It Was Always You (The Navalta Series # 1)

Chapter 40

The moment I saw the love of my life walked down the aisle, all of my emotions begin to surface. Hindi ako makapaniwala na pinili niya akong mahalin habambuhay.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na sa kabila ng lahat ng kakulangan ko, minahal niya ako ng buong buo. Everything flashed in my mind all at once.

"Gago ka ba?! Anong kalokohan na naman ito, Ryu?!" may bahid ng galit sa mga mata niya.

She's still angry at me, even after all these years. Sinubukan kong sabihin ang totoo sa kanya ngunit hindi ko magawa. Nag-aalala ako na kung sasabihin ko sa kanya na mahal ko pa rin siya ay mas lalo niya akong layuan. "Please don't get mad. I guess it was just a slip of the tongue. I haven't thought this through pero at the same time kung anuman ang nasabi ko sa parents ni Ianna, di ko na rin mababawi. You are my only hope." Tanging naisagot ko sa kanya.

She got angrier when she heard my answer. "Wag mo akong kausapin, Ryu." Padabog niyang sabi at lumabas na siya ng opisina ko. Nasapo ko ang nook o sa mga pinagsasabi ko. Sa kagustuhan kong mapalapit muli sa kanya ay nagawa ko ito ngunit mali ata yung mga pinagsasabi ko.

Damn it, Ryu! Wrong move.

Umuwi ako ng condo galing sa condo ni Ky noong gabing iyon at saktong bumisita sa akin si Jigs. I told him everything that happened that day. "Wrong move ka, Kuya!" natatawang sabi niya.

Binigyan ko siya ng isang matalim na tingin causing him to raise his hands to surrender. "I am aware, Jigs."

Nakaupo ako sa sofa at nasa harap ko siya. "Look, Kuya. I know thing about you and Ky from the past pero to ask her hand in marriage out of nowhere, malamang mumurahin ka talaga niya."

Umiling-iling ako. Jigs chuckled then he got serious. "Kuya, if this is your way of winning Ky back, you won't. We both know we can't force her to do anything against her will. Let her know your intentions are pure and that you are really ready to giver her your full self without any restrictions and second thoughts." He advised.

Napatingin ako sa kanya at napaisip.  "I already asked her hand in marriage. I called Tito Vox and Tita Lia, they were actually happy. Yun nga lang, sumabay pa ang mga Valencia."

Tinitigan ako ni Jigs, "Solve the issue regarding the Valencias first para maging okay din kayo ni Ky. You can't expect her to say yes to you after everything that has happened between you two. I saw how her heart shattered, Kuya. Sabihin na natin na may feelings pa rin siya sayo, pero knowing her, kailangan mo munang paghirapan siya bago ka niya mapatawad. You can't expect na ganoon lang kadali ang lahat. Baliw ka ba?" he laughed.

"Give it time, Kuya. Take all the time you need to win her back. I'll support you." He smiled. Tumango ako at napagtantong tama naman ang sinabi ni Jigs.

I thought the only way to get closer to her again is to ask for help from her pero wrong move ata talaga ako. Napakatanga ko naman. Why did I say those things? Natural magagalit siya sa akin.

But I have to admit that Jigs is right. Itatama ko ang mga sinabi ko sa kanya and I will win her back the right way. She was never my option. All this time, all I wanted was to be hers and to love her with all my heart.