Calle Maganda Series: Grazzle Maila Rudero

Epilogue

          HINDI NA ALAM NI GRAZZLE KUNG PANG-ILANG BUNTONG HININGA NIYA NA IYON SA GABING IYON. Nandito siya ngayon sa gazebo sa may maze garden ng hotel na pinagdarausan ng selebrasyon. Iyon lang kasi ang sabi ng staff na medyo tagong bahagi. She needed a break. She thought she already had enough strength and courage to talk to Ranz but when she saw him speaking at the podium looking so sleek and fine ay bigla siyang kinabahan. Not that she was scared, but the butterflies in her stomach were fluttering like crazy. It's her very first time after a really, really long time to have felt something like that and her emotions were overwhelming her to the point that she couldn't breathe.

Umiling siya. No, it was more than what she felt in the past. Iyon ang unang beses na nakaramdam siya ng ganoon para sa isang tao.

Naiinis na napayuko siya sa stone table na nandoon. Where did all her courage go? Pakiramdam niya ay unti-unting nawawala ang lakas ng loob na pinag-ipunan niya ng matagal. And her mind is clouded with thoughts if she was enough for him. The image of him standing proud on that stage with his family behind him kept reminding her of how far their status are from each other. His grandmother may have acknowledged her for him, but what about his parents? Will his parents be okay with someone like her? "Ugh. Why am I thinking things like this at this time?"

Ilang minuto lang siyang nakayuko doon at nag-iisip. "Ahh! Bahala na!" huminga siya ng malalim saka umayos ng upo. You can do this, Grazz. Don't think of what else would happen next. Saka mo na pag-isipan kapag nandiyan na. With her new found courage she cheered herself up only to froze when she felt arms wrapped around her. Sisigaw na sana siya nang mapagsino ang yumakap sa kanya. She knew that presence very much. And those arms, kilalang kilala niya ang yakap na iyon.

"Théa... you're here. You are really here." Bulong ni Ranz na siyang mahigpit na nakayakap sa kanya.

"B-Boss..."

"I've finally made it. I whole heartedly accepted the position. Hindi ka na aalis diba? Say that you'll stay by my side. Please?"

"M-masaya ako na bukal sa loob mong tinanggap ang posisyong nararapat naman na sa iyo. Pero gaya ng napagkasunduan ay hanggang dalawang buwan lang talaga ang pagiging sekretarya ko sa'yo.—"

"What?—"

Lumuwag ang yakap nito sa kanya kaya mabilis niya itong pinigilan. "W-Wag. Wag mo muna akong tingnan ng harapan. Marami akong gustong sabihin at ipaliwanag sa'yo at madi-distract ako kapag napapatingin ako sa mga mata mo. Just," huminga siya nang malalim at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang mga braso nito. "Just let me continue to speak."

Marahil ramdam nito ang panginginig sa boses niya kaya hinayaan lang siya nitong gawin ang gusto. He didn't speak but she felt him hug her tighter. Alam niyang gusto nitong kontrahin ang nauna niyang sinabi and she's thankful na hinayaan siya nitong magpaliwanag. She took one deep breath before starting her story.

"As you know already nagpunta ako ng Singapore. Iyon ay dahil may mga kinailangan akong ayusin mula sa nakaraan ko. Diba kilala mo si Mia Lee-Yap?"

Ramdam niyang napatigil ito, "Yes, but I promise you, théa, I only got involved with her before I met you. And please believe me when I say nothing happened between us."

"Naiintindihan ko. At hindi ko binanggit ang pangalan niya dahil sa nakaraang meron kayo. I brought her up because she is part of the past I was trying to forget. Mia and I went to the same university. You see, I was part of the girls' basketball team back in college. Mia's h-husband was my s-suitor, or so I thought.