A Manacled Patient (Rare Disorder Series #2)

Epilogue Part Two

A/N: Finally, the ending of A Manacled Patient. Thank you so much for the support you gave to this story.  Always choose to understand, to choose our words wisely. Let's choose not the be the cause of someone else's sufferings. Thank you for all the love and support for Clementine and Tadeo!

EPILOGUE PART TWO

Kuntentong napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan ang maamong mukha ng babaeng tanging pumuno sa buong buhay ko. Ang magandang mukha niya habang mahimbing na natutulog ay walang ibang dala sa akin kundi kaluwagan ng loob. I have never felt this kind of contentment all my life. Palaging naroon ang pagdududa, hindi ako kailanman nilubayan ng takot at pangamba.

But with her, with Clementine Guinto, I could feel nothing but contentment and happiness. She brings out the best in me. Iyong mga bagay na itinatanggi ko at inaakala kong hindi ko magagawa, ipinakita niyang kaya ko pala. She made it possible for me to trust myself and believed in my capabilities. There's nothing in this world that I would trade off in her place. I don't even think some other woman would be able to leave an impact in my life just like what she did.

My life was nothing but a continuous downfall. Wala na akong nagawang tama sa buhay ko. I did nothing but cause problems to other people, to be a nuisance. I dreamt too high, I became too complacent, and I was so full of myself that I was not able to see the weaknesses that were greater than my strengths. I caused distress to other people resulting in the condition I have now.

Do I regret everything? Kung sasagutin ko iyan noong mga panahong pa na bago pa sa akin ang lahat walang dudang oo ang isasagot ko. But my condition drew me to the woman I love. Kung hindi siguro dahil sa pagtatagpo namin sa ospital malabo na magkita pa kaming dalawa dahil kung ako lang, mananatili akong duwag at takot na lapitan siya.

"Hmm..."

A smile automatically appeared on my lips when Clementine stirred. "Get more sleep, sunshine," I whispered, almost sounding inaudibly not to fully wake her up.

Mapungay ang mga mata niya nang buksan niya iyon para tingnan ako. And I just found myself falling for her cuteness more. Her lids were half open and she repeatedly blinked to help her eyes find focus. "Nasaan na tayo?" halos pabulong na tanong niya.

My smile grew even bigger. My heart felt so full seeing her right in front of me. "We're here."

"What?!" she exclaimed. Her eyes widened in shock and before she could even stop herself, she lightly pushed me back to my seat. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Hindi man lang ako nakapag-ayos," aligagang saad niya.

I contented myself with my seat. Sumandal ako sa kinauupuan ko para pagpasdan ang ginagawa niyang pag-aayos sa sarili niya. She rummaged through her bag, probably looking for her makeup. Nang makita niya ang hinahanap, nagsimula na siyang ayusin ang makeup niya na bahagyang nabura dahil sa kanina pa iyon inilagay dalawang oras na ang nakalipas.

"I'd prefer to look at your bare face, sunshine," lambing ko.

I moved closer to her until I was able to rest my chin on her shoulder. "Doon ka muna, Tadeo," pagtataboy niya sa akin.

"You don't need that thing, Clementine. Maganda ka kapag may ganiyan pero mas maganda ka kung wala. Your beauty shines on its own," I reasoned out.

Kung ako ang tatanungin, bare faced Clementine would always look better than her putting color to her face. Maganda siya sa napakanatural na paraan. And with every action she makes, I just found myself deeply falling for her more.

Noon pa man noong nasa kolehiyo kaming dalawa, malayo siya sa akin at nakaw ng tingin lang ang nagagawa ko ay hulog na ako. Ngayon pa kaya na abot-tanaw ko na siya, malapit sa akin, at nahahawakan ko pa. Seeing her this close to me was a dream come true, a long dream I was able to achieve.