Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

We were still on the right of the white roses' location, staring at each other's eyes with so much yearnings as if it's been a decade since we last meet. I swallowed the lump of my throat.

I stepped backward, but when I did that, he stepped forward, and the next think I know was I felt his... embrace.

His hug was tight like he was really experiencing the yearning for me that long that is comparable to centuries. My hands were like having their own minds that they slowly wrapped his body back, exchanging his embrace.

Isinandal ko ang ulo sa balikat niya, at tinatanaw ang nakikitang sinag ng papalubog na araw dito.

I closed my eyes as the breeze air begun to fly my hair unhurriedly, and when I felt his hand gently caressing my hair. No one talked between us. I want to ask how did he know that I'm here, but my mouth became mute.

Only the serene blow of the wind and the continuous chirping of the birs were the sounds that were created for us at this moment.

"J-Julienne... Bakit ka nandito? H-Halos mabaliw ako kakahanap sa 'yo... Okay ka lang ba rito? K-Kumakain ka sa tamang oras? H-Hindi ka na ba galit sa 'kin nang inuwi kita sa inyo last week?"

Tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko sa balikat niya nang marinig ang boses niyang nasasaktan at parang unti-unting nakahinga nang maluwag. I was the one who let go from the hug, and quickly turned my back at him to wipe my tears.

"I'm s-sorry for making you worry for the entire week. I was... choosing myself to be at peace. I want to escape the reality for a while. It's tiring..."

I asked myself... am I being selfish with this?

I wasn't able to wipe my tears anymore because they simultaneously cascaded that I didn't know how to warn them to halt. I thought I was fine already. Since I came here, I slowly felt the happiness in me that I forgot my reality at a leisurely pace.

Pero ngayong nandito siya, ang isa sa mga taong kilalang-kilala ako, even my soul, I realized that even a bit, I didn't forget my reality because those were just acts all along.

Sometimes, within that entire week, I find myself staring blankly at nowhere, thinking on where and whom I came from. Kahit na inabanduna man nila ako... gusto ko pa rin silang makilala.

Pumunta si Caleb sa harapan ko at siya ang nagpunas ng luha sa mga mata ko. I felt embarrassed... but I continued to sob. He cupped my cheeks and gently made me look at him. His pair of angelic eyes were still welled up with tears.

"Makinig ka... wala kang dapat ikahingi ng tawad kung ang ginawa mo ay para sa sarili mo, a peace for yourself. You shouldn't feel sorry for choosing your peace of mind because you're beyond deserving to do that, okay?"

Dahan-dahan akong tumango sa kaniya. Gusto kong isumbong sa kaniya lahat ng hinanakit ko pero inunahan akong mag-sumbong ng mga luha ko.

Hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko patungo sa duyan malapit sa gazebo.

"How did you know that I'm here?" I asked when we sat on it.

He wrapped his hands around my shoulder. Without hesitation, I leaned my head on his shoulder. Napapikit ulit ako dahil nagustuhan ko ang kapayapaang naramdaman ng puso ko.

I felt how his arm was tightly enveloped on my shoulder, as if he was scared that I will disappear from his arm at this moment. Naramdaman ko rin ang mabigat at magaan niyang paghinga na parang nagpapahiwatig na nasa kapayapaan na ang puso niya.

"Last week... After the day that I brought you back to your house... Pumunta ako sa inyo pero wala ka roon. Nagpa-panic na sila tito at Akisha dahil s-sabi mo raw kay Akisha na sandali ka lang pero limang oras ka na raw na nawawala hanggang sa dumating ang hapon, wala ka pa rin... I helped them to find you. Ginamit ko ang motor ko at kung saan-saan ka hinanap. Hanggang sa mag-isang linggo na... Sobrang nag-aalala na rin si tito sa 'yo, kasi... hindi ko na alam kung saan ka na hahanapin. Araw-araw akong pumupunta sa inyo para i-check kung umuwi ka na ba pero wala pa rin..." He paused, and took a deep breath.