Inayos niya na. Pwede na kaming magkita.
"Sis! Saan ka pupunta?"
Hindi na ako nakasagot pa kay Melanie dahil kumaripas na ako ng takbo papalabas sa bahay. Pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makalayo ay narinig ko pa ang pahabol niyang sigaw.
"Tsinelas ko 'yan, sis!"
Ni hindi na ako nag-abala pang tignan kung tsinelas nga ba niya ang suot ko. Sa gitna na ng malakas na ulan ay nagpatuloy ako sa pagtakbo.
I need to see my Rio.
Sinubukan kong maghanap ng jeep o tricycle pagkarating sa kanto pero dahil sa marahas na hangin at ulan ay nabigo akong makahanap ng masasakyan. Ang kalsada ay mabilis ring sinasakop ng pagbaha.
Tuluyan ng tinakpan ng tubig-ulan ang mga paa ko, ilang minuto lang ang nakaraan. Halos mapapikit na rin ako para protektahan ang mga mata habang binabagtas ang madilim na kalsada.
Sa sitwasyong ito ay hindi ko makuhang matakot. Nananaig sa akin ang kagustohang makita si Rio.
And as if the universe heard my heart's silent prayer, it granted me the best birthday gift I could ever wish for.
"Rio..."
My love is here.
"Rio!"
Warm teardrops instantly began cascading down my drenched face. I hurried towards him, notwithstanding the flood that had already reached the half of my shaking legs. Rio ran to meet me halfway and welcomed me with the only thing that could make me feel warmth under the chilling weather—his embrace.
I buried my face on his chest as hot tears swarmed my eyes. Being in his arms already feels like I'm back home.
"Mahal kita..." he softly whispered.
"Mahal na mahal... sobra-sobra, Tin."
Kumawala ang mga hikbi ko. Mas ibinaon ko lang ang mukha sa dibdib niya para pigilan ito.
"And I'll do everything that gives you bliss and peace... every single thing."
I felt him kiss the top of my head as his arms around me tightened.
"Thank you for making me do what's right, my love."
So, he really did it. He really... turned his back on them.
"Things may get a little tough from now on, but I promise... I promise to give you the world."
Marahan akong umiling at umahon sa pagkakabaon sa kaniyang dibdib. Pinatakan ko siya ng halik sa mga labi habang nanatiling nakayapos sa isa't isa.
"I don't need you to give me the world, when we can build our own universe."
A simple universe where we can live in love, bliss and peace. A universe where we will not leave in fear, regret and guilt.
BINABASA MO ANG
'90s Clichés
عاطفيةSet in the 1990s, 19-year-old outgoing beauty, Tin Escalante, has always had the most cliché dream ever--to live a better life. Growing up unprivileged, she is ready to do whatever it takes to lift herself and her family out of poverty, even if she...