What Harika said poked his heart—in a sentimental way.
Napatingin si Waki sa kanya na may halong panghihinayang sa mga mata. "Sa tingin mo ba kung natuloy ang planong iyon, tunay ba talaga tayong magiging masaya? I would say everything happens for a reason. Dinala tayo rito ng pagkakataon dahil sa plano kong isama ka sa bakasyong ito. Would you believe that this plan may be the same as it was in the past?" Huminga ito nang malalim at nagtungo sa kinauupuan ni Harika. He chuckled nostalgically. "Ito pa rin siguro 'yong plano kong iyon para sayo."
He touched her hand. Nanatiling nakaharap si Harika sa fire pit habang dinadama ang init na tinataglay niyon. Ilang saglit lang ay pumihit ang ulo niya hindi direktang lumingon kay Waki. She widens her ears to hear what he has to say.
"And what we had right now was totally different from what I had planned. It was so much more," he confessed. "Noon, hindi pa ako marunong magmaneho para dalhin ka rito. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano ko pormal na liligawan ang isang Levantine na tulad mo. I was considering the congressman about it as well. I don't really have the courage as a man and tell you all I feel, but at that moment I knew I had sentiments for you that had grown over time. Ayoko nang maulit ang inudlot kong mga plano para sa 'yo noon... para sa ating dalawa." Humigpit ang kapit nito sa kamay niya.
Take the risk or lose the chance. This time, Waki could tell that he's still into her. Bata pa lang ito noon, alam na nitong mayroon nang puwesto si Harika sa puso nito, marami lang ang mga nangyari sa pagitan ng mga taon kung bakit hindi nito magawang umamin sa kanya at sa tingin naman nito ay alam din ni Harika ang pag-ibig na mayroon ito para sa kanya. They're just pretending they're both oblivious where in fact their actions to one another were really that obvious.
While Harika hopes to become real and dismiss the tainted love she has been holding onto for a while, Waki has ended their skinny love, whatever it takes.
Sa mga nakalipas na taon, hindi lang naman ang prom night na iyon ang unang beses na nagtagpo ang mga labi nila... nasundan pa iyon ng marami pang beses. Kaya't desidido talaga si Waki na ligawan siya, alang-alang na rin sa umuusbong nilang damdamin para sa isa't isa.
Waki moved nearer to her as he felt the warmth coming from the fire in front of them. "Inaamin kong may mga pagkakataong naduwag akong aminin sa 'yo ang tunay kong nararamdaman noon. I have a lot of what ifs when it comes on courting you. Paano kung hindi mo pala ako gusto? Paano kung si Van Doren pala talaga ang gusto mo at hindi ako?" He gave her a thoughtful glance before softly cradling her chin in his fingers. "But I know you knew I'd always has this thing for you, Harika..." he spoke breathlessly, but his words were comforting to her ears like a sound in a silent night
It's hard for her not to get excited and flushed hearing all these things from Waki. Tila ba ang mga inaamin nito sa kanya ay ang mga bagay na matagal na niyang gustong marinig dito noon pa man. And everything indicates that the current situation they're in was just so right for him to confess his long-held affection for her. All falling into place, whatever it takes and Waki has stopped caring anymore and has simply expressed the emotion that had been buried deep within of him for a very long time.
Harika clutched her arms and gently rubbed them after remaining exposed to the cold night outside the caravan for several more minutes. She got up from the chair. "Pumasok na tayo, nilalamig na ako," aniya.
Nakasunod lang si Waki habang alaalalay siyang papasok sa loob. When they entered, Harika sensed his concern for providing her with the most comfortable night she had ever wanted. Inasikaso siya nito, hiniling na sana ay hindi na matapos pa ang gabing iyon.
Nahiga siya sa kama, nanatiling nasa labas lang ng maliit na kuwarto si Waki habang sumasapit ang gabi. Kahit na maaari silang magtabi, mas pinili nitong sa sala na lang ng caravan magpalipas ng magdamag. Kahit man pilitin ni Harika na matulog na noong mga oras na iyon dahil sa pagod at kaunting pagkaantok, hindi niya magawang makatulog kahit pa pilitin niya. Waki's confessions were circling in her head, not letting her have some sleep. Nang dahil dito, tumayo siya, naglakad at dumantay sa door frame ng kuwarto.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Sun in Her Eyes
Mystery / Thriller"You radiate comfort in my eyes." After a chandelier crash, granddaughter of an influential congressman Harika Levantine lost her vision following the death of him. When she became sightless, everyone around her turned fake, suspicious and traitorou...
