued to Aiah, “Talagang maganda”
Colet allowed her girlfriend to stare at the city lights longer than she planned to, She just loves to see the calm and content smile from Aiah.
It warms her heart, It makes her feel things she couldn’t explain.
Aiah looked back and she caught sight of Colet staring at her while smiling.
She smiled back. Aiah walks back to Colet “I love it here” She told her.
"Can I cover your eyes? I have something for you" Colet asked her.
"Talaga?" Aiah closed her eyes as Colet requested.
Colet covered Aiah’s eyes carefully with one hand while she used the other to hold Aiah's hands.
They took a few steps around before stopping "Okay, you can now open your eyes" As if on cue the lights around the garden of daisies turned on.
Aiah found herself tearing up. It was beautiful. Colet knows how much Aiah loved flowers, so she took her time decorating the garden.
She walked in the middle of the garden admiring the flowers while Colet followed behind, hand in her pocket, admiring the girl in front of her.
"Oh my god" Aiah exclaimed.
"You’re as beautiful as these flowers—no, you’re the most beautiful one," Colet uttered with so much admiration in her eyes.
"You’re the love of my life, Aiah" Colet held her hands as she said those words.
"I never forget to thank him kasi he gave his most precious angel to me” She continued
“I love you” Aiah muttered, cupping Colet’s face with both her hands.
"I love you too, Langga. I see my life with you”
—
“There she is,” Colet waved her hand when she saw her friend.
“You guys made it!” Mikha, Colet’s friend, greeted them.
“You must be the girlfriend, I’m Mikha” She turned to the taller girl beside Colet.
“I’m Aiah. Congratulations on your wedding”
“Thank you, I’m really glad you guys are here to witness it” Mikha replied joyfully
“Good luck! I’m so happy for you” Colet encouraged her friend, patting her back before she and Aiah went to take their seats.
“Ga, alam mo ba, kahit si Mikha ‘yung nag aantay sa altar, hindi siya ‘ang nag propose” Colet whispered “Well that’s cute” Aiah replied.
“And alam mo ba, Mikha told me her girl didn’t believe in marriage, tapos nagulat nalang daw siya nung fourth anniversary nila niyaya siyang magpakasal”
Aiah and Colet turned back when they noticed the guests looking behind.
“Bagay na bagay talaga sila ni Mikha” Colet commented, as the bride made her way to the altar.
“Right?” She looked beside her asking for confirmation. Colet found Aiah frozen in shock. She couldn’t read the expressions on her face.
“Ga?” Colet called out to her.
Aiah couldn’t hear her, It’s like she lost all her senses the moment she recognized the bride.
Because the woman walking down the aisle was Maloi Ricalde.
The same woman Aiah proposed to, seven years ago.
The same woman who told her she doesn’t believe in marriage.
The same woman who told her she doesn’t see herself get married.
The same woman who told her she’ll never change her mind.
The same woman who tore her heart into pieces, is walking down the aisle to get married to someone else.
Okay na ako eh
Tangina naman, bakit ngayon pa
Bakit sa ganitong pagkakataon pa
—
Colet followed Aiah who immediately walked out of the church after the ceremony was finished. She followed her quietly, not uttering a word.
Aiah was quiet the whole ceremony, when everybody clapped, she didn’t. She looked so absent minded the whole time.
“Okay ka lang ba?” Colet carefully asked her, her hands caressing Aiah’s shoulder.
“Ga? What happened?” Aiah couldn’t bring herself to look at Colet “I’m going to take a nap, pagod lang ako” Aiah said, closing the bedroom door before Colet could respond.
The tears she’s been keeping in started to roll down her cheeks.
As she walked down the aisle, Aiah met her gaze, and it has been a long time since she last saw her. But she could still read her like before.
Maloi looked a bit surprised seeing her there but she eventually turned her head to look at Mikha, giving her a huge smile.
Aiah was at the side, looking at her.
“I’m sorry…” Maloi carefully laid out those two words, but even so, Aiah's world was still shattered into pieces.
