Paradise (Book One)

I Won't Give Up

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up.

Well, I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

 


 

 
"Hey there!" bati sa kanya ni Gerald.

Iniwan sila ni Hans at nang mommy nito.

Iniangat niya ang kanyang ulo. He was smiling, or rather, beaming.

"Hey!" ganting sagot niya. "What are you doing here in the Philippines? I thought you're in Germany..."

"I come home," putol na nito sa sasabihin pa niya sana. "Ikaw, what are you doing here?"

"I was supposed to go somewhere."

"Where? Are you going with Tan?" biglang nagbago ang hitsura nito.

"I...ahm...I..."di niya alam ang sasabihin.

"Sorry, I'm not supposed to ask that question. Ahm, sige, I shouldn’t keep you from going, then. Baka mahuli pa kayo sa flight ninyo." Dinampot na nito ang traveling bag na bitbit. "It's nice seeing you again, Asher," pilit ang ngiti nito, malamlam ang mata. "You take care," paalam nito sa kanya. At nagsimula nang maglakad palayo.

"Hindi mo ba narinig sinabi ko? I said I was supposed to go somewhere."

Tumigil ito sa paglalakad at bumaling muli sa kanya, nakakunot ang noo. "I heard you.....was?"

"Yes, was. Ahm....I was supposed to go to Germany pero andito na pala ang taong pupuntahan ko," nakayuko niyang sabi.

"And?"

"Andito na sa harap ko."

She did not see the sudden change in his face again.

"And?"

"Don't make it harder for me Gerald!"

Bigla siyang niyakap ng lalake. Mahigpit na mahigpit, halos hindi siya makahinga. Pero okay lang, gumanti rin siya ng pagyakap dito. Parang ayaw nilang bumitaw sa isa't isa.

"Wala pang isang isang oras tayong nagkikita, inaaway mo na agad ako?"

"Ikaw kasi," naiiyak na siya sabay hampas sa braso nito.

"Sshh, sshhh. Tahan na. I don't want to see you cry. Stop crying, please," sabay pahid nito sa luha niya. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, Asher. Sa lahat nang naging kasalanan ko sa 'yo at sa daddy mo. Sa lahat ng naging kagaguhan ko. Sana mapatawad mo pa ako."

"I won't be going to Germany kung hindi pa kita napapatawad, Gerald. And I'm sorry too if I lost faith on you, on us. Sana mabigyan mo rin ako ng chance to get back that faith."

"It's yours, baby girl. I'm yours. And I also made a mistake of giving up on us, but this time, I promise, I won't. I'll hold on til my last breath." Napapaiyak na rin ito. And he kissed her, sealing that new promise he made.

"Eherm."

They did not bother to stop.

"Eherm!"

Hindi pa rin sila bumibitiw sa isa't isa.

"Asher, ang daddy mo!"

Para silang natauhan sa narinig at naghiwalay.

"Gotcha!" tumatawang biro ni Hans.

"Hans!"

"Eh ayaw nyong paawat eh. Mamaya nyo na ituloy yan kapag kayo na lang dalawa. So, ano, tutuloy pa ba tayo pa-Germany? He he he."

Bumaling nang tingin ito kay Gerald, sabay tango ng ulo "Anderson."

"Tan, salamat!' at iniabot ang kamay.

Tinitigan lang ni Hans ang kamay ni Gerald.

"Hans?" tawag niya sa kaibigan.

Ibababa na sana ni Gerald ang kamay niya pero hinagip ito ni Hans at tuluyan nang nakipag-kamay. "Gusto ko lang ubusin ang pasensya ng iniirog mo, sweetheart."

"Salamat pa rin," sabi ni Gerald.

Hinila ni Hans braso ni Gerald at bumulong sa may tenga nito.

"Wag ka munang magpasalamat Anderson. Patunayan mo muna na nagbago ka na nga. One more wrong move and I'll make sure nanaisin mong wag na lang mabuhay." At binitawan na nito ang kamay ni Gerald.

He then faced Asher and embraced her.

"Gusto ko mang ipagsiksikan ang sarili ka sa tabi mo masigurado ko lang na okay ka, I will entrust you with Anderson. Wala man akong tiwala sa pagmumukha niyan, mas matimbang pa rin para sa akin ang kaligayahan mo." And he kissed her forehead.

"Thank you, big brother!" she said as she kissed him back on the cheek.

"Ako na bahala sa bagahe natin. Off you go to where you want to go. Basta, Anderson, ibabalik mo sa kanila yan ng buong-buo. At wag kang magkakamaling itanan si Asher kung gusto mo nang tahimik na buhay."

"Of course."

At nagsimula na itong lumayo sa kanila.

"Tan, hold up! Where's my mother?" habol na tanong ni Gerald.

"I'll take care her to your place, no worry," sagot ni Hans.

Once Hans was out of their sight, nagsimula na rin silang maglakad palabas ng airport.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong niya.

"Ihahatid kita sa inyo. At kakausapin ko na rin ang mommy at daddy mo. I want to come clean, once and for all, bago tayo pumunta sa kung saan natin gusto."

"Pero wala ka pang pahinga. Why don't we give it another day? Rest ka muna, get some energy. Baka hindi mo kayanin galit ng daddy ko."

"You mean, I need courage to face your father?"

Um-oo siya.

He kissed her again on her lips. "Your love is my courage and that's enough. Basta wag ka lang mawawala sa tabi ko, kakayanin ko lahat."

"I won't."