From the Ending of a Tragedy

Chapter 23

Final Chapter

From that moment na kasama ko sila, I contemplated that this is a restart, a fresh chapter for me and I am ready for whatever might happen next.

Like a bright sunrise after a dreamy night, slow and steady, as what my heart feels. This is the happiest moment of my life and I couldn't ask for more.

I woke up in the middle of the night, nakayakap pa rin sa akin si Luna. Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang kagandahan niya habang natutulog. I know that no one's perfect but she's the closest to being one. Kayang kaya ko siyang panoorin matulog magdamag and I won't even flinch.

Her smell is one of the things that makes me calm, the scent of vanilla. Sweet and dreamy, just like herself. Luna reminds me of everything brewed, warm and comforting.

I poked her nose before closing my eyes to sleep again.

Luna's sweet and deep voice woke me up, it was 8am and her hair's messy just like mine. Hinila niya talaga ako para bumangon so I found myself lying on the floor, naririnig ko rin ang malakas niyang tawa, she's clearly teasing me kaya bumangon na ako.

Nagtataka ako na kaming dalawa lang ang tao sa bahay just to realize na ngayon ang birthday ko, but I'll act like a fool.

Little do I know that I'll be in a trouble today. Luna surprised me with a gift box, nakatingin siya sakin habang binubuksan ko yon.

It was a photobook of us, every memories we had since when we were kids until now. I sat on my bed, tears streaming down my face as I flipped through the pages of the photobook Luna gave me.

I really couldn't believe Luna took her time to collect all these pictures of us and put them together in such a beautiful and sweet way. I cried tears of gratitude and promised myself that I will protect this precious person for life, for eternity.

She was sitting beside me, watching her guy cry like a baby. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit habang patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-iyak, grabe kailan ba ko tatahan. Naiiyak na rin siya habang nakatingin sa muka kong basang basa na sa sarili kong luha.

"Such a crybaby, Diell. Tahan na." tinatahan niya ako kahit gusto niya na rin umiyak. Inabot niya sakin ang panyo para punasan ang mata at pisngi ko. Luna was smiling as she wipes my tears of joy and love, she hugged me after.

Tinignan ko siya sa mata as I say the words that I was holding in since she approached me again.

"I love you."

Everything was silent in that moment, but we can hear our explosive heartbeats, as if it wants to come out of our bodies.

Pinapanood namin ang isa't isa na malusaw sa sinabi ko. She was smiling yet her tears are slowly flowing down her face.

"I love you too, sobrang mahal kita."

Luna rushed for a hug, a really tight one. Kanina ako ang umiiyak, ngayon siya naman.

I even teased her. "Ikaw ata yung crybaby satin eh." She told me to shut my mouth but I ended up teasing her more, of course. I am that clingy to her.

Nilabas ko ang camera at inayos sa tripod.

"Let's take a photo, papa-frame ko rin"

She nodded as I clicked the timer to 10 seconds.

"Diell"

"Hmm??"

"Mahal kita"

Inakbayan niya ko at sabay kaming ngumiti, ilang beses namin inulit yon kaya tuwang tuwa kami sa kinalabasan. Matagal rin kaming di nakapagpicture ng maayos, gusto ko naman makipagselfie sa kanya pero iba kasi ang feeling pag portrait tapos ipapa-frame niyo pa.

Sobrang saya ko, kasi we made this work again, after the painful events we've gone through. I'll always come back to her embrace, she's my home and everything that's peaceful.

"Happy Birthday Anak"

It was Mom and Dad standing in front of us, holding a cake while Dane's recording what's happening right now. Kinantahan nila ako at di ko napigilang mapaluha, dati kami lang ng kapatid ko ang nakakapag-celebrate, ngayon buong pamilya na.

Nakipag-video call naman sina Jae at Brian dahil busy sila sa kanya-kanyang buhay. Miss na raw nila ako at babalik naman kami after magbakasyon rito. Jae and Brian found their own homes too, masaya ako para sa kanila.
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I spent more time with the fam bago kami umuwi ni Luna at Dane sa Pilipinas, sobrang jetlag ang kapatid ko. My friends are ofcourse, waiting for us sa airport.

"Diell!! We missed you" hiyaw ni Jae habang si Brian ay niyakap ako.
Agad agad binuhat ni Brian ang mga bagahe namin. Medyo nagtataka ako bat nakaitim silang parehas. Brian said he'll explain it later, masyado pa raw masakit para ikwento.

Unang inihatid si Luna dahil malapit lang siya sa airport, kami naman ang isinunod bago ibaba sa flower shop si Jae. Napahiga na lang ako sa sobrang pagod, ang kapatid ko ay kumain muna. My sibling's a big eater, di lang halata.

Wala pa rin nagbago sa bahay, its still clean and neat kahit matagal kaming wala rito, may kakaunting alikabok lang pero yun lang. Hinayaan ko muna ang sarili na magpadala sa pagod para makatulog... ng mahimbing.
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The next day, I invited Luna on a nature park, 20 minutes akong nag-antay bago siya dumating. She was wearing a floral dress while her hair's on a crown braid. Niyakap niya ko bago kami maglibot sa lugar.

It was full of greeneries, trees, smalls plants, you name it. May isang pond rin kaya mayroong tulay na nakatayo roon, the bridge looks old but its foundation looks very tough. Enjoy na enjoy kami kahit ito ang unang date namin with the nature.

Pinapanood namin ang mga isda sa baba ng tulay, nakaupo kami sa isang bench habang nagpipicture. Tinignan ko siya sa mata at agad naman itong kinabahan.

"May gusto ka bang sabihin?"

"Yeah"

Natahimik at agad nag-hintay si Luna sa sasabihin ko.

"Let's start a new chapter here, Luna. As lovers, once again."

Napayakap si Luna na nagpipigil ng luha, she's always a crybaby especially in front of me.

"I love you, Diell."

"Mahal na mahal rin kita, Luna."

We gave each other a sweet kiss, before we start another chapter of our love... this time until eternity.

There's always a new beginning from the ending of a tragedy.
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End