28

"Here is my goodbye song
I feel the words are coming now
and they reveal how sad i feel
that you left me behind..."

Miguel banged his hand on the piano. He can't seem to get the words right. He got the bottle of beer on top of the piano, and drank. It's been two days, he thought to himself. In those two days, he had done nothing but drink to bury his feelings.

"Ang aga namang pag-inom niyan." a familar voice said. Miguel was surprised to hear the voice. Could it be, he thought. He turned around and immediately, a smile crept up his face.

"La!" He exclaimed, running towards the woman at the doorway. The two enveloped in a warm embrace. Miguel never wanted to let go. He thought this moment would never happen, but now that it has, it was surreal. "Akala ko..."

"I can't. Not like this." Laarni explained.

"Huh?" Miguel pulled away from the hug.

"I want to set things straight. Number one, gusto kitang pasalamatan sa honesty mo. Bihira sa kaibigan ang makakapagsabi ng ganun. Number two, hindi kita iiwasan, dahil..." Laarni paused for a while, building up the courage. "Number three... mahal din kita."

Miguel wanted to jump. He hugged Laarni again. Slowly, he pulled his face closer to hers until their lips finally touched.