where will destiny take us?

☆ 39 ☆

R-18

***

I kissed for as long as I could hold my breath. When we parted, I gasped, smiling at him. I can still taste the blood from his lips on mine.

"I'm really sorry," he said again.

"Hmm.." I brushed his hair back, taking a good look on his cheek that took Dada's punch. Pulang pula iyon ngayon. "Are you okay?"

"I am." Ipinatong niya ang kamay niya sa kamay kong nasa buhok niya. He then brought my hand to his lips, kissing it. "I won't leave, Val."

"As you should because I won't believe you again if you do, considering the confession that you did."

He smiled and I felt it on my hand. "My confession is real. Sobrang mahal lang kita kaya ayaw kitang mahirapan."

"You think mahihirapan ako kapag pinagpatuloy natin kung anong meron tayo ngayon?"

"You might."

My shoulders drooped and I frowned at him. "Ivan naman. Nakita mo ba akong nahirapan noong mga time na magkasama tayo?"

"You did."

"On other things pero hindi ako nagreklamo about your dyslexia." I clutched his hand holding mine tighter. "Don't listen to what Nana says."

His smile didn't disappear but I know it's a sad smile. "I still think she's right."

"Ivan," I scolded him.

"But I'll always try to be the best man for you." Now I can see na his smile wasn't sad at all. He clutched my hand back. "Always."

I sighed in relief. "Just don't be too affected by what she said."

My words seem meaningless on how brutal Nana was towards him. Pero ito lang ang magagawa ko para sa kanya bukod sa kausapin sila Nana. I know they won't listen. And even if I tell Ivan that, alam kong apektado pa rin siya ng lahat ng sinasabi nila.

But, all I can do is talk to him and let him know that I'm here and that they're wrong.

Ivan stared at me, eyes mesmerized and glittering in what I feel like is happiness. "Thank you, Val." He gave my hand another kiss. "For always encouraging me."

"Because I know you," I said. "And you showed me that what I thought of you was wrong."

"And I'm always thankful to you for that."

All of my initial impressions about Ivan are now just a thing of the past. In fact, I don't see him as he is when I met him. That rowdy guy is far different from this loving man who never fails to make me feel his love.