Dapit-Hapon

Chapter 40: Dapit-hapon

Nixon's POV

Asher and I took a walk to the bridge where we use to go to. It was nothing but a cold and silence moment not until Asher broke the ice.

"Ikaw ba 'yung nagbibigay ng tinapay sa akin araw-araw sa lamay? At kay Apollo mo pa talaga pinabibigay?" he asked me.

I answered with a nod and said, "I kinda didn't want to tell you that because I think you won't eat it. Baka kasi galit ka sa akin."

"Why would I be mad at you?" tanong niya sa akin. "Mahal kita, Nixon. The night that I left I was so mad at the world and so mad at myself. Kung sana naging babae ako my life would have been so different."

"Yeah it might..." I stopped walking. "And we might not meet and share a lot of things together kung hindi ka lalaki."

"Don't say that to yourself, Baby." I held his hand.

"I'm sorry if I was a coward. That night dapat hindi kita hinayaang umalis, I should've fixed things as soon as possible para maayos tayong dalawa. Hindi tuloy natuloy swimming sa beach. Hindi kita nadala sa mga lugar na dapat dadalhin mo tsaka—" He didn't let me finish when he suddenly hugged me.

"I love you so much, Rainier Nixon Castro." His embrace became tighter.

"I love you so much too, Baby." I hugged him back and kissed his forehead.

"Am I late?" tanong ko.

"You're just in time, Baby." He stroked my back and looked at me.

"Cavs is gone, Baby." His eyes watered.

"She's not, Baby. Cavs will always be here with us and she'll always look over us." I combed his hair.

"Baby?" I called for his attention.

"Hmm?"

"I listened to your album," saad ko. "Ang ganda." Nginitian ko si Asher.

Asher's POV

Hindi ko alam ang itutugon ko kay Nixon. Most of the songs in that album will make you cry, I wonder why he thinks it was good. This man really is weird.

"I'm sorry if I wasn't there the times that you need me." Hinalikan ako ni Nixon sa aking noo.

"Ayos lang. I actually think na maganda ngang nangyari iyon. We both need to breathe. I'm actually glad Papa came along and finally accepted me after almost a decade and a half," pahayag ko sa kaniya.

"Dad agreed with me too— somehow." Nixon chuckled.

"I'm happy for us, Baby." Nixon kissed my forehead.

"Ewan ko sa iyo. Kahit kailan talaga lagi akong rumurupok. Para na akong baliw. My heart is aching a while ago but then dumating ka and it reminded me that I have someone still. Cavs really is looking over me." Napabuntonghininga ako.

"She really is, Baby. She really is." Hinalikan muli ni Nixon ang aking noo.

"Baby?" tawag sa akin ni Nixon.

"I don't want to hide in the bush. I know I just came back but I don't want to regret. Ayaw kong mawala ka pa ulit sa buhay ko. Hindi ko kayang makita kang masaya sa iba in case that happens in the future." Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay.

"I'm sorry for all the pain I have caused you. I'm sorry if my Dad has caused any pain to you too. I'm sorry kung wala ako sa tabi mo sa mga oras na kailangan mo ako. I promise na babawi ako sa iyo. I miss you so much, Baby." He held my hand tighter.

"Sabihin mo kung mabilis kaya ko namang maghintay para sa iyo. Just please don't fall in love with someone. You're mine, Asher Velasco. I don't want to give you up to anyone else. So..." May kinuha siya mula sa kaniyang bulsa.

It was a box and it was a ring. "This is a promise ring. Will you be my boyfriend? Will you be my boyfriend and be mine? Take this ring as a symbol of my love, loyalty, fidelity."

"Will you be my boyfriend, Baby?" tanong ni Nixon.

Sa totoo lang ay gusto ko na ring sabihin na oo. I want to say no because it is quite too fast. Cavs' voice echoed in my head.

Aaminin ko, I don't want to lose him too. I don't want to lose him ever again. Mahal ko si Nixon, that's why I nodded and answerer him. "Yes, Baby... I'll be your boyfriend."

Bigla niya akong binuhat na sobra kong kinagulat. "Yes!" Sobrang lakas itong sumigaw.

Para siyang bata. Ang mga mata niya, kitang-kita ko ang saya kagaya ng sayang nakikita ko sa mga mata niya sa tuwing magkasama kami sa tulay. Walang kamalay-malay ay naluha ako sa sobrang tuwa. Ibinaba ako ni Nixon mula sa kaniyang pagkakabuhat at saglit na hinalikan ang aking labi.

Isinuot niya ang singsing sa aking daliri at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. "I will do everything I can to take care of your heart, My Baby."

After that moment, an ending and a beginner both bloomed. An ending for all the pain that both of us experienced. And a beginning to treasure no matter how complicated things can be.

Losing Cavs was the most painful experience of my life yet it thought me a lot of things in a short period of time. To never live in regret. To keep on risking despite of all the uncertainties in our life.

Nixon and I watched the sun set that day. Wala kaming ginawa kundi ang maupo at panoorin ang dapit-hapon. Sabay naming pinakinggan ang bawat paborito naming kanta.

I closed my eyes and lay my head on his shoulders. Hinawakan niya nang mahigpit ang aking kamay. Ginawaran niya ng halik ang aking noo.

"Mahal na mahal kita," bulong niya.

Natapos ang araw na iyon, at ang sumunod, bawat araw ay binawi naming dalawa para sa isa't-isa tulad ng sinabi ni Nixon. Araw-araw rin naming binisita si Cavs, at sa bawat araw ay pinanood namin nang magkatabi ang bagay na bumuo ng pinagsamahan.

Bawat araw, pinanood namin ang dapit-hapon nang magkasama.