Work Text:
What happens if two exes meet again?
It was a wednesday morning when Jhoanna’s phone receive a notification from their group chat
“Guys umuwi na sila Mikhs at Stacey galing us, maybe it’s time to meet na at reunion naman”
“True beach nalang tayo this coming weekend, just free your schedule guys”
“Tingnan ko guys, if I can file a leave” Jho replied
“Ako rin” It was Aiah
“Hello guys, nag plan na din kami ni stacey talaga to arrange a trip for all of us La union tayo this coming weekend so please free your schedule talaga, Thank you” Mikha said
Jhoanna don’t want to disappoint her friends din, Stacey is her closest among all of them matagal na din talaga sila hindi nagkita so she has no choice to say
“Sige, I’ll free my schedule”
Jhoanna got up and headed outside her bedroom, bambi her dog welcome her while wiggling her tail
“Hello bambi my baby, I’ll feed you na okay” While petting her
Jhoanna wonders what will happen this coming weekend with her friends, knowing pa naman mga yun ang wild pag nalalasing
-
Aiah was sitting in her swivel chair while contemplating everything, including their upcoming weekend reunion with her friends and her ex, Jhoanna. Aiah had already moved on, or so she thought, but every time she sees Jhoanna’s name or face, everything goes back to zero.
2 years had already passed when that night happened, where they thought everything was perfect in their relationship but failed to notice that it was falling apart slowly. Their work and other duties got in the way; they are drifting away slowly from each other. Even though it was a mutual decision, it was still painful because Jhoanna was her everything.
“How can I face you Jho without showing you how much I miss you?” Aiah said to herself.
Aiah don’t know, Jhoanna feels the same
-
It was friday afternoon when Jhoanna decides to buy something for her apartment and for her upcoming trip with her friends, Jhoanna was in a halt while looking for a product when someone bumps her cart she immediately look at the person
“I’m sorry, I did not see your cart”
“Aiah?”
“Jho?”
Aiah and Jho’s heartbeat is in a frenzy, who would have thought when a friday afternoon doing some random grocery and you’ll bump with your ex that you still have strong feelings with
“I’m really sorry talaga Jho, I did not notice your cart I was busy on my phone kasi, you know work stuff”
“It’s okay Aiah, my cart was in a way din kasi so it’s partially my fault din”
Aiah was caught off guard because knowing Jho she’s not the kind of person who admits her mistake, so maybe it was new to her.
“Well come on Aiah, it’s been what? 2 years a lot can change” She thought
“Thank you Jho”
Silence envelopes them until Jhoanna broke it
“I’m going na Aiah, I have a lot of stuff to buy pa eh”
“Oh okay Jho, take care”
“You too Aiah” Jho replied but before going in their separate ways Jho speak again “Aiah wait”
“Hmm?”
“Uhm are you going this coming weekend with us, you know sa la union?”
“Uh yes, my leave got approved na”
“Oh okay, so I'll see you tomorrow then?” Jho ask nervously
There goes again, Aiah’s heart was beating like crazy.
“Uh..yes see you Jho” Aiah smiled at her
“See you kins”
Aiah misses that, “Kins” that’s her. Jhoanna calls her kins and she made that, it’s beautiful to hear it again coming from her mouth
-
That grocery encounter puts Jho in a situation where she cannot think straight because seeing Aiah again after their breakup brings back a lot of feelings and memories that she tried to bury, but sino ang niloloko niya? How can you forget someone with whom you made plans and shared everything? It’s not that easy to forget someone who gives you a lot of memories.
“Bambi parang sasabog na yung ulo bat kasi apaka ganda niya” She laughs while talking to her dog “alam mo ba bambi nung nakita ko siya parang gusto ko ulit sumugal ang hirap niya kasi kalimutan pero natatakot ako na baka di mag work ulit, or baka mahirap ulit kami” Jho said bitterly “baka nga meron na siyang iba eh”
Sa ganda ba naman ni Aiah, maraming nagkakagusto sa kanya habang sila pa nga noon eh madaming ang naka abang
-
Aiah was also in the same situation with Jhoanna after that grocery encounter, everything was coming back including the pain from that breakup even if it was a mutual decision
“Honey, do you think it’s right na nag hiwalay kami?” Aiah asking her dog kahit alam naman niyang hindi eto sumasagot naka tingin lang eto sa kanya they are both laying in her bed
“Some part of me still have questions and regrets kasi until now si Jho parin talaga” Aiah sighs
“No matter how I try, Jho still got my heart”
-
Weekend came, which means it’s time for their reunion. A van will pick them up door to door; the first ones to be picked up were Mikha and Stacey because they’re the ones who rent it; next were Maloi and Colet because they’re living together; then Sheena and Gwen were sitting next to each other, so the remaining seats were in the back.
