WHEN I WAS TWENTY-TWO.

“Anong sana mo?” you asked over the phone.

I was crying. Sun and I had an argument. I ignored him. Three consecutive days of silence, I didn’t answer his calls, ignored his messages, and even went as far as blocking him on every social media platform. Three days where I completely shut him out, doing everything I could to avoid his presence.

I was frustrated and mad, so I couldn’t think straight. Until, I received the news...

Sun was leaving the country that very day.

“Do you wish to see him?” you asked again, your voice is calm.

Katahimikan lang ang naisagot ko. For the first time in days, I didn’t know what to say.

I just stared at the ceiling, feeling the air leave my lungs. My chest ached, a knot tightening around my heart. Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t he tell me?

Parang tanga lang, Hiraya. Binlock mo, di ba? Inignore mo, di ba? Hindi mo kinausap, di ba?

“Hiraya?”

And that was it. I broke down, sobbing into the phone. “I don't know, okay.”

I was frustrated, Tala.

But part of me wishes... sana makita ko siya.

You didn’t say anything for a moment. I could hear the slight rustle of your breath, like you were thinking, waiting for me to gather myself.

“Magbihis ka. Pupunta tayo sa airport,” you said, your voice was steady and firm.

You always knew what I needed, even when I couldn’t say it loud. You knew what my heart silent wish that moment. You knew. You always knew.

“Tala, h'wag na—”

But you cut me off before I could finish. “Magbihis ka na. I know you want to see him.”

And just like that, you ended the call without waiting for a response.

I didn’t even try to argue. I was already getting up, already rushing to change. You showed up at my house in less than ten minutes. You dragged me into your car, and drove me way to the airport. 

When I finally saw Sun standing there with his suitcase on the side, who’s about to leave, all I could do was rush towards the man I love, hugged him tight and let out all my emotions.

Damn. Magtampo ka pa, Hiraya.

You were standing a few feet away, giving us space. You were watching us with that unreadable expression on your face.

You didn’t even blink when Sun turned to you and said, “Take care of her, for me.”

You just nodded and gave him a small pat on the shoulder, a silent promise.

“I will,” you simply replied.

After we said our goodbyes, you were right there, waiting for me.

“Para ka ng zombie,” you teased and handed me your handkerchief. “May patampo-tampo ka pa kasi, edi iniwan ka.”

I wiped my face and shot you a playful glare. “Malay ko ba!”

I never realized how serious Sun's condition was until the day he was set to leave. I had no idea he had been quietly battling such a serious illness. I didn’t know he urgently needed a heart transplant, and that the surgery had already been scheduled abroad.

Everything came crashing down at once—the truth about his health and the urgency of the situation. It was a matter of life and death; he had no choice but to leave, and I had no choice but to let him go.

“Oh, tama na yung pag-iyak. Pumapangit ka lalo,” you teased again, but I knew it was just your way of trying to make me laugh.

“Kainis ka,” I mumbled, and couldn’t help but smile a little.

You sighed. “Babalikan ka nun,” you said, trying to reassure me.

I just nodded.

But then, life had other plans.

A few months later, Sun and I lost all contact. I heard that his family had decided to migrate abroad, and from that point on, I never heard from him again.

It was as if he had vanished completely, leaving behind only the memories and unanswered questions. It felt like he had truly disappeared from my life without a trace.

And you, Tala, you were still there for me. Always.