“I don’t see myself getting married, I don’t believe in marriages,” She paused. “I already told you that…right?”
“But…I thought I was changing your mind” Aiah said quietly, she avoided looking at Maloi. She didn’t want to see the look on her face because it breaks her heart even more.
“I’ll never change my mind.”
“Ang daya mo, Ang daya mo, Maloi” Aiah muttered between her cries, “You were persistent with your choice noon. And I was already fine without you” She broke down on the floor.
"But why does it hurt this much?"
And Colet was at the other side of the door, listening to her, covering her mouth so Aiah couldn’t hear her muffled cry.
—
Colet called in sick on work, she wasn’t in the right state of mind to go back to work. It wasn’t just the jet lag but the uneasy feeling inside her heart.
She woke up finding no signs of Aiah beside her but the lingering smell of her strawberry perfume. She took her phone from the nightstand to check her inbox, and there she saw three text messages from Aiah.
I went to work early. I didn't wake you up because you looked tired.
I made you breakfast, you can heat it up in the microwave. I also packed your lunch na, don't skip meals.
I'm at work na po ga. Let me know if gising ka na, I love you.
She took a deep breath. She doesn’t feel so good. What happened back in New Zealand still bothers her.
She thought of cleaning the house so she can get her mind off things, and maybe clean out the stock room so she and Aiah can turn it into their mini art room, One they've been raving about for the past few months.
She took out the first few boxes, there weren't any useful things in there so she just put it on the side to throw it away later.
Colet’s eyes landed on an artwork on the corner. It was a portrait of Aiah drawn with a yellow pencil and crayon. A name written at the bottom of the portrait,
by Maloi Ricalde.
Beside the portrait was a box, it looked old. She took it out, planning to throw it away. Only when she looked closer did she see the note written on the far corner of the box.
I don't see the reason for me to keep these, I'm sorry.
- Maloi Ricalde
The box was addressed back to Aiah.
Her heart started to race, Cold sweat started drenching her face. She suddenly felt nervous and scared to open the box. But curiosity took over her. At the back of her mind she silently prays it wouldn't be the old photos of Aiah and Maloi.
The box contained a lot of papers in different colors and a few photographs.
A picture of Aiah holding Maloi in her waist while they make their way inside a house.
At the back of the photo there she found Aiah’s penmanship.
‘Mama took this picture of us when we had dinner outside to celebrate her birthday. Don’t drink too much next time kahit pilitin ka pa ni Dad’
There was also a photograph of Aiah inside her car with Maloi in the passenger's seat, they looked like they were having a karaoke showdown inside the car.
Written at the back was, ‘happy 3rd anniversary my favorite kitchie nadal enjoyer, ikaw ang favorite kong passenger princess forever’
And there were also a bunch of sticky notes.
‘Good luck on your exams today, Lucky!
Let’s eat fishball after class, I’ll wait for you. ‘
‘Hi! I made a mixtape of all the songs that you listen to since I noticed na nawawala ‘yung sa’yo. I might’ve missed a few ones but these were the ones I remembered na kinakanta or pinapakinggan mo. I hope you like it :)’
‘I cooked you breakfast kasi alam kong wala ka na naman time to make one. Please don’t skip meals :(‘
‘Good morning, Mahal. I left for school na and I didn’t wake you up because you looked so pretty in the morning. May breakfast na sa kitchen, eat ka ha, I love you.’
‘Hi, Mahal! First day mo sa work today, I packed you lunch, sorry hindi kita mahahatid kasi bigla akong pinatawag sa work. Ingat ka, I love you.’
‘I love seeing the enthusiasm in your eyes
I love seeing your eyes twinkle in excitement
I just love everything about you
I love you, Maloi'
“Tanginang sticky notes ‘to, naiinggit ako” Colet laughed bitterly as she said those words, she bit her lip afterwards trying to stop her tears from flowing.
And there was a small box beneath the papers with a sticky note attached on it.