The last one to be picked up was Jhoanna the door opens revealing her friends
“Hii Jhoooo” sigaw ni sheena
“Jhoooooo i miss you” stacey exclaimed
Her friends were so excited to see her, kita naman and then she noticed someone staring at her. It was Aiah. Still beautiful as ever. Brown hair, sparkling eyes and that million dollar smile.
“Hello guys, pasok muna ako ha ingay niyo naman”
The only available seat was next to Aiah
“Jho sa likod nalang yung bakante na seat, tabi nalang kayo ni ate Aiah”
Jho is thankful with their friends because when they knew that Her and Aiah broke up, they never make it awkward every time they have a group hangout; they understand the situation.
“Hi Aiah, tabi tayo ha” Lambing na sabi ni Jho
“Hello Jho, yeah sure other seats are taken na eh” natatawang sabi ni Aiah
“Eh kasi naman tong mga friends natin di rin mapaghiwalay eh”
The conversation was not awkward, hindi rin naman kasi pangit yung pag hihiwalay nila kaya no bad blood din talaga.
The whole ride was full of talks and reminisce of their memories together when their were still in college and before everything turns into “busy sa work” “may meeting kami niyan eh” “naku di ako pwede meron akong conference niyan” looking back to those moments napapangiti nalang si Jhoanna
“Ingay parin nila noh?” Tumingin naman agad si Jho sa nagsasalita
“Oo nga eh, si sheena apaka ingay parin tas si stacey sobrang arte”
“Nakakamiss din pala to, sobrang busy na din kasi talaga natin”
It was one the reason din nga why we decide to stop
“Oo nga eh, buti nalang talaga nangyari to breather din to for me sobrang stress sa work” Jho replied
-
Aiah don’t want Jhoanna to notice that she’s nervous as hell sitting beside her, she noticed her smell it was the kind of smell that Aiah loves, she remembers she gift this perfume to Jhoanna
“she still used it pala” Aiah thought
Aiah notices that Jhoanna was fighting her drowsiness, so she helps Jhoanna by guiding her head to her shoulders. Their friends didn't notice it because they were sitting at the back.
-
It was a long ride, but thankfully they arrived safe at La Union. Mikha and Stacey are in charge of their room arrangement. Jhoanna and Aiah were the only ones who has separate rooms, their friends are very understanding they don’t want to make it awkward between the two of them
“Guys its early pa naman, we have our rooms na pahinga muna tayo and let’s meet nalang later for lunch” Mikha said to the group
So everyone was heading to their respective rooms na, Aiah and Jhoanna’s room are beside each other so sabay silang pumunta doon
-
“Let me carry your bag Aiah”
“It’s okay Jho, I can manage naman”
But Jho being Jho gusto niya talaga siya yung nagdadala ng bag nila nung sila pa
“I know Aiah but I insist bigat kaya neto oh” Jhoanna teased her
Oh how she missed it
“Sige na nga, ikaw talaga ayaw parin magpatalo”
“Di mo sure” Sabi naman ni Jhoanna while sticking her tounge out
-
Sometimes breakups happen for different kinds of reasons; their breakup was not the kind of breakup that you wished you never met that person or regret that the two of you had. Their breakup was the kind of breakup that you wished you fought so hard to keep it going, no matter what the consequences are, but you also both know that you needed that breakup to grow and to mature. It was a mutual decision, but why is it so painful? Maybe because mutual breakups lead you to think that you can do better, that you can still give more to that person, but it is just a matter of time, so all you can do is wait until the two of you meet again, and only you can hope that maybe it is now the right time for that.
-
The group of friends are currently eating silently in the resort's restaurant, they are in a long table and Jhoanna and Aiah are sitting in front of each other. Their friends noticed that the two of them are stealing glances, if hindi naka tingin si Jho naka tingin naman si Aiah, if hindi naman nakatingin si Aiah si Jho naman yung nakatingin.
Sheena broke the silince by asking Jho a question
“So ate Jho balita ko sa mutual friend natin na may ka date ka daw”
Jhoanna choke on her food because of sheena’s question
“Ah eh..it was a group dinner she, our boss treat us sadyang kami nalang dalawa yung naiwan nalasing na kasi yung iba at yung iba naman nag cr” Jhoanna said nervously
“Okay, akala ko meron na eh” Natatawa namang sagot ni Sheena
-
When Aiah hears Sheena’s question to Jho parang may kung anong tumusok sa puso niya, hindi naman siya magtataka if Jhoanna already moved on. Jhoanna has all the qualities for a perfect partner hindi siya magtataka kung meron na siyang dinedate na iba.
