One Fateful Night

Chapter 16

"Akin ka lang."

Those words echoed inside my head. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya at hindi makapaniwala. Pero hindi naman siguro panaginip 'to, diba?

I secretly bit my tongue at napangiwi naman ako dahil masakit...ibig sabihin gising ako at totoo 'to.

Pero hindi pa rin ako mapaniwala. Sobra akong natutuwa na natatakot akong hindi totoo ang lahat. This is too much to take pero ito naman ang gusto ko.

Ito ang pinapangarap ko.

Buong puso akong ngumiti at tinitigan siya.

"Oo...sayo lang ako."

He suddenly pulled me again for a hug.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"No worries. Salamat din."

Salamat kasi tinanggap mo ako sa buhay mo, salamat kasi nakinig ka at salamat hinayaan mo akong mapalapit sayo ng ganito. I wanted to say those words but maybe it's better to just feel the moment first.

"I-I'm sorry."

Umiling ako.

"Don't be sorry...I totally understand everything."

"I...didn't mean...those words." he weakly said.

Tumango ako. "I know and it's okay, just don't push me away again 'coz I won't ever leave."

He tapped my shoulders and broke the hug.

He looked at me in the eyes and for the first time and gave me a genuine smile that lasted for seconds.

Nangilid ang luha ko. This is too much to handle but I am loving it so much. I love the thought that the most elusive and aloof person that I know is now slowly becoming comfortable and happy around me.

"I won't...as long as you want to stay with me." nakaiwas tingin niyang sabi.

Napangisi naman ako.

Oh, boy. I want it to be forever.

"You should go," aniya.

I touched his lips with my index finger.

"It's still early and I want to stay longer because I missed you." I said while smiling.

"Okay," he answered.

We sat in the sofa after that. Hindi magkadikit but we can't stop looking at each other's eyes.

Gosh, it's so blissful. I hope I could stay here overnight because I would really love to do that.

We started talking about things...including some things about his past.

I know Nisha already told me the shorter version, but hearing the story from him...felt more painful.

I cried and hugged him because that's all I can do, now that I am hearing the things he had kept inside him for a long time. He already suffered enough and I can't imagine how hard it must be for him to remember all those things.

I also know that what he told wasn't even half of it. Marami pa, but I'm already contented to what he had told me. Ayaw ko siyang pilitin na sabihin ang lahat, lalo na kung maaari 'yong makasama sa kanya.

Remembering is as hard as forgetting, they say. And I can say that it truly is, especially if those memories scarred you.

But whatever it is, I would accept it wholeheartedly kahit gaano kasakit dahil parte 'yon ng buhay niya.

Mahal ko siya kahit sino pa siya at kung ano pa ang pinagdaanan niya.

It was the longest conversation that we had, and it just saddened me that we spent it talking about the past that ruined his life.