COLLIDED

VIII

He was the one who broke the kiss that they were passionately sharing. He removed his hands away from her back which serves as the support to keep their bodies in touched while they're both savoring their last kiss. And for the last time, he once look at the eyes of the woman she loved that is now glistening because of her uncontrollable tears.

He caressed her left cheek with his palm without breaking their eye contact. Their eyes has a lot to say which their lips could hardly speak. The pain, the regrets, and the love they built from way back then.

"I will never forget this face, Rene.... Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang mukha ng babaeng minsan kong inibig...." He uttered.

Minsan....? Isinuko na ba talaga ako nang tuluyan ng iyong puso?....

I smiled at him bitterly.

"No greggy..... Later on, makakalimutan mo din 'to.... Maraming taon ang lilipas, maraming panibagong tao ang makikilala, may panibagong pag-ibig na mabubuo.... At sa susunod na pagtibok niyang puso mo, may iba nang mukhang nakaukit jan.... Mukha ng taong siyang tunay na nakalaan sa'yo."

"And if that time comes, please know that I'm very much happy for you... You deserve the best greggy.... At nakakalungkot lang isipin na hindi ako ang taong yun." I uttered as I prevent my emotions to take over.

"Ibig bang sabihin niyan, hinahayaan mo na talaga ako, irene?" He asked her.

She just slowly nodded as an answer.

"I guess, tama na nga itong naging desisyon ko. Wala na palang rason para ipaglaban ko pa 'to. Matagal mo na nga pala akong isinuko." He said as he remove his hand slowly from her cheeks.

"Naghintay ako ng napakatagal na panahon para makita ka at ayusin ang nakaraan nating dalawa."

"Nung nakita kita, biglang nabigyang buhay ang puso kong matagal nang humihimlay. Umaasang maaayos pa kung anong meron tayo... Pero nagkamali ako."

"Hindi ko inaasahang sa muli nating pagkikita ay ganito pala ang mangyayari. Hindi pala tayo pinagtagpo ulit ng tadhana upang pagbukludin.... Ngunit pinagtagpo pala tayo dahil may kailangan tayong tapusin." He chuckled bitterly.

"Greg... Panahon na upang palayain natin ang mga puso nating matagal nang nakagapos. Alam kong pareho na tayong pagod. Wag na nating hintaying maubos tayong dalawa." She uttered.

"If that's what you really want Rene.... Who am I to hinder your happiness? God knows how hard I pray for your happiness, I want you to be happy love. Even if I'll suffer in exchange." He said, with a small smile on his face.

"And for this time Irene Victorina Isabelle Marcos, I am now setting you free... I promise I'll do my best to keep myself away from you, so you can have that happiness and peace that you truly crave. I won't bother you anymore."

"Atleast I already know that you already gave up from me.... Kaya't hindi ko na ipagpipilitan pa ang sarili ko, dahil alam ko nang isinuko mo na ako." He smiled bitterly.

She just looked at him intently, her eyes want to say something which her lips could hardly say.

I didn't gave up from you greggy.... I gave up because of what happened, you know that. This love is consuming us two, too much. If I could only admit it to you how much I wanted you always by my side and to never get you out of my sight. I know it's been years and we've just met again recently, but it's hard to deny the fact that I still love you all this time. I love you still greggy! And I'll keep on loving you till my last breathe. But I guess it is much better to keep this by myself.

"Thank you." Lots of thoughts in her head, but that's what her lips could only said.

"Thank you for loving me unconditionally greggy... No one's gonna love me the way you did." She added, with a small smile on her face, preventing her tears.