The River

HULING KABANATA

HULING KABANATA

Sabi nila, love requires unconditional acceptance. If you love someone you will be able to accept everything in her; her smile, her tears, her past, her weakness and strength, her flaws and imperfection. You can accept all of her without feeling any remorse.

Sabi nila, kapag mahal mo ang isang tao ay kaya mong tanggapin ang kahit na ano mang disesyon nito kahit na ikakasira mo ito. Kaya mong tumanggap ng kahit na anong sakit kung ikakasaya niya ito. Na hindi lahat ng pagmamahal ay natatapos sa huli ng magkasama pa rin kayong dalawa, may pagmamahal na natatapos sa huli ngunit wala ka nang ibang kasama kung hindi sarili mo na lang.

I thought it was easy to accept something even though we didn't ask for it. That acceptance was the only way for your aching heart to be healed, but what if it can't cure your heart's wound any more? What if the only cure was the person's presence that is also the cause of your wounded heart?

I still remember how my eyes sparkled when her cold one met mine. How my mouth was spitting words nonstop even though it's all nonsense because I want to make a conversation with her. How I always approach her. How I am trying my best to get close to her even though she always repay me with her cold gazes.

The first time I met her, I was eight years old at that time, still too young to know the meaning of love but already knew what the word crush means. I still remember how my little heart stop from beating for a moment when our gazes meet each other. That time, I already knew I had a crush on her.

"I already have a crush," May pagmamalaking bungad ko sa mga kaibigan ko.

Limang pares ng mata ang agad ng tumingin sa akin.

"Sino?" Tanong ni Boboy.

"Kailangan pa bang tanungin kung sino Boboy? E, halata naman kung sino, e." Singit naman ni Alex.

"Kilala mo ba, Alex?"

"Oo naman. Si Cheryl ang crush mo, 'no? Tama ba ako, Issar?"

"Ha? Anong si Cheryl. Hindi no," Tanggi ko agad.

"Bakit parang defensive ka, 'tol?" Nang-aasar naman na singit ni Danny.

"Kasi hindi naman talaga si Cheryl ang crush ko. Iba siya. Iba siya sa lahat ng babae rito sa school."

Yes, she was so different from the other ladies I've ever met. She's not warm like the others. Not as sweet as them. Hard to catch the emotions. She's not even look approachable. She's as cold as ice. But even though she treated me like nothing, my eyes were only focused on her. She was the only person I wanted to spend my life with. That's why she's different from others.

"Happy 9th birthday, Avonlea and Issar!" Everyone around us greeted us in chorus. I gave them a genuine smile.

Who would have thought that we had the same age and the same birthday? It might be destiny. It might be a sign that we're meant for each other. That this story is really made for us.

"Let's play, Avonlea!" I shouted the moment I saw her in their backyard, playing with her soccer ball all by herself.

Hindi niya ako pinansin at nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagsipa ng bola. Hindi ko mapigilang humanga sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan siya kung paano niya sipain at habolin ang bola na para bang nasa isa siyang competition.

Wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang kulitin siyang turuan ako at isali sa laro niya. But all of my excitement was crushed when she kicked the ball in my direction. The ball with a mud all over its body directly hit right in my face.

Hindi ko na mapigilan ang sariling umiyak dahil sa sakit. I thought she can only hurt me mentally by pushing me away from her. But I didn't know she can also hurt me physically.