Dear DJ _____,

Ako nga po pala si Gage Hernandez, and I wrote this myself to share a very
meaningful story of mine which is forever engraved in my mind and heart. I'm not
seeking for some advices since I don't think I could do any of them anymore, I just
hope na kapulutan ito ng aral ng mga tao. To start with, there was this girl that I
loved dearly, like a thousand feet above the sky. Before I even got to interact
with her, it took me two weeks to gather up the courage na i-approach sya to ask
something.

"Hi, you're Sky Pimentel right? uhm di ko alam if you know me but I'm Gage
Matthews. We're seatmates in History class." Introduced the guy.

"Yeah? Of course kilala kita! Sinong hindi? I saw you almost everywhere. Ikaw ata
si Mr. Hearthrob ng campus na to?" Said the girl before she bursted out into a fit
of giggles.

"Hindi naman." He responded in a shy tone.

"So, anong sadya mo?"

"Ah I was wondering if pwede tayong lumabas minsan?" It took him exactly five
seconds to let out the thing he's been dying to ask.

"Sure! gusto ko yan!" Was what Sky said without a second thought.

And it only took her a second to say yes to what I was asking.

We got to know each other sa loob lamang ng isang buwan mga DJ. I was majoring in
marketing and business while Sky was a writer majoring in English. We learned about
our differences quickly, like how she was so open about her thoughts and was always
wearing her mega watt smile, whereas I was that guy who had nothing on his face but
a stoic expression. Lumipas ang ilang months at tuluyan na naming nakilala ang
isa't-isa. And within those happy and sad times I was with her, I couldn't help but
fall in love deeply.

"Sky, pwede ba kitang ligawan?" Gage asked with sheer nervousness etched on his
face.

"Pwede pa ba kong tumanggi? Haha, kidding. Of course, Gage. You can." Sky answered
in a second, again, without a second thought.

Nagsimula ang relasyon namin after seven months of courtship, and I could still
remember how I felt after hearing that sweet 'yes' coming out of her mouth, as if I
won in a lottery.

"Gage, sinasagot na kita." She suddenly blurted out.

"Did I hear it right? Pakiulit nga." Gage couldn't believe what he heard.
"Baliw, I said yes. Boyfriend na kita, but please, take care of my heart."

"Yes! Salamat Lord! I love you." He shouted, laughter of Sky could be heard in the
background.

Sa kabila ng sinasabi ng mga tao, none of them mattered mga DJ. Akala nila we
didn't suit each other just dahil sa jolly syang tao, whereas I was the collected
and rational type. Pero mali silang lahat, mga DJ.

Seven months of absolute perfection, nag decide ako na mag propose to her and that
earned me the sweetest 'yes' from her. Pagkatapos ng graduation, we waited for a
few months before promising to love each other until Death would tear us apart.

"Sky, anong tingin mo?" Came Gage's voice in his wife's ears.

"Wow hubby... Im speechless . Sobrang ganda nito." Sky let out feebly.

"Then we'll get this house. Para satin lang to."

"But one hour ang layo nito from your work."

"If you love it, then wala lang sakin ang pag commute. It's only two hours of back
and forth."

"Sure ka talaga?"

"Never been this sure."

"Okay, let's get this then, Gage."

It was fine at first, but later then I realized kung gaano ako sobrang busy sa work
that I hadn't had a quality time to spend with my wife. She brought up something
like me needing to rent an apartment near my workplace since she noticed how it's
taking a toll on me, na naging dahilan ng away namin. I knew that she was just
concerned for me but my irrational mind wasn't keeping up at the thought of us
being separated. Eventually, I gave in and it guilt me to even think na yun ang isa
sa mga bagay na nagtanggal ng stress ko, pero isa rin sa mga bagay na nagdistansya
saming mag-asawa.

"Hubby, are you coming home this weekend?" Queried his wife on the other end of the
line.

"No, I'm still piled up of works." The husband replied.

"I know. Then labas nalang tayo together pag day off mo." Sky suggested in a light
tone,laughing softly.

