The first time my heart broke was yung nag come out ako sa parents ko. Masakit hindi ma-accept sa sarili mong pamilya. At that time, I thought to myself that that was the most painful thing I have ever experienced.

Until now. 

Wala yatang makakapantay sa sakit na nararamdaman ko. Walang kahit anong glue ang pwedeng bumuo ulit ng puso ko. 

Binilin namin si Luna kay Giselle because it was just one of those days na kailangan namin ng alone time ni Karina. Karina's been doing a lot of overtimes din kasi short staffed sila so wala kaming choice but to go out after her shift. Buti na lang, mornings siya this week. 

I was picking her up at the hospital, excited to finally have some quality time with her. Naghihintay lang ako sa labas ng ER kasi I wanted to see her right away instead of waiting in the car. 

Miss ko na siya. Kahit na magkatabi kami matulog, it's different when you don't really speak to each other. Hindi na counted yung pangumusta namin sa isa’t-isa at yung mga updates tungkol kay Luna. Like yung legit kwentuhan namin, matagal na rin.

Kaya naman napangiti ako kaagad when she came out of the ER, already dressed in simple jeans and a shirt. Pero yung ngiti niya bigla na lang napalitan ng galit. 

“Jared.” 

Napalingon ako, my blood already boiling at the mention of his name. May mukha pa siyang ipakita kay Karina after hindi niya mapanagutan si Karina at si Luna. The nerve. 

I used to like Jared for Karina. Mabait siya. May magandang trabaho, goal-oriented, and a family man. Their relationship was promising, akala ko nga they’re going to last kasi wala naman pinakitang masamang ugali si Jared noon. He was just as committed as Karina. Akala ko talaga siya na.

But men are men. They are vile and do not take accountability for their actions. Hindi man lang niya mapanindigan ang ginawa niya. He’s a coward. 

Lumapit agad ako kay Karina at kinuha ang kamay niya. I looked at her at tumango lang siya sa akin as if sinasabi niya na okay lang siya.

“Karina, pwede ba tayo mag-usap?” Tanong ni Jared. 

Ang kapal ng mukha. Kung ako ang masusunod, hindi pwede kasi wala na silang dapat pag-usapan. He left them. 

“Wala na tayong dapat pag-usapan,” diin na pa