"Hi, guys! For today's vlog, we're going to..." I looked at my boyfriend who's currently putting our bags and luggage in his car's compartment, lumapit ako sa kaniya at sabay naming sinabi ang Lugar kung saan kami pupunta para sa next vlog.
"Baguio!" We said in unison while smiling widely at the camera and our hands were widely opened. He kissed my cheeks in front of the camera before he opened the car's passenger seat. I always ask him why he's always letting me sit in the passenger seat when we can sit together in the front seat naman, and he always answered me with this:
"I told you so many times, I want you in that seat not because I don't want to be near you but because I always want to sing you that particular song, that makes me calm and warm whenever our eyes meet in the rearview mirror, so, please, hop in. My queen." He slightly bowed his head and wink at me.
One of things that me and Axel makes time together is our hobby that we both like and that is traveling and road trips, through the years whenever it's our anniversary or we want to breath from this chaotic world, we'll go to different places and that's our way of pahinga being with each other's company while singing in the car and star gazing at night.
And as the time goes by, we decide to vlog our whereabouts, to share the places we've been to and to keep the memories and lessons we shared through the years.
He started the engine and as I saw how the houses became small from afar, he played the stereo as my hair was blowing in the open window of his car.
Nung una ay hina-hum lang niya ang kanta hanggang sa sabayan niya na ito habang pasulyap-sulyap sa gawi ko.
"And I've got all that I need, right here in the passenger seat..."
He smiles at me as if I'm the most precious thing he always wanted to have.
"And I can't keep my eyes on the road,
Knowing that she's inches from me..."
We stop to get something to drink, and I think he's already thirsty but he refuses to stop so, I put the drink in front of his mouth with the straw on it, so he can take a sip but I was startled when he suddenly stopped the car at the side of the road and after taking a sip, he put a smack on my lips and pinched my cheeks.
"Axel!" I shout at him in a bit of an annoyed tone.
He only laughed at me and started the engine again.
"You're so cute, Ysabel. Can't stop just staring at my girlfriend."
I jokingly rolled my eyes at him as if I was not affected by his words.
"Welcome back to our channel! For today's vlog. Since it's our fourth anniversary, we're going to... Paris!" I excitedly announced as we celebrate our fourth year together.
In every occasion, we film our memories. We share it to the world, despite the judgemental society, all we think is that enjoy while it lasts.
Because who would have thought our supposed to be a trip to Morocco for Axel's birthday will turn into a nightmare?
"Ysabel, anak. Please, wake up." I heard mommy say and I felt her hot tears in my hands while holding it tight.
"Honey, our daughter is strong, she'll wake up." I heard dad said as I heard his footsteps getting nearer on where I was.
The white ceiling of the hospital greeted me when I opened my eyes, I tried to move my body but I can't, maybe it's because of the dextrose or IV fluid that injected on me.
"M-mom?" I can't even utter the word properly, it came as a whisper.
Mom's eyes widened and dad's start to call the doctor to let them know I gain back my conciousness.
Everything seems to be a blur to me, that day, Axel's birthday, it was on the seventh day of August when our car bumped into a truck that's burning along the way, and because Axel's in the front seat causing him to be more severe than me.
I always ask them where Axel is, is he alright? Is he fine now? I badly want to see him but they can't let me, and they seem to be avoiding my eyes whenever I'm asking them about him. I don't want to think the other way around, I know Axel's a fighter, and he won't leave me. He loves me.
Days, weeks, and months passed after I regained my strength, although I still have a shoulder sling in my left arm. They said that I can already be discharged.
I heard the knock from my door, so I got up and opened it. I was greeted by Axel's mom; Tita Alexandra. We sat on my bed and I was surprised when she took my hand and put a ring on it, when our eyes met. I saw the tears escape in her eyes.
"Ysabel, you know, I really like you for my son. When you're not still together, he always asks his dad, how to court a girl and when months passed, I learned that you said your 'yes' to him, this time. I'm the one he asks, "Mom, how to cook afritada?" I ask him why, because he never cooked, and he just answered me; "I want to learn how because it's Ysabel's favorite." Everytime, you two go outside, I always saw the glistening joy in his eyes whenever he came home. And I really thank you for making my son really happy." My heart warms because of what Axel's mother said.
"No, Tita. He's the one who makes me happy, too." I laughed a bit to stop my tears from my eyes to fall.
"That day, Axel's birthday. He planned to propose to you in Paris. He already asks for your hands to your parents. We were so happy, Ysabel. That you two finally, going to settle down, to build your own family, but maybe things doesn't go according to what we plan. There's always a challenge in every road we take, anak. It's been months, I know it's hard to move on and to start over again, but do you think Axel will be happy if he found out you're not treating yourself right?"
And this time, my tears run down from my cheeks at the mention of his name. Tita Alexandra hugged me tight, whispering everything will be well, soon.
Years had passed, I'm now working in my family's company taking over my Dad's position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Villa Corp.
I was about to go home when I forgot my car's key, so I had to wait for the taxi to come by.
As I slid myself inside the taxi, the familiar song echoed in my ears.
"Oh, I've got all that I need
Right here in the passenger seat
Oh, and I can't keep my eyes on the road
Knowing that she's inches from me"
Every time I hear this song, all I remember is his voice who sent a warm and tingling sensation inside me because the person who used to sing me this song drove to heaven.
And as I used to, I looked at the rearview mirror, even though I knew Axel's eyes would not meet mine anymore, but what surprised me is the familiar dark hazel eyes that greeted me.
