Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Other people say that those couples who reach anniversary tend to get bored to each other already because it has been a long time since the spark that they feel started, and probably, after a year, it's entirely gone. Well, it isn't love if you're just basing on the spark and chemistry that you feel. Spark and chemistry aren't the definitions of a true love.

Today's our first anniversary, December 16, the first mass of misa de gallo. We have reached this far, only to feel more profound love for him. Mas lalo lamang lumalalim habang tumatagal, kaya hindi ako naniniwala sa sabi-sabi ng iba na magsasawa na sa isa't-isa kapag tumatagal ang relasyon.

"Happy first anniversary, Julienne..." Caleb embraced me immediately as soon as I went out from the house, and he kissed my forehead after that. Napapikit ako.

"Grabe, alam mo bang paggising ko kanina, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na isang taon na pala mula noong sinagot mo ako. Hindi ko namalayan ang oras dahil... ikaw 'yong kasama ko, e. The day you gave your yes to me still gives a new feeling to me. It still lingers in my mind every night after our phone call ends. Iyon din kasi ang pinakamasayang araw sa buhay ko. Mas lalo lamang lumalalim ang pag-ibig ko sa 'yo..."

He grinned whilst giving me a white rose that I euphorically accepted.

I also smiled. Memories of us inside of a year flashed in my head like an unending splashes of the waves.

"Ako rin. I can't believe that it's been a year since I ate what I had said... I've said firmly to myself before that I'm not into being in a relationship with someone, that I'd rather be a lifetime single." I chuckled nonchalantly.

"Scammer ka sa part na 'yon." Piningot niya ang ilong ko tsaka tumawa. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and we begun to walk.

"Caleb... Are you okay now?" I asked, pointing out about tito Rico's death. I always ask this at him.

Nakatingin lang kaming pareho sa daan. He will serve again as an altar-server for this midnight mass.

"Oo naman... It's been five months already. S'yempre nasasaktan din sa tuwing naririnig ko ang mga iyak ni mama sa kwarto nila ni tito. She really misses him. Unti-unti naman kaming nagiging okay, nabalik din ang pagpapatuloy namin sa buhay na kami lang dalawa katulad ng dati noong iniwan kami ni papa," nakatulalang sagot niya.

My heart slowly shattered.

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero nagsalita ulit siya, nakangiti na ngayon, "And thanks to God for helping me slowly, healing the wound in me that has been reopened."

"Start na ng simbang gabi. Can we complete attending the 9 days misa de gallo together just like last year?" I asked while fixing my eyes above.

"Oo naman... Another promise, Julienne. Naalala mo last last year. Before this day noong nagkita tayo sa labas ng simbahan. When you first heard my cries. I still can't forget that day especially na hindi nalalayo ang petsa ng araw na 'yon sa anniversary natin."

"Of course, I transparently remember that. Araw-araw ko pa nga'ng iniisip dahil coincidence masiyado." I laughed.

"Siguro hindi talaga coincidence 'yon. God moves in mysterious ways. We didn't know... Baka Siya pala ang nag-desisyon no'n. Tapos sa simbahan mo pa ako pina-realize sa signs na hindi ko agad natanto. Nakakahiya." He scratched the back of his head. Natawa ako nang maalala 'yon.

"Perhaps? But seriously, I really laughed hardly in my mind during the time that you still didn't notice the signs on me even if I was just beside you the entire time we walked. Napuyat ka ba no'n kaya antok na antok ka pagkabangon?"