When Two Strangers Meet...

39th Meeting

❝ There was once an entity, who send Gifts to whom they are destined to be given.
A pure one, who only desires of nothing except from seeing the Gifts on their respective homes, being taken care of the family they belong.
Due to his kindness, the Supreme Being granted him his own Gift.
That Gift was the Soul.

Born from Life and Miracle's timeless love for each other. ❞

- D 

    
    
     
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Fleur     
      
     
    
Noong magkaharap na kami sa isa't-isa, inangat ko ang hawak na paperbag at ipinakita ito kay Ryle. Napapunta dito ang tingin niya at kita ko sa kanyang mga mata ang pagtataka.

"I-I have known that it's your birthday t-tomorrow. That's why I bought you a gift." kinakabahan kong sabi sa kanya.

Maya-maya'y tinanggap niya ito pero hindi niya binibitawan ang kamay ko. Nang tingnan ko siya sa mga mata, nakangiti si Ryle sa'kin at kitang-kita ko kung gaano siya natutuwa sa ibinigay ko.

"From whom you have known my birthday?"

Napayuko ako.

"Nakasalubong ko si Joy sa grocery shop kanina. Sa kanya ko nalaman na birthday mo bukas."

His stare gave me confusion as it looks like he was entertained to see me explaining.

"I see."

Nang maramdaman kong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa'king kamay, napatingin ako sa stoplight at nakitang wala pa rin itong ilaw.

"Are you here to repay what you've done from the past few days? I admit that I was hurt when you started ignoring me. May ginawa ba akong mali?"

Umiling ako.

"N-none. Wala kang ginawang mali. I'm sorry if I ignored you. I was also guilty on what I did. Hindi ko kayang mawalan ulit ng kaibigan."

When I was going to cry, dahan-dahan akong hinila ni Ryle upang yakapin. His embrace feels like home. It's the same on how I felt when my parents came back to us. My face was buried on his right shoulder and I hugged him tighter. Tonight, I just realized that no matter what anyone else say, I don't want to be separated from him.

Parang may kulang kapag napapahiwalay kami sa isa't-isa.

"You don't need to apologize. What's important right now is you've come to see me. A night before my birthday." bulong niya bago ako halikan sa buhok.

Noong kumalas kami mula sa pagkakayakap, inimbitahan niya akong sumama sa bahay niya. Marami daw siyang pagkain doon at kakapadala lang daw ni Joy ng mga 'yon. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na sumama sa kanya dahil gusto ko rin bumawi sa pang-iiwas sa kanya noong mga nakaraang araw.

Medyo malayo ang bahay niya mula sa Chinatown kung kaya't sumakay pa kami ng jeep. Nang makababa sa harap ng kanilang bahay, napansin kong halos dulo na pala ito ng bayan.

"Medyo madilim dito tuwing gabi dahil iilang poste lang ang may mga ilaw." sabi niya habang binubuksan ang gate.

"Parang delikado na dito kapag naglalakad ka tuwing gabi."

Noong tumunog ang gate, tumingin sa'kin si Ryle at sinenyasan akong sumunod sa kanya.

"If you're afraid to go home later, ihahatid kita sa inyo."