CHAPTER 7

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FATE AND CHOICE

Tahimik lamang na nakaupo si Isha sa kanyang study table, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular as Malcolm's words continued to replay in her mind.
“Pwede bang bumalik na lang tayo sa kung ano tayo dati?”
It was a simple question, yet it carried everything she had spent so long trying to forget.
For a moment, a part of her wanted to say yes.
She wanted to believe that they could go back to the way things used to be—that she could forget the pain, forgive the things that had broken her, and love him without remembering how much it had hurt.
But some things couldn't simply be undone.
Isha had changed.
The girl who once waited patiently for Malcolm, hoping that someday he would choose her, was no longer the same girl she used to be.
She had spent too long putting his happiness before her own.
And perhaps, this time, she finally understood that choosing herself wasn't selfish.
Maybe loving Malcolm was never the mistake.
Maybe the mistake was forgetting that she deserved to be loved without having to lose herself in the process.
So even though her heart still ached whenever she thought of him, Isha held on to the decision she had already made.
She would leave.
Not because she had stopped loving Malcolm.
But because, for the first time in her life, she was choosing herself.
And sometimes, choosing yourself meant walking away from the person you wished you could stay with.
Without thinking twice, she reached for her phone and called Carlo.
Siya na lamang ang bahalang mag-book ng flight para sa kanilang dalawa.
But on the other end of the line, Carlo already knew that leaving wasn't really what Isha wanted.
He knew her well enough to understand that going away wouldn't make the pain disappear.
Hindi solusyon ang pag-alis.
Hindi rin nito mabubura ang sakit na dulot ng pagkasawi sa pag-ibig.
And Carlo knew something else—something he had never wanted to admit to himself.
No matter how much love and care he could give Isha, it would never compare to the love she had for Malcolm.
Because even in the present, Carlo had witnessed just how deeply Isha loved him.
He had seen what losing Malcolm had done to her.
Parang pati sa kamatayan, may parte kay Isha na sumama kay Malcolm sa hukay.
Every day, Carlo watched her drown in sadness, as if the world had lost all its colors.
He understood Isha.
He understood what she was going through.
And perhaps that was why, despite the pain it caused him, Carlo couldn't bring himself to stop her.
A faint smile formed on his lips as a decision slowly took shape in his mind—one he never thought he would make.
But for Isha's happiness, he was willing to do anything.
Samantala, napagdesisyunan na rin ni Isha na gawing immediate ang kanyang resignation.
She couldn't bring herself to return to work anymore.
Hindi niya kayang pumasok at makita si Malcolm na parang walang nangyari.
Because she knew herself.
One look at him, one conversation, one moment alone with him—and she might change her mind.
So she stayed inside her apartment instead, allowing the days to pass with nothing but sleep, silence, and endless thoughts.
She barely touched her phone.
She ignored Malcolm's messages.
Alam niyang puro katanungan lamang iyon—mga tanong kung bakit ilang araw na siyang hindi pumapasok sa trabaho, kung nasaan siya, at kung bakit bigla na lamang siyang nawala.
But she wasn't ready to answer any of them.
Hindi pa.
She lay on her bed, staring blankly at the white ceiling above her.
Then, almost like a thought she had been carrying for a long time, she whispered to herself,
“Hindi ko kayang kontrolin ang panahon… pero alam ko, bawat desisyon may binabago.”
She remained silent for a moment.
Then another thought crossed her mind.
The journal.
Where was Malcolm's journal?
Before she returned to the past, she remembered seeing the book light up.
There had been words written across its pages—words she couldn't properly make out because of the blinding light that suddenly filled the room.
And then everything went dark.
When she opened her eyes again, she was fifteen years in the past.
There was also the strange countdown glowing on her right wrist.
Every day, the number decreased.
It was only later that she realized what it meant.
Those were the days she had left to remain in the past.
But why?
Was the book giving her a chance to see Malcolm again?
Or was there something else she was supposed to do?
Isha still couldn't understand whether she had truly been given the power to change the past—or whether she had simply been brought there for a reason she had yet to discover.
Napakamot na lamang siya sa ulo.