'I know you said no but everything in this box was for you. You left the letters I wrote you before and the ring is yours. My mom told me to give it to someone I'd love until my last breath and that's you. I know you said someone else would treat me better. But my heart is yours. This ring belongs to you, Maloi'
"Ga? I'm home, Are you finished na ba or—" Aiah paused when she saw Colet holding the small box, and the other box that was sent back to her.
Colet stood frozen in her place. Her cries filled the whole room.
Aiah took careful steps to approach her and massaged her shoulders slowly trying to calm her down.
"Akin na, Itapon na natin 'yan "
Itapon.
Itatapon.
That was the first thing Aiah had thought.
That was the choice Aiah had made.
It didn’t help the fact that she’s avoiding to look at Colet.
Aiah turned her back slowly and was about to make her way out of the room, until Colet said something that made her stop.
"Am I not deserving of that ring?"
—
An uncomfortable silence engulfed the table on the corner of the coffee shop below their apartment.
The last time Aiah had seen Colet was three days ago, Colet left their apartment as soon as the question was asked. Aiah couldn’t respond easily, only then when Colet walked out the front door she realized what her mistake was. She ran to follow her out but she couldn’t find her there anymore.
"Hindi mo sinabi na you proposed to her" Colet started, taking a sip from her coffee.
Aiah looked at her, she looked down at her feet before she started speaking "When she said no, I felt rejected, I felt so little, that's why I never spoke of it, I didn't want to remember it.”
“Bakit kayo nag break?” Colet asked. She knows whatever Aiah’s answer is it would break her heart, but she doesn’t want to overthink, she’d rather have the truth served than continue to eat up the uncertainties.
“We were on the verge of breaking up when I proposed to her, I thought it would save us, She said I was doing too much sa relationship that she felt like I was being unfair to myself, She doesn’t want to stay with me knowing I make all the adjustments so our goals would stay the same” Colet studies Aiah’s face while she was answering her question.
“I heard you” Aiah looked at Colet with a confused expression “Heard me?”
“Back in New Zealand, I heard you crying, I was at the other side of the door”
Aiah fished her phone out of her pocket as the elevator was going up to her floor. She looked at her inbox hoping to have received a message from Colet.
It has been two weeks since their talk in the coffee shop. It has been two weeks since Colet had asked for a week to think and process everything she just found out. It has been two weeks but still no sign of her, the messages Aiah had sent remained unread.
She misses waking up to Colet's adorable snort, She misses making her breakfast while arranging her lunch box.
She misses Colet's loud voice. She misses the smell of her hair when she's snuggling close to her.
Her lips formed into a small smile when she saw the door was unlocked, Colet was probably inside, No one had the keys to their apartment except for them.
Before she could reach for the door, Colet came out of it.
She flashed her a smile which disappeared as soon as Aiah had seen the bags on her hand. "What's going on? What with the bags?"
"I'm sorry Aiah, I can't do this" Colet said, her eyes fixed on the floor. She didn’t want to see Aiah cry. "Please don't leave me," Aiah pleaded.
She went down on both knees, tears streaming down her face. She reached out to hold Colet's hand.
She begged her like it was the end of the world, She held her hands like she never wanted to let it go.
"Please don't leave me, I'm begging you, I don't want to lose you, I love you, Colet" She repeated as she cried, as she kissed the back of Colet’s palm.
"I love you so much" Aiah said looking at Colet, her eyes begging her not to leave.
"Do you love her?" Colet asked, almost inaudible.
Aiah stood up, she cupped Colet’s face and looked her in the eye "You're the one I love Colet"
Colet shuts her eyes tight, "Do you love her?" Colet repeated
"I love you, Colet, Ikaw ang mahal ko" Aiah hugged her tight, “Do you love her?” Colet asked her in a whisper, pleading for an answer to her question.
“I love you so much, please don’t leave me now” Aiah replied as she planted a kiss on the side of Colet’s forehead. “I love you” She repeated.
Colet stepped away, pulling away from Aiah. "Is it that hard to say no?"
Maybe it would've been easier if Colet had not asked.
END.