"Sky, I don't have any days off."

Then after few months, there was a time na kinailangan kong umattend ng Christmas
party sa company na pinapasukan ko mga DJ, so I had to reject Sky's offer to come
back home for the holidays. She said fine and that naiintindihan nya ang situation
ko, kung ipinaglaban nya pa sana ang time ko for her, I would have said yes. Pero
narealize ko na di ko rin masasabi yun, kasi busy ako.

Dahil sa ganung condition ng relationship namin, I decided to move on. With a drink
in hand and a smile on my face, it was there at the party that I met Dana.

Dumaan ang paskp and all that was shared was a card on Sky's part. Di ko alam kung
anong mararamdaman for not sending anything back to her. It's been so long since I
came home, and two months since I was introduced to Dana.

●●
"Oh dude, anong sadya?" Asked his besftriend, Nate.

"Di ko alam pre, but I'm getting interested with Dana recently. Pero may asawa na
ko." Gage admitted slowly.

[adlib]
●●

"Mr. Hernandez, do you want some coffee?" Dana purred sweetly on his ears.

"No, Dana. Thank you." Gage answered in a exhausted voice.

"How about some massage? Not to brag pero magaling ako magtanggal ng body aches..."
She whispered sultrily, breath fanning the back of his ears.

"- and give pleasure as well." She finished.

"Sige ba, gusto ko yan."

"In your bed?"

"In my bed."

I knew it was wrong DJ ___. I knew it shouldn't have happened. But the moment na
hinalikan ako ni Dana, I couldn't control myself for I was also a man who had
needs. The voice inside my head kept telling me that it was Sky's bed as well as
mine, and never Dana's, pero binaliwala ko lang yun. Inisip ko na nawawalan na ng
buhay ang relasyon namin kaya para saan pa at pigilan ko yung nangayayari? Dana
could give me what I obviously needed as a man to which my wife could not. The time
she went down on her knees, I became lost in euphoria to even notice na tinanggal
ni Dana ang singsing ko at saka ito hinagis sa lapag. That night was the best one
I've ever had, na nasundan pa ng maraming beses.

"Hubby, I miss you so much. Please, uuwi ka na ba?" Sky's faint voice entered his
ears.

"I'm sorry, Sky. I'm busy, marami pakong kailangang tapusin."

"Why is it always like that? Sobra kang busy to the point na nakakalimutan mong may
asawa kang nag hihintay sayo." She admitted rather harshly.
"You're just overreacting."

"Overreacting? Gage, it's been almost 6 months since the last time na magkasama
tayo! And you're telling me na nag o-over react lang ako?"

"Look, I have deadlines to catch up with, so please? You can rant about everything
later, just not now." He replied, exhaustion dripping from his voice.

"Ano ba kasing nangyayari sayo? May problema ba tayo? Please tell me." Sky's voice
was becoming weak as the argument went on.

"Nothing, I'll call you later."

Those were the last words I told her, but never did I keep up with them. I didn't
feel any remorse nor pain from talking that way sa asawa ko. I figured masyado nang
dry ang relasyon namin, reason as to why I was doing that thing with Dana. Five
months mga DJ, that's how long I was secretly living in with her, and within those
months, sobrang saya ang nadarama ko. However, dumating ang araw kung kelan na
bring up ang usapan tungkol sa divorce.

"Dana, bakit hawak mo yang singsing?"

"I was just thinking, actually, I've been thinking about this for quiet some time
now." She responded slowly.

"What's on your mind?"

"Gage, bakit di mo nalang sya i-divorce??" Dana bursted.

"Dana, si Sky ay-"

"Ang tagal nyo nang di nagsasama. Wala ng sigla ang relationship nyo nung nakilala
kita. Why are you dragging something kahit na alam mo naman na wala na kayong
nararamdaman sa isa't-isa?" Dana's voice went a little higher.

"Well hindi ko naman mabibigay yung divorce paper ng basta basta. She needs some
notice, at least." Was what he reasoned out.