Bukod sa hindi niya mahanap ang journal book ni Malcolm, napakarami na ring bagay ang biglang nagbago.
Things that weren't supposed to happen.
People who weren't supposed to be there.
And choices that had already altered the course of everything.
Before she could think any further, a knock came from the apartment door.
Napalingon si Isha.
Another knock followed.
She slowly got up and walked toward the door.
When she opened it, she froze.
“Carlo?”
Nagulat siya nang makita ito sa kanyang harapan.
“Anong ginagawa mo dito?”
Carlo raised an eyebrow.
“Bumisita na ako dahil hindi ka nagre-reply sa mga messages ko sa'yo.”
He looked past her and noticed how dark the apartment was.
“At sa dilim ng apartment mo, mukhang nagmumukmok ka na naman dito.”
He stepped inside and immediately reached for the light switch.
The room suddenly brightened.
Without saying much, Carlo placed the food he had brought on the table.
He knew Isha.
Kapag malungkot ito at maraming iniisip, nakakalimutan nitong kumain—or worse, she would simply let herself go hungry.
“Oh, ito. Kumain ka.”
He handed her the food.
“Paano ka pupunta ng Canada niyan kung ganyan ka?”
Isha couldn't help but smile faintly.
For a moment, the heaviness inside her chest became a little lighter.
She sat down and began eating.
But after a few bites, she suddenly looked at Carlo.
“Carlo…”
He looked at her.
“Diba sinabi mo sa akin na bago ka nagising at nakabalik ka sa past, nasa kwarto ko ikaw?”
Carlo was caught off guard by the question.
But after a brief hesitation, he nodded.
“Ah… oo, El. Nandoon ako sa kwarto mo.”
He paused, trying to remember exactly what had happened.
“Nasa labas lang ako ng room mo noon. Bukas kasi yung pinto ng kwarto mo, tapos may nakita akong sobrang lakas na ilaw.”
He frowned as he tried to piece the memory together.
“Hindi ko na halos ma-process kung ano yung nangyayari. Bigla na lang akong nakaramdam ng matinding sakit sa tenga ko hanggang sa ulo ko…”
He shook his head.
“Then everything went black.”
Isha stared at him.
“Alam mo ba kung saan nanggagaling yung ilaw?”
Carlo shook his head.
“Hindi. Hindi ko nakita.”
Isha fell silent.
So he doesn't know.
He didn't know that the light had come from Malcolm's journal.
He didn't know that the book had been the reason she was brought back to the past.
And most importantly…
He didn't know why the book had brought him with her.
Isha lowered her gaze toward the food in front of her.
For the first time since returning to the past, a different question began to form in her mind.
Why Carlo?
If the journal had brought her back to Malcolm…
then why had it brought Carlo, too?
----
''Isha, ito na ang huling araw na nandito tayo. Hindi mo ba kakausapin si Malcolm bago tayo pumunta ng Canada?''
Tanong ni Carlo habang nakatingin kay Isha.
Tahimik lamang itong nakatulala, as if she had once again disappeared into her own world.
After a few seconds, Isha finally looked at him.
''Carlo.. minsan ba naiisip mong bumalik na lang tayo sa kasalukuyan?''
Napaisip si Carlo sa tanong nito.
''Kung ako lang ang masusunod, El.. gusto ko nang bumalik sa buhay natin sa kasalukuyan''
Bahagya siyang napatingin kay Isha..
''And if I had the option, babalik akong kasama ka''
He paused.
''Dahil nahihirapan akong makita kang nasasaktan na naman''
Saglit siyang natahimik bago nagpatuloy.
''Pero kahit ako.. hindi ko rin alam kung paano tayo makakabalik doon''
Isha remained silent.
Then, as if suddenly realizing how serious their conversation had become, she looked down at the food in front of her.
''Ahh.. ang sarap ng food na dala mo sa'kin. Grabe namiss ko 'to sobra''
Carlo frowned.
''Change topic?''
Napangiti si Isha at bahagyang natawa
''Change topic''
But deep inside, hindi pa rin mawala sa isip niya si Malcolm.
What would he do when he found out she was leaving?
Would she talk to him one last time?