“Ah eh..it was a group dinner she, our boss treat us sadyang kami nalang dalawa yung naiwan nalasing na kasi yung iba at yung iba naman nag cr”
Biglang nakahinga ng maluwag si Aiah sa sagot ni Jhoanna, her heart wants to jump in joy na parang gustong kumawala sa sobrang saya, she thought she’s too late.
“Ikaw ate Aiah, kumusta na kayo nung ka trabaho mo?” bigla namang na ubo si Aiah but Jho quickly hands her water
“Ha? Meron ba?”
“Oo yung chinika mo sa amin na after your break up meron nagpaparamdam na ka work mo” Sabi naman ni Maloi
“Ah yun, hindi ko naman inintertain yun but he was to pushy kaya tinatanggap ko nalang yung binibigay niya but ngayon hindi na napagod na siguro” natatawang sagot ni Aiah and she look at Jho surprisingly Jho is already looking at her with her eyes glistening na para bang iiyak
-
Matapos nilang mag lunch they decided to take a swim in the beach and doing some activities, they rode the banana boat, nag parasailing sila and yung underwater activity kung saan nakikita nila yung mga isda at nahahawakan. It was so tiring na they went to their respective rooms to rest before meeting again for a bonfire in the evening.
-
Everyone was busy grilling their marshmallows, they were making their own smores.
Gwen surprises everyone when she opens her mouth “Alam niyo sobrang namiss ko eto, we are so busy to the point we forgot to meet up. I know it’s far from college kasi we have our own responsibilities na and all but oh how I wish we can do more often just to breathe from everything because it’s different when we got together eh”
“Nagpapaiyak ka naman bebe eh, pero true totoo naman gusto ko madalas natin tong magawa kasi iba pag tayong walo magkasama eh, yes ate Maloi got ate Colet, Stacey have Sikha tas ako at si bebe, tas si Jho ay Jho tas si ate Aiah ay Aiah”
Everyone laughs including Jho and Aiah they are now looking at each other
“Even though busy tayo natutuwa parin ako kasi whenever we have time na inline sa schedule natin parang default na dapat tayong walo magkakasama nun” Sabi naman ni Colet
“You know what’s lacking to these conversation?” sabat naman ni Mikha “Alcohol, good thing nasa cooler”
Everyone leaps in joy when Mikha mentions alcohol
“Jusko po” sabay namang sabi ni Jhoanna and Aiah
-
FLASHBACK
“ How can we help the two of them?” stacey asked
“Alam naman nating mahal na mahal pa nila yung isa’t isa eh” sabi naman ni sheena
“Need lang talaga nila mag usap dalawa” Colet told the group
“So how can we help them nga?”
“Simple mag iinom tayo” natatawang sabi ni maloi
“We know naman na the two of them they are responsible drinkers eh so hindi yun malalasing while tayo? Never mind” Sheena said sarcastically
“We can leave them by saying na lasing na partners natin, we know that the two of them loves to stay longer than we are, the two of them are the epitome of peace and quiet so I know na gusto muna nila magpa iwan” Mikha said
“Kaya sayo ako babi eh, pakiss nga” humalik naman si stacey sa pisngi ni Mikha
END OF FLASHBACk
Everyone was slowly getting drunk, thankfully their partners were already guiding them to their rooms to rest, so it left Jhoanna and Aiah in the bonfire.
“Sobrang wild pa din talaga nila” Jhoanna said breaking the silence between the two of them
They are now facing each other, the gap was not that big that they could hear each other's heavy breaths.
“Oo nga eh, I remember back in college na tayo talaga yung naiiwan sa inuman kasi once we feel na parang hilo na pass agad”
“Kaya nga eh, I could say na we are the responsible ones?” Jhoanna said sarcastically
“Sus hindi rin lakas mo rin kaya uminom minsan nung ta-
Bigla namang natigilan si Aiah sa sasabihin niya
“I mean nung college pa” hiya naman pagtuloy ni Aiah
“Aiah”
“Yes Jho?”
“Do you regret everything when you were still with me?”
The air’s getting thicker and thicker, Aiah slowly feeling the alcohol in her system
“Why do you ask that kind of question Jho?”
