The Fairy Tale Princess [Wainwright Series 4]

FAIRY TALE 33: Almost Forgotten Gift

KHALLIELEYA

It's not loved. It's still love. Present.

Until now, I love him. Now that I saw him. I love him again.

Pero hindi pa rin mawawala ang dinadamdam ko sa kaniya. He left me for no reason. He distanced himself from me. I'm tired of that distance. I need this. I need him close to me. To a certain degree, my lips can touch his and he holds me in his arms like he is in love with me too. Not a part of a fairy tale anymore, but reality.

"I loved you." I love you.

Humiwalay ako dahil naalala kong mali ang ginagawa ko. Hindi pa kami nagkakaayos pero nagawa ko pang magpatukso na halikan siya tapos magpatawad agad. Hindi muna. Hindi mauulit ang nakaraan. 

Kung talagang hihingi siya ng tawad at gusto niyang magkalapit kami muli ay dapat niya akong suyuin hanggang humupa ang sama ng loob ko sa kaniya. Tapos kailangan ko rin na magmatigas ng kaunti para rin maleksyunan namin ang isa't isa.

May tamang oras para sa lahat, ika nga ni Kuya Codie.

"Inaamin ko na nawala ako. Totoong iniwan kita na walang sapat na kasagutan kung bakit ba kita kailangan iwanan. Ang gago ko, na lahat ng pangako ay aking pinako. Hindi ko maitatanggi iyon Khally, kasi malaking pagkakamali iyon na aking pinagdusahan ng ilang taon." I purse my lips shut. I prevent myself to gape. "Pero, Khally, iyong araw na prinotektahan kita, ay ayokong iwan ka. Hindi ko plano na iwan ka. Ayokong mawala sa tabi mo noon."

My breathing hitches as I slowly move away to see how sincere he was. I want to see the truth from his eyes.

"Ayoko talaga. I tried to stay. I did. But it wasn't enough."

Resentment. I saw resentment. Other than that, it's unpredictable.

"Bakit nawala ka pa rin? Arizs, bakit umalis ka pa rin?"

He hesitates, "This... this isn't the right time to tell you. If I tell you now it feels like I'm trapping you into something you shouldn't be." Umiling siya tapos inabot ang pisngi ko. "I don't want you to feel guilty and ruin your birthday telling you the truth. Not this time. Not yet."

Wala na naman makakasagot sa mga katanungan ko. Kung pagpipilitan ko pa ito, alam kong hindi niya sasabihin ang mga dahilan niya. I'm impatient, yet grateful that he thought about not ruining my day. I think it is for the best.

"Okay. I'll—I'll wait for your explanation."

Ngumiti siya ng tipid. "Sasabihin ko sayo ang katotohanan sa madaling panahon." I flinch. He bit his lower lip. "Ehem... Khally... can I ask you something too?"

"Ano 'yon?"

"Can I... can I give you my gift?"

I was startled. How is he going to give me a gift if he isn't holding anything?

"You can... but I don't see anything."

He scratches his head. "Wala rito ang regalo ko. Pupuntahan sana natin." I gasp. "Kung ayos lang sayo... alam ko! Alam kong ang bilis ko masyado at parang feeling close na ako sayo, pero, matagal na itong regalo ko. Matagal ko nang gustong ipakita sayo. Kaya sana mapagbigyan mo akong ipakita sa'yo."

I feel reluctant approving his question. But excited too. I... I badly want to know what his gift is. It makes me desperate.

"...Show me."

"Huh?"

"Show me your gift. I want to see it."

His eyes widen. There was a sparkle on it too. Brings back memories of when we were younger.