Or should she simply disappear from his life as if she had never been there?
And if Malcolm found out that she was leaving…
Would he choose to stop her?
Or would he simply let her go?
Isha didn't know.
And perhaps, that was what frightened her the most.
KINABUKASAN…
Hawak ni Isha ang ticket niya papuntang Canada habang nakaupo sa airport, waiting for Carlo to arrive.
She kept glancing at the time on her phone.
Medyo nagtataka rin siya kung bakit kailangan pa niyang hintayin si Carlo sa airport gayong maaari naman sana silang sabay na pumunta.
She unlocked her phone and sent him a message.
Isha: Hoy, nasaan ka na? Sige ka, iiwanan kita dito.
A few seconds later, she sent another one.
Isha: Carlo?
Meanwhile, Carlo's phone vibrated in his hand.
He stared at the screen.
For several moments, he couldn't bring himself to open the message.
Kanina pa niya iniisip kung tama ba ang ginagawa niya.
Was this really the right thing to do?
Or was he only making things more painful by opening a door that should have remained closed?
Eventually, a faint, bittersweet smile appeared on his lips.
“Matagal mo naman na talaga akong naiwan, Isha…” bulong niya sa sarili.
“Simula noong minahal mo nang husto si Malcolm.”
He lowered his gaze.
“Kahit sa hukay, parang wala ka nang ibang nakikita kundi siya.”
He took a deep breath.
Then, instead of replying to Isha, Carlo opened another conversation.
Malcolm.
He stared at the name for a moment.
And finally, he began typing.
------

Samantala…

Tahimik na nakatitig si Malcolm sa bakanteng upuan ni Isha.
For some reason, the empty seat had begun to feel heavier than it should.
Parang may kulang sa buhay niya.
Something he couldn't explain.
Something that left a strange weight pressing against his chest.
Ilang araw na rin ang lumipas mula nang hindi pumasok si Isha.
He had already sent her several messages.
Are you okay?
Why aren't you coming to work?
Can we talk?
But Isha hadn't even opened them.
At first, Malcolm thought he was simply worried
because she had suddenly disappeared.
But as the days passed, he slowly began to understand something he had been refusing to admit.
He missed her.
More than he should.
More than he ever thought possible.
And the days without seeing Isha forced him to confront the decisions he had made—the things he had taken for granted, the feelings he had pushed aside, and the person he had almost lost because he was too afraid to face the truth.
He had always thought he knew what he wanted.
He thought his past was where his heart belonged.
But now, with Isha gone, he realized that perhaps he had been holding on to something simply because it was familiar.
And every day that he didn't see her, the memories of Isha became the only things keeping him from feeling completely empty.
She had become a part of his life before he even realized it.
And now that she was gone…
He didn't know how to go back to the way things were.
His eyes wandered around the room until something caught his attention.
A piece of paper was slightly sticking out from the small cabinet beside Isha's things.
He walked toward it and pulled it out.
His eyes widened.
“Resignation letter?”
For a moment, he couldn't breathe.
She's leaving?
His mind immediately began connecting the pieces.
Is this why she hasn't been coming to work?
Is this why she hasn't been replying to me?
Is she really planning to leave?
A sudden panic settled in his chest.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked down.
A message from Carlo.
He opened it.
Alam kong hindi maganda ang unang pagkikita natin, Malcolm. Ginagawa ko ito at sinasabi sa'yo dahil gusto kong maging masaya si Isha. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang balak mo, at hindi ko rin alam kung mahal mo ba talaga siya o hindi. Pero kahit ganoon… deserve mo pa ring malaman ito. Ngayon ang flight ni Isha papuntang Canada. Nasa baba ang flight details niya.
Malcolm stared at the message.
Then he looked at the resignation letter in his hand.
Everything suddenly made sense.
He immediately checked the time on his phone.
May oras pa.
Without thinking twice, he stood up and rushed out of the room.
Hindi na niya inisip kung magagalit ang boss niya.
Hindi na niya inisip kung matatanggal siya sa trabaho.
For once, there was only one thing he cared about.
Isha.
This time, he would choose.
Not the past.
Not what was familiar.
