The Man Of My Imagination

CHAPTER 8

THE DAYS PASSED LIKE A BLUR, and I still got no clue where my bracelet could've gone. Hindi ko mapakinabangan ang diary na naiwan sa akin dahil wala lang din ang naroon, dahil huminto lang siya sa day kung saan ikakasal kami. Maybe I somewhat lost it kaya hindi na ako nakapagsulat?

I sighed and looked at the recordings I wrote when I have my bracelet.

6/3/23 - Went shopping
6/5/23 - With Sam
6/10/23 - With Sam
6/13/23 - Dinner date

6/22/23 - Nothing necessary (pang-blackmail daw)
6/29/23 - Nothing necessary (pang-blackmail daw)
8/13/23 - The "bakit ko ito nirecord"
8/25/23 - Someone talking to me (I don't know who he is)
9/29/23 - Static sound. No record, pero bakit na-create sa records?
10/17/23 - Kasal namin

Sa lahat ng ito, ang 8/25/23 lang ang pinaka-kakaiba. Naalala ko pa na ang naroon ay parang...

“You only have one condition while doing this. Don't tell a single soul about our plan. Especially to your Mother.”

“I wasn't even going to, anyway.”

“I'm just trying to make sure, dahil hindi pwedeng makielam pa rito ang mga hindi naman involved. Kung ikaw, ikaw lang.”

“I know. When I said I'm going to push this, I'm going to push this no matter what.”

“Are you really sure you're not faking this whole thing and not all your plan to try capture me?”

“It's not. Cupid, can we just get things started so we could finish this?”

“Fine... I'll lead the way. Come on.”

“Sam, if you're hearing this, please know that I will always love you no matter what.”

And after that, I heard some moans and groans.

Hindi ko initially alam kung anong nangyayari doon, pero... nag-cheat ba ako kay Sam at ngayon, eto ang parusa niya sa akin? Na mawala siya at iwan ako sa mundong hindi ko malaman kung anong meron?

And who is Cupid. Why naman ganon ang pangalan?

My heart ached at that thought. Paano nga kung yun ang nangyari? I must have made a huge mistake and this is the price I was paid for. Pero bakit ako nag-cheat?! Mahal na mahal ko ang taong iyon, tapos mag-chi-cheat lang ako?

I was frustrated and I threw the diary in the grass. I brushed my face with my hands. What have I done to him?

When the moment I opened my eyes, I catch a glimpse of my diary with an unfamiliar letter. It's not a diary anymore... it's a... letter?

The aged leather of the diary crinkled in my hands, as I flipped through the blank pages before seeing a letter. Ngayon ko lang nakita kasi parang intensyon na ilagay sa pinakagitna after blank pages... hindi ko siguro napansin agad kasi nag-skip lang ako palagi sa likod, failing to see this folded paper.

I unfolded it and isang letter para kay Sam ang bumungad sa akin.

My dearest Sam,

               If you're reading this right now, you must have been so mad at me, and I understand that. Kasi pinangunahan kita at hindi ko naisip ang sarili ko at ang relasyon nating dalawa. Sana mapatawad mo ako sa nagawa ko, o kahit hindi man, sana itatak mo sa isip mo na ginawa ko lang iyon para sa iyo. Para di ka na mapahamak. And don't try to put Mama to this. Huwag mo susubukan na buhayin na naman ako at hilingin sa Mama ko na sana ikaw sa future naman ang mamatay. Mahina na si Mama, baka iba pa ang mangyari sa hiniling mo. Kaya please, tatandaan mo na ang pag—