"Then bigyan mo sya ng notice! Ipadeliver mo sa isang lawyer ang divorce paper sa
kanya, ganun kadali! That's notice enough, don't you think?"

"That's-" Gage was cut off when Dana explained further.

"Gage. It's better to end things now you know, para makapag start tayo. Then pwede
na tayong magpakasal and the two of you are over. You're with me now and let's face
it. Meron na rin siguro syang iba."

"Dana..."

"Mahal kita, Gage, and I know na mahal mo rin ako. So gawin mo nalang, please. Para
satin, para sa kanya, para sating lahat." She rasped out.

Hindi ko alam kung pano nangyari mga DJ, but I found myself at the front door of
the house I used to call home, where my soon-to-be-ex-wife was living in, dala dala
ang envelope na naglalaman ng divorce paper. Kumatok ako sa pinto and was surprised
to see a very familiar girl opening it. Si Jade, bestfriend ni Sky.

"Oh Gage."

"Hi, nandyan ba si Sky?" He questioned.

"Yup, nasa taas sya."

"I uhh-" Gage trailed off slowly, unsure of what to say.

"Oh sorry! Come in, I forgot dito ka rin nakatira." Jade joked, but her tone seemed
to hold seriousness.

"Thanks."

"Bababa din si Sky any minute. She's been expecting to see you." She told him with
a hint of sadness.

While waiting for her to come down, I tried to practice the words I was going to
let out once we face each other. But all the words seemed to stuck up in my throat
the moment I saw her making her entrance down the staircase. She's still the same,
ang ganda nya parin mga DJ. And when she shot me a smile, sobrang lakas ng tibokmg
puso lp.

"Hi, hubby" She greeted.

"Don't call me that anymore."

"Oh.. sorry. I forgot na mag d-divorce na pala tayo, of course. Dun nalang tayo sa
living room, okay? Jade, pwede mo bang gawan ng tea si Gage? I'll have water." She
said.

"Do you want lemon, Sky?" Jade asked.

"No. Just plain."

"Got it." Her bestfriend said, clicking her tongue and making her way to the
kitchen.

Habang pinagmamasdan ko sya mga DJ, I noticed kung gano sya nananamlay, as if nag
w-work sya nonstop.

"You look a little... tired, Sky. Nakakatulog ka ba ng maayos?"

"Medyo sumosobra lang ako sa pag w-work lately. That's all." It took her a moment
to nod with a smile.

"As you know, dala ko yung papel na need mong pirmahan." Gage stated straight to
the point.

"Of course."
"It won't take long."

"I know."

"I'm trying to make this as painless as possible for you, Sky."

"It'll never be painless." She laughed off softly.

"I'm sorry..." Sighed his soon to be ex-husband.

"I'm okay... "

Nakaramdam ako ng guilt after seeing her reaction and before it even eat me fully
alive, I pulled out all the papers to sign and slid them into the table. Habang
binabasa nya ang papel mga DJ, sinabi ko na sa kanya na kailangan nyang umattend sa
court dates and meetings where we would discuss how to split everything and said
that the house was for her to own fully. She held the pen and asked where to sign,
but as its point was about to touch the material, bigla syang huminto.

"Hey Gage, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Kahit ano."

"Please stay one week with me." She dropped.

"Sky--"

"Gage, please." The wife pleaded almost desperately.

"I can't."

"Bakit?"

"Because of Dana." He answered.

"It's just one week."

"It's one week too long." Countered the man.

"We've been married for almost four years, Gage. One week is all I'm asking for."
Sky said with a soft smile.

"What do you expect to happen in seven days?" Gage snapped.

"Wala akong ine-expect. For one week, I just want you to pretend. Gage, I want you
to love me the way you used to."

"Sky.."