Not what he thought he was supposed to want.
Her.
Because if being with Isha was where his happiness was…
then he wasn't going to let her walk away without telling her how he truly felt.
-------
Inside the taxi, Malcolm couldn't stop looking at the time on his phone.
The closer they got to the airport, the faster his heartbeat became.
What if I don't make it?
What if she's already gone?
He leaned forward.
“Manong, pwede po bang pakibilisan?”
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
“Pasensya na ho, sir. May accident yata sa unahan kaya sobrang traffic.”
Malcolm clenched his jaw.
Every second felt like it was slipping through his fingers.
When the taxi finally slowed near the airport, he immediately handed the driver the payment.
“Dito na lang po.”
He didn't wait for his change.
Agad siyang bumaba at nagsimulang tumakbo.
Malapit na lang naman ang airport.
He could make it.
He had to.
------
Pagkarating niya sa airport, agad niyang hinanap si Isha.
His eyes moved from one person to another.
Too many people.
Too many faces.
Too little time.
His chest tightened as he looked around.
Where are you, Isha?
For a moment, he felt his hope slipping away.
Maybe he was too late.
Maybe she was already on her way to the boarding gate.
Maybe this was his punishment for realizing everything too late.
Then—
He saw her.
Standing among the crowd.
Her back was facing him.
But Malcolm knew her.
He would recognize her anywhere.
Isha.
His eyes widened.
He immediately stood up and ran toward her.
“Isha!”
His voice echoed through the airport.
He didn't care who heard him.
He didn't care that people were looking.
All he knew was that he had finally found her.
Slowly, Isha turned around.
And the moment she saw him, her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Malcolm?”
Before she could say anything else, Malcolm pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Isha… please. Huwag kang umalis.”
His voice trembled.
“Hindi ko kaya.”
Isha froze in his arms.
“Malcolm…”
“Mahal kita, Isha.”
His voice broke.
“Mahal na mahal kita. At habang lumilipas ang mga araw na wala ka, lalo kong nare-realize kung gaano kita ayaw mawala sa buhay ko.”
He slowly pulled away and held her hand.
Then, almost instinctively, he brought it to his lips and kissed it.
“Please… huwag kang umalis.”
“Pe… pero—”
“Shhh…”
He gently interrupted her.
“Wag kang mag-alala. Inayos ko na ang lahat.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Mas lalo kong na-realize kung gaano na pala kita kamahal. Hindi ko lang inaamin sa sarili ko dahil akala ko, ang para sa akin ay yung past ko.”
He swallowed hard.
“Pero tama ka. Tama ka doon sa sinabi mo…”
His voice softened.
“Forget what you feel and remember what you deserve.”
He gently held her face.
“And now, I know what I deserve. I want to be happy. And I want that happiness to be with you.”
A tear slowly escaped from Isha's eye.
“You completed something in my life that I didn't even know was missing.”
Isha smiled through her tears.
Because even after everything…
even after deciding to leave…
she had never truly stopped thinking about Malcolm.
And now, standing in front of her, he was finally saying the words she had spent so long wishing to hear.
“I love you, Isha.”
Three simple words.
But this time, they carried everything Malcolm had been too afraid to admit.
He gently held her cheeks between his hands and kissed her.
A kiss filled with love, longing, and all the emotions they had both been carrying for far too long.
-------
A few steps away, Carlo stood quietly.
He had witnessed everything.
A bitter smile slowly formed on his lips.
He had known this was how it would end.
Perhaps he had always known.
Dahan-dahan siyang tumalikod.
He walked away from them, carrying a pain he knew he couldn't show.
A tear escaped from the corner of his eye, and he quickly wiped it away.
But another followed.
And another.
Still, despite the ache in his chest, Carlo smiled.
Because at least he had become the bridge that brought them back to each other.
He had given Isha the chance to choose.
And now, she had chosen Malcolm.
Maybe that was his own kind of love—
loving someone enough to let them go where they were truly happy, even when that happiness no longer included him.
For once, Carlo didn't choose himself.
He chose Isha.
He chose Isha's Happiness.
And perhaps somewhere between fate and choice…
that was the sacrifice he was meant to make

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