Kabanata 50
PAALIS na ng bahay nina Linel sina Linus upang magpunta ng Monte Costa nang makita nila sa labas ng bahay si Micah. Umaagos ang luha nito at nanginginig ang ibabang labi habang palapit sa kanya. Nangayayat din ito nang husto at tila labis nang napabayaan ang sarili kumpara noong huli nilang makita.
Micah ran towards him and hugged him tightly. "Linus, parang awa mo na ako na lang ulit. I can't find on anyone else what we had. I can't get over us. Nagkamali ako na bumitaw ako, na na-fall out ako noon at dinahilan ang tungkol sa pag-aaral ko. Nagkamali ako and I am admitting it all now. Please, Linus ako na lang ulit."
Tuluyan na itong humagulgol sa kanyang dibdib. Alam ni Linus na ang mga katulad ni Micah, hangga't hindi napapaliwanagan nang masinsinan ay hindi talaga titigil kaya sinenyasan na lamang niya si Linel na hintayin siya upang makausap si Micah, umaasang sa pagkakataong ito ay makikinig na sa kanya.
Nang maiwan silang dalawa, hinawakan niya ito sa magkabilang braso at pinakalas sa pagkakayakap. Ayaw pa nito noong una ngunit pinilit niyang kalasin ang mga braso nito saka niya tinitigan sa luhaang mga mata.
"Listen to me, Micah. The only reason why you think you could never find what we had on someone else, is because you still look for me in every man you meet. Minsan ka nang na-fall out. That will happen again, believe me."
Umiling-iling ito at humikbi. "It won't, I promise. Please—"
"I already fell out of love with you..." He sighed. "I am in love with someone else already, Micah so I wish for nothing but for us to part ways properly. Tama na itong siraan at pagpipilit. I don't wanna hate you forever. I know Ivler doesn't wanna hold grudge towards you as well because he is a wonderful person with a soft heart. Mahal na mahal namin ang isa't isa, Micah, at wala akong ibang hihilingin para sayo kung hindi ang makahanap din ng pagmamahal na kagay ng meron kami. Please do not settle with me, because I could never give you the amount of love I am offering to Ivler. Nobody deserves that."
Marahas na umalog ang mga balikat ni Micah dala ng paghikbi. "Pero hindi ko kaya, Linus. Hindi ko kayang magmahal ng iba..."
Linus flashed a broken smile. "You can. You just have to remember that no man is the same. Someone will always be better than me. Hindi mo lang makita dahil sa akin mo itinutuon ang mga mata mo. Take the blinders off, and I assure you how many men in this world is ready to love you, too. Kailangan mo nang palayain ang sarili mo mula sa pagmamahal mo sa'kin. Look at you? Napapabayaan mo na ang sarili mo. Don't do this to yourself, Micah. Kapag hindi tugma ang tinitibok ng mga puso, hindi na nararapat na ipaglaban pa..."
"Linus..."
"Focus on yourself. Chase your goals and learn to value your heart. When you know your worth, believe me, Micah. You will never have to force anyone to love you. Love comes naturally when we are ready to embrace it. Hindi mo kailangan ng pag-ibig na ipinilit lamang. Hindi mo kailangan ng taong hindi ka rin kayang mahalin nang buo."
Micah sobbed. "Paano kung hindi ko na maranasan? Paano na ako?"
He flashed another broken smile. "You know, when your heart is still filled with unnecessary emotions like anger, fear, or regret, there will never be enough room for an unconditional love. Baka mas mabuti na ayusin mo na muna ang buhay mo. Free up the space, Micah and let go of the baggages you've been carrying in a long time. Kausapin mo ang parents mo at buksan mo ang puso mo para sa paliwanag nila. Harapin mo rin ang mga pagkakamali mo at aralin mong unahin ang sarili mo bago ka maghanap ng pagmamahal mula sa iba. After all, we could never keep the love we couldn't even give to ourselves." Piniga niya ang mga braso nito sa kontroladong paraan. "I wish you the best, Micah. Sana sa susunod nating pagkikita, ibang Micah na ang makaharap ko..."
UMAALINGAWNGAW ang malakas na kantyawan sa loob ng clubhouse dahil sa post-bachelor party na hinanda ng magagaling na myembro ng MCB para kina Linus at Ivler. They invited girls for a show but Linus and Ivler just laughed and said they're no longer interested.
