Hardest to Lose (Villaraza Series #4)

Epilogo

Epilogo

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Love has requirements to be considered one. It has, so it could be delineated from the weaker and fleeting emotions. But it does not ask anything other than purity of feelings and greatest intentions of the heart.

“Where are you? Magsisimula na ang parade!” pasigaw kong sagot sa tawag.

Any minute from now, magsisimula na ang Pride march. Markus promised that he would be here. Pero kanina pa ako naghihintay at wala pa rin siya.

“I’m really sorry, babe. I think I’ll be late. May last minute na assignment na binigay sa’min ngayon, e. Ayaw din ako paalisin ng mga kagrupo ko,” he explained.

Nahulog ang mga balikat ko.

“Just wait for me, okay?” patuloy niya nang hindi ako umimik. “Pupunta ako agad diyan pagkatapos nito.”

“Sige. Take your time. Mas importante ‘yan.”

It was my first Pride march where I no longer had to hide from everyone. My parents couldn’t make it because they were out of the country. My brothers were also busy with their lives and I couldn’t disturb them. My friends were at school, probably taking up quizzes they had been crying about. I had no one to celebrate this freedom but with Markus.

Tapos mukhang hindi rin yata siya makararating.

Ayokong magalit kasi katulad ng iba ay busy nga rin siya. He was in his fourth year, after all. Mas marami nang hinihingi sa kanila. Matatanggap ko naman kung hindi siya pupunta.

Pero nangako siya, e.

I thought this would be a special day to me. I could finally tell the world that I was a lesbian and there was nothing wrong with it. But I couldn’t help but feel blue.

Was I asking for too much if I wanted the people I loved to be here for me?

The march started and I never felt so alone. I tried to blend in by smiling and waving my flag. I succeeded at first. Masaya ako – masayang-masaya. Lalo na kapag nakaka-interact ang iba. But it was short-lived. Because I started searching faces in the crowd, hoping I would see familiar ones.

I saw none.

“What’s with the long face?”

Gulat na napalingon ako sa aking tabi. Inalis ni Markus ang shades niya at ngumisi sa akin. There was a rainbow flag tattooed below his eye.

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi at kinalma ang sarili.

“Tapos ka na sa assignment mo?” tanong ko sa hindi sinasadyang garagal na boses.

Umiling-iling siya at inakbayan ako. “Hindi pa.”

Bumawi ako sa pagkakaakbay niya at hinampas ko siya sa braso. “E ba’t ka nandito?”

Ngumiwi siya at muli akong inakbayan. “Ang bigat talaga ng kamay mo!”

“Markus!”

“Gagawin ko ‘yon mamaya.”

“But—”

He hushed with his forefinger on his lips and drew his face closer to mine. “Mas importante ‘to.”

Hindi ko na napigilan maging emosyonal. I hugged him so tight that I wanted him to explode. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa at nadama ang pagdampi ng labi niya sa aking buhok.

I thought he wouldn’t come!

“Ang dami pala talagang tao dito, ‘no?”

“Nagdala ka ba ng tubig?”

“Hoy, ‘yon sila, o!”

Natigilan ako at bumawi sa yakap. Lumingon ako sa aking likuran at nakita ang mga taong hindi ko inaasahan.

Anong nangyayari?

“Happy pride month, bading!” ngiting-ngiting bati sa akin ni Zenith kasama si Nigel.

“Happy pride month, Iñara!” my classmates, Xavier, Gio and the gang chorused afterwards.

Shit.

“B-ba’t nandito kayo?” nanginginig ang tinig na tanong ko.

“Ano pa, e di susuportahan ka!” Gio replied.

“Pero ‘di ba busy—”

“Hayaan mo na!” Xavier interrupted. “This is your first time as a proud and loud lesbian. We can’t miss you crying over it.”

Buwisit na ‘to.

Wala silang ginawa kundi asarin ako. But it made my heart full.

I just loved them so much.

Akala ko ay tapos na, not until I saw my parents with my siblings, except for Kuya Iñigo, making their way to us.

Everyone was here!

Pagkalapit nila ay niyakap ako nina Mommy at Daddy nang sobrang higpit. Iyong pigil kong mga luha ay tuluyan nang dumausdos.

This was probably the happiest day of my life.

“O, ba’t ka umiiyak?” Markus teased and pinched my cheek softly.

“T-thank you, guys, for coming.”

Xavier grinned. “Maliit na bagay. O, tara na. Nakakaabala na tayo sa parada.”

Tumango ako at nagsimula na kaming lumakad.

May mga bagay na kaya nating bitiwan. At may mga bagay din na anuman ang mangyari ay patuloy nating hihigpitan ang hawak.

Lumingon ako kay Markus at nakita kung paano niya iginuhit ang kapalaran ko sa kanya. Sandali lamang ang lumipas at tinagpo niya ang mga mata ko.

Ngumiti siya at hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay ko.

And I knew from then that I would hold him the same way.

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I'll upload the Epilogo written in Markus' point of view next year on Patreon so stay tuned.

Anyway, thank you so much for reading this story. I'll now be busy with The Dangerous (Quantum Meruit Series #2) and The Scarred (Quantum Meruit Series #3). Basahin niyo rin sila lalo na kung gusto niyo stories related sa law.

Again, thank you.