The Guitarist- Heartstrings

EPILOGUE

OCEAN'S POV

Sinalubong si Ocean ng isang masigabong palakpakan. He smiled at the audience at inilibot ang mata sa paligid nila. The Lazies decided to have a reunion concert sa kanilang alma mater. At parang walang taon na nagdaan, jampacked pa rin ang buong gymnasium sa dami ng dumalo sa mini-concert nila. Katulad ng dati ay present ang mga loyal fans nila since highschool. At ngayon nga ay hindi magkamayaw ang mga ito sa pagtili at pagchant ng pangalan nila. May mga hawak rin na banners ang mga ito at posters.

"Thank you guys!" sabi niya at sumenyas para patigilin ang tilian at sigawan ng audience. Suddenly, the whole gymnasium fell silent.

Tumikhim siya, "Hi guys, gusto ko sanang makinig kayo sa akin. I want to take this moment to share you something very important to me..."

"Hindi ko na mabilang ang mga kantang inawit ko sa harap niyong lahat. But never did I offered any song to anyone before. Now I know why, it was because I was waiting for this perfect moment..." sabi niya at bumaba ng stage. Nginitian niya si Khloe na nakaupo sa front row at nanlalaki ang matang nakatitig sa kanya. Parang alam na nito ang gagawin niya.

"