Sa huli ay pinauwi na lang din ang mga babae at sila-sila na lamang ang nag-inuman. They even talked about Linus and Ivler's upcoming beach wedding ceremony where all their friends and families can finally join them as they declare their love for each other.
"Lahat na nga tayo best man, ano pa bang pinagpuputok ng butsi nito ni Sandro?" asik ni Jael na kanina pa namomroblema sa kakulitan ng MCB.
"Ayaw ko nga silang kasamang best man. Ako naman ang best man no'ng unang kasal sa London bakit dadagdag pa sila?"
Gui threw some pop corns on Sandro's face. "Bobo, syempre alangan naman display lang kami?"
Napailing nang tuluyan si Ivler. Nang magbangayan na ang mga ito at nagkantyawang magbunutan na lang kung sino dapat ang best man, niyaya na lamang ni Ivler si Linus na pumuslit palabas ng clubhouse.
They laughed when they managed to sneak out together. May surpresa rin siya sa asawa kaya niyaya niya itong magtungo sa maliit na pantalan.
"Are we going fishing, hmm? Or are we gonna have sex on the speedboat?" biro ni Linus sa kanya.
Ivler smirked. "Of course we can do both if you can't get enough of me, love. Madali naman akong kausap. I know how much you find me hot anyway."
Mahina itong tumawa bago nagnakaw ng halik sa kanyang mga labi. Ngumisi na lamang si Ivler saka na ito giniya patungo sa pantalan. Wala pang kaalam-alam si Linus nang sumakay sila sa speedboat, ngunit nang marating nila ang yacht na binili niya kay Alta at pinangalanang Estuaire, napaawang ang mga labi nito at napatingin sa kanya.
"Did you... buy this?" hindi nito makapaniwalang tanong.
Ivler smirked. "I did, and I hired an official mayordoma for the yacht."
"Who?"
Niyaya niya ito paakyat sa upper deck, at nang makita nito ang pamilyar na may edad nang babaeng nag-aayos ng pagkain para sa dinner date nila, nanlaki ang mga mata ni Linus.
"Miss Rodora? How did you get here?" Tumingin ito sa kanya. "Ivler?"
"I found out that she's an immigrant in London who cannot come home due to their huge debts and the issues with the embassy. She's one of the teachers who lost their jobs before so she had to work as a janitress. I offered her some help but she said she can only accept it if I will allow her to work to repay me." He leaned to whisper at Linus. "Of course I'll still pay her monthly I just agreed because her pride is higher than the Empire State."
"Kain na kayo, Sir. Siguradong magugustuhan ninyo 'yan. Ubusin niyo nang may lakas kayong sirain 'tong yate mamaya," ani Rodora bago humagikgik.
"Ate Rodora talaga, hindi nga kami nag-sex no'n," ani Ivler ngunit nginisihan lamang siya nito.
"Pero magsi-sex kayo ngayon?" tahasan nitong tanong na ikinamula ni Ivler.
Linus laughed then hugged him by his shoulders while standing behind him. Mayamaya ay sumagot ito na ikinainit lalo ng kanyang mukha.
"Opo. Yanig 'tong Estuaire mamaya."
Kunwari ay nag-sign of the cross pa ito. "Aalis na pala ako rito at papalikasin ang mga nasa tabing dagat."
Napakunot ng noo si Ivler. "Bakit ho?"
The old lady grinned meaningfully. "Baka magka-tsunami dahil sa inyong dalawa."
Humagalpak ng tawa si Linus kaya pati siya ay napatawa na rin. Pambihira talaga ang bibig ng matandang babaeng may sa-anghel yata ang bibig. If God doesn't really take jokes, then Ivler must thank Rodora for saying that he and Linus are together when she first met them.
That's probably the most hilarious and the best joke ever, and he's one lucky guy that it came true.
--
a/n: This is the final chapter. The epilogue will be exclusively available now in the VIP after several months of being available on Wattpad. The other books under Monte Costa Series are exclusively available in the VIP Community as well. Message our Facebook page to learn more about the VIP group. FB page: Sol's VIP Exclusives Page
BINABASA MO ANG
MONTE COSTA SERIES #4: Estuary Of Love [BL]
RomanceWhat was supposed to be a chill day ended up a complete disaster after Linus was mistaken as his twin who caused Ivler and his girlfriend's break up. The two ended up staying in one cell overnight for causing trouble at a bar, but what seemed to hav...