"I said pretend. Remember that, hubby. You don't have to be in love with me, I
already know na wala ka nang nararamdaman para sakin. Gusto ko lang na mag pretend
ka, wala nakong hihilingin pa sayo. This will be the last promise you'll ever have
to hold for me..."
It felt odd to be in the house again mga DJ, lalong lalo na ang pag stay sa ibang
kwarto na hiwalay sa dating tinutulugan namin. I didn't bring any clothes with me
kasi plano kong ipapirma lang kay Sky ang divorce papers para matapos na ang lahat,
but I guess things didn't go the way I planned it to be. The first day was fine, I
had a great sleep which I hadn't been able to get on my place, I figured it's
because of too much working. Dana called me the night before, at inexplain ko sa
kanya ang situation na kinaharap ko. On the other hand, Sky did all the things she
used to do when we were still together, tuwing kinukuwestiyon ko mga galaw nya, all
she would answer was 'we're only pretending, remember?' I didn't know if it was
pain I was feeling or guilt, but I convinced myself that it's the latter one. One
day, we went on the tree we used to carved in dahil sa gusto nya, pero I felt there
was something off.

"Gage, can you do the carving for me?"

"Mahirap bang mag carve sa wood?"

"Medyo pagod lang ako."

"Nakatulog ka ba ng maayos last night?"

"Yes."

"Then bakit ka pagod?"

"I've been sick for a while..." Sky replied.

"Nag punta ka na ba sa doctor?"

"Yes."

"Tapos?"

"They said it's just a cold. Magiging okay din ako soon."

"Just a cold, huh?"

"Just a cold."

"So anong gusto mong i carve ko?" Gage asked.

"Binary codes."

"Lagi namang binary codes eh."

"Numbers can say things that humans never have the courage to say in words
sometimes. Where words are vague, numbers are clear." She quoted.

Kung alam ko lang sana yung bawat binary code na ikina carve ko, I would have known
kung ano talaga ang sinasabi ng number sa akin.

'I'm still in love with you."

That night mga DJ, nagulat ako ng tinanong ni Sky kung pwede kaming magtabi. I
should have been hesitating, but I was not and instead pulled her within me then
proceeded to let the darkness take me into a deep slumber.

On the second day, we spent it fully to do the things we haven't done for so long.
While on the third day, I noticed na nagiging clumsy si Sky sa bawat galaw nya, and
how she occasionally coughed out, tinanong ko sya tungkol dun mga DJ, but she
assured me na ubo lang yun. Eventually, we spent our day in laughter and smiles. On
the fourth day, we did a movie marathon with her bestfriend Jade kahit na sumasakit
paminsan minsa ang ulo nya. The fifth day, sobra sobrang saya ang naramdaman ko
that I forgot how many days I've been with her already. The sixth day mga DJ,
nakita ko si Jade sa kusina ng magisa pagkatapos akong tawagan ni Dana. Oo
tinatawagan nya ako araw araw para kamustahin, pero saglitan lang.

"Oh Gage, bakit?"

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"What kind of favor?"

"Pwede mo bang ipagluto si Sky ng favorite food nya? And do you have any wine?" He
asked softly.

"Wine.."

"Para sa dinner. "

"I think Sky would be better of with water, Gage." Jade mumbled.

"Alright, walang wine. Pero pwede mo ba syang lutuan?"

"What are you trying to do?"

"I'm trying to give her a nice dinner."

"At bakit?"

"Huling gabi ko na dito."

"Gage, tama na. You're not doing anything good for her by doing this. Alam mo naman
na lalo lang syang masasaktan, right? You're going the extra mile for her for one
night, but you're leaving her the next day. I know that you're just being nice, but
this is just cruel." Jade spat.

"Pero gusto kong gawin to, hindi para saktan sya, but rather to make up for
everything."

"What's there to make up for kung iiwan mo rin lang sya kinabukasan para sa ibang
babae?"

Nakaramdam ako ng sobrang sakit after hearing those words from Jade, kasi tama sya.
It was the coldhearted truth. Iiwan ko rin si Sky tomorrow, para kay Dana.

"Jade, it's for one night please."

"Fine."

"Thank you."

"Do you still love her?"

"Anong klaseng tanong yan?"

"It's a reasonable question." Jade countered

"Never mind, ipagluluto ko kayo tonight. Make her happy, kahit ngayong gabi lang."
she added after silence engulfed them.

