Dear Marco ✅

XXVI

XXVI - THE BEGINNING AND THE END

An eyesore. That's what they are to Marco. Habang nakatingin siya sa dalawang tao na nasa harapan niya ay napahigpit ang hawak niya sa bulaklak. His fingers felt the crease in the wrap of the bouquet as his grip grew stronger.

Is he too late? Did she finally found somebody who can fight for her?

And Rafael of all people. Their childhood friend, Rafael. Parang mahihirapan siyang tanggapin ang katotohanan na nakikita niya sa harapan niya.

"Where are you looking at, you dummy?" Tatawa tawang tanong ni Nes bago sinundan ng tingin ang kung ano mang nakaagaw sa atensyon ni Rafa. Only to be surprised with what she saw.

Standing there was Marco. Balot na balot ng damit panglamig and holding a bouquet. For her? Tanong niya sa isipan niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki.

Bumitiw siya kay Rafa pero naramdaman niya ang paghigpit ng kamay nito sa kaniya kaya napalingon siya dito.

"Rafa... He's here..." Aniya rito na para bang sa simpleng salita niyang 'yon ay mapapaliwanag ang kabog ng dibdib niya.

Marco's here. He's here in front of her.

Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya. Gusto niyang tawirin ang pagitan nilang dalawa ni Marco. Nandito ba ito para sa kaniya? Pinuntahan ba siya nito dahil alam nito na nandito siya sa America ngayon? Bakit ngayon lang? Napakarami niyang gustong itanong pero hindi naman siya makagalaw.

"Go, love. Give your heart a chance to be finally happy. Without regrets, without restrictions." Bulong ni Rafael sa kaniya. Tila isang hudyat sa karera ang naging bulong nito para sa kaniya.

One step, two steps, three steps until she was running to him. Tinalon niya ang distansya nilang dalawa ni Marco bago ito mahigpit na niyakap.

"You're here, right? You're here for me, right?" Halos basag ang boses niya habang nagsasalita.

"I thought I was too late..." Sagot lang nito sa kaniya.

Binitiwan niya ito saglit para makita ang mukha ng lalaki. There she saw a sad smile on his face. Sad? Why is he upset?

"When I saw you and Rafael together, I really thought it was too late for me. I thought you finally realized that I'm not worthy of you at all and found someone who can fight for you. Someone who'll stay when you need him." Anito at ngumiti ng malungkot.

"I was too much of a coward, I'll admit that. I took things for granted until we got here in this situation. I'm unredeemable." He shrugged and winced.

She chuckled at him and shook her head, "I understood you. I knew why you things had to escalate up to this point. We will never learn if we aren't hurt, Marco. I'll never know how far I could go in pouring my love to you and you'll never have the courage if these things didn't happen. You could say I have a soft spot for you so I guess I'm unredeemable, too."

"Hey, love birds. As much as I don't want to cut your reunion short, the event's about to begin." Putol ni Rafael sa kanilang dalawa.

She felt the smirk on her face as Marco threw daggers on Rafa who was ignored by the latter.

She then felt his hand inching towards her until they were both holding each other's hand. Pilit niyang pinipigilan niyang mapangiti.

A lot might say that she should be mad...but true enough, she isn't. Ni katiting na galit sa puso niya ay wala siyang makapa. Gaya ng sabi ni Marco, ang meron lamang siya sa puso niya ay panghihinayang. Panghihinayang na baka hindi na siya muli magkaroon ng pagkakataon kasama ito.

But fate works wonders ika nga. Sa panahong wala na siyang inaasahan pa rito ay ito naman ang nagparamdam. Kahit alam niya sa sarili niya na umaasa pa siya, sa loob ng ilang buwan na wala siyang balita rito ay medyo tinanggap niya nang malabo na magkaroon ng katuloy ang kwentong naputol.

Sinulyapan niya muna ang magkahawak nilang kamay bago ang nakangiting mukha ng lalaking katabi.

Pinagmasdan niya kung papaano nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Marco nang dahan dahang ipinakita ang masterpiece niya. Alam niyang naunawaan nito na ito ang naging muse niya para maging masterpiece.

"I kinda know that it's about me...about us. Does that make sense?" Bulong nito sa kaniya.

Natawa naman siya ng bahagya. "Yeah, it does. That's art." She shrugged.

"I'm still wondering..." Anito sa kaniya.

"About what?"

"Why did you choose me? Why me?"

Saglit siyang tumahimik habang pinapaliwanag ng host ang art niya. Base ito sa ipinasa niyang description ng art at ibig sabihin nito.

"... I've always believed that my life is a plain canvas. My only purpose is to show what others wants to see. Pero ikaw iba ka... You make me look at myself. You're like my mirror. A reflection of what I want to see...

"Or maybe that's not it, maybe it doesn't have to be so meaningful. Maybe I chose you without having a deep meaning or backstory about it. I chose you because you're real. And you're you."

Hindi man umimik ang lalaki ay alam niyang naunawaan nito ang nais niyang iparating. Alam niyang alam nito ano ang  gusto niyang sabihin.

Falling in love sometimes doesn't need to be so deep. People fall for the most stupid reason sometimes but keeping that feeling is what makes it special. 

Napakarami pa nilang kakaharapin. Maaaring may mga panahon na hindi magiging payapa ang daloy ng pagsasama nila. Maaaring marami pa silang dapat malaman mula sa isa't isa pero hindi gaya ng dati, hindi na sila kapos sa panahon.

Dear Marco,

Thank you for coming into my life.

Love,
Nes