Aiah can hear Jhoanna’s heavy breathing and sigh before answering her
“ because i’m still hoping kins”
Aiah’s eyes widened in Jho’s confession, she did not expect this kind of confession from Jho, knowing her she likes to keep everything to herself.
“Jho..I”
“Let me finish kins”
Aiah nodded
“To be honest, I don’t really know how to start, eh. I’ve been preparing myself for this if ever I get the chance to explain and apologize to you kins” Jhoanna said nervously
Aiah can feel that Jhoanna was so nervous she saw it in her face
“We have all night, Jho”
-
“Do you remember when I was slowly drifting away from you?”
Aiah remembers it all too well, that phase in their relationship was like a time bomb that is ticking to its ending; it was just a matter of time before it exploded.
“Yes” Aiah said bitterly
“I was drowning in kins, the work, the pressure, all of it. It was coming all at once at me. I know I have you, and I was not alone, but I was thinking about you also; you’re perfect, and you handle yourself well and gracefully. I’m afraid if I tell you what’s been bothering me you will lose yourself also, I cannot do that to you” I can see the tears that swelling up to the side of Jho’s eyes “My boss keep shouting at me on how my work are not cutting up to his expectations, the pressure of finishing one project so I can work on another immediately” Jho tears are already streaming to her face “I have you but something was stopping me to be comforted by you, to be vulnerable” Jho wipes her tears away “I apologize for trying so hard to be strong for you kins, I want to be strong for us because I know you need me, and that was my fault because, I’m scared that I’ll pull our relationship into its downfall if I will show my vulnerability”
I was shocked when I heard Jho’s confession to me—how heavy it was. How can she handle all of it? but at the same time, I was hurt not because we decided to end it but because of how many years together she’s still afraid of showing her weakness to me.
“You know what really hurt me the most, Jho? I know something was wrong; we’ve been together long enough to know you so well, Jho, from head to toe, but after all of those years you’re still not opening your problems enough to me.” I can’t stop my tears from streaming down to my face; I'm crying like a baby. “I'm hurting also, Jho, not because of my work but because the love of my life is pushing me away.” I was sobbing so hard “I’m trying also to understand everything but tao rin naman ako Jho, ilang months tayong ganun yung set up, everytime you came home from work we only interact pag kakain na, in bed sobrang layo mo. I can’t reach you”
That’s when Aiah knew it's time for her to let her go
“I know kins, and I apologized; I know it was a mutual decision that we needed to make; let each other go to have our own peace and growth.” Jho was sobbing also, “But I regret agreeing to that decision, kins but I know that’s what we need; seeing you in that state because of me was already painful enough.” Tears are falling so hard on her shirt. "My weakness is you, kins, I can’t stand seeing you hurt because of me. So I had to agree.”
“Jho, I would understand everything if you just opened up to me. You’re my partner we promise to do life together, I was alone and broken Jho we needed each other but all you did was shut me out”
Both of them are just crying their hearts out until their eyes can no longer produce tears anymore; they can hear each other's sobs that’s full of longing.
However, Jho, even after all these years. "You're still the love of my life, Jho," Aiah said, giving Jho a close look. "I can't stop thinking about you."
-
Jhoanna draws Aiah close and gives her a passionate kiss after hearing what Aiah said, Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili niya. All of the anguish they were experiencing gradually goes gone. Jho sensed that Aiah was startled, but gradually she could feel his hand encircling her neck and yanking her firmly to keep the kiss going. They chose to return to Jho's room to continue because it was so intense.
-
“Do you really want this Aiah?”
“Take me again, Jho”
As the distance between them vanished, their thin, rushed breaths blended together. Her fingers memorized every shape and line as though she could disappear, and they stroked her arms with a respectful touch that was almost like a prayer. Her body leaned against hers as she gasped quietly, pulled by the moon's pull like a flood.
As like nothing else mattered, her hands found her face and cradled it. When their lips touched, it was the passionate union of souls who had waited lifetimes, not the careful seeking of strangers. A secret vow expressed in the language of mutual need and unsaid desire, the kiss grew deeper.
As if following some old pattern, their bodies squeezed together and moved involuntarily. Only the feeling of warmth, intimacy, and the relentless pull of something they couldn't identify but could no longer ignore remained as time stopped .
-
Under the soft glow of the moonlight, they exchanged a quiet smile, fingers entwined like they had never let go.
"I love you, Jho," she murmured.
She kissed her forehead, her voice steady and full of promise. "I love you more, Aiah and this time, we won’t lose each other."
Their laughter rose into the night, as the world faded around them, leaving only love and the promise of forever.