That night, nag dinner kami ni Sky na para bang nag d-date lang at saka ko sya
isinayaw sa gitna ng scented candles habang pinapatugtog ang ang aming theme song.

"Gage." Sky started after coughing out.

"Bakit Sky?"

"Last night na natin, thank you for making me happy." She replied.

"Sorry."

"Wag kang mag sorry, naiintindahan naman kita. Gusto ko lang magpasalamat."

"Okay..."

Gusto kong maiyak, dahil namiss ko ang lahat lahat at dahil na rin sa sakit na
maibibigay ko kay Sky. I felt like a crap, kaya niyakap ko lang syang maigi habang
sumasayaw and tried my best na labanan ang luha na nagpupumilit tumulo.

Kinabukasan puno ng missed calls at texts ang phone ko mga DJ, galing kay Dana. I
almost didn't want to go back there anymore but I told her na uuwi na ako.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"Yung divorce papers. It's all signed." Sky said.

"Thank you." Replied his ex-husband, his voice was shaking.

"Will you be staying for breakfast?" She asked.

"Hindi na. I have to get back to the office as soon as possible. Kailangan ko ng
umalis nang maaga." Gage explained.

"I understand... Thank you for everything again, Gage." Sky said in a shaky voice.

"It's no problem. Thank you... for the papers." The man replied, letting out a
breath before continuing "Take care, Sky."

"Bye, Gage." She bid in a whisper like voice.

"Goodbye, Sky."

Apat na buwan na ang lumipas mga DJ, pero ang sakit sakit parin. Hindi ko alam kung
pano pa ako makakaahon sa buhay ko. I feel like I've been plunged deep down the
water, at hindi ako makahinga. The ring I have today is not the ring I had before.
It's a new one, binili ni Dana para saming dalawa. I'm engaged for the second time
in my life pero inaamin ko na hindi ako kasing saya katulad nung sa first
engagement ko. Si Sky ang laman ng isip ko for almost every day at lagi kong
naaalala yung time na mag kikita kami sa court. I was hoping that time na magbabago
ang isip nya na hiwalayan ako so I would have the excuse to call everything off,
but she never attended, her lawyer did.

"Brain Cancer."

Galit ang namuo saking damdamin, I was so angry at her for lying to me. It was
never a cough, but a serious disease. Galit ako at the fact na hindi nya sinabi
sakin that she's been suffering all along. Sky's headaches, forgetfulness, fatigue,
weakness, coughs and Jade's overprotectiveness began to click and put together. She
was slowly dying, pero dumagdag pa ako nang ipinapirma ko ang divorced paper sa
kanya.

Sa mga sumunod na araw na yun nga SJ, nagpunta ako sa bookstore at nakita ko yung
book na huling sinulat ni Sky. The one she wanted me to read. At habang binabasa ko
ang story, that's where I realized that it's not just someone's story, but ours.
Yung huling storyang isinulat nya ay ang storya mismo ng buhay namin. Nang
makarating ako sa bandang dulo, I caught a glance of long binary codes, I knew it
was a message for me, kaya agad akong naghanap ng translator.

[[Thank you for loving me even if it was just for a week and thank you for making
me feel as if you loved me again. You took me back to a time when you loved me and
that's all I could ever ask for in this short lifetime. I love you, hubby. Thank
you for everything...]]

Sobra iyak ko nang malaman ko ang message sa numbers. I almost wanted to take my
life, almost. But I know Sky wouldn't want me to do it. It would surely take time
for me to move on, pero alam ko sa sarili ko that it'd never happen. These were the
consequences of my mistakes, and they're something I could never get rid of. Sising
sisi ako. I regretted being too busy to nurture our relationship. I regretted
putting work over my wife. I regretted so much that it pained me to a point of
sanity. Pero naisip ko na kailangan kong mag move on no matter how much it hurt.

Treasure all the people you have in your life. Love them fully, because you don't
know how much time you still have to be with them.

Salamat po sa pagbasa ng aking storya. Until then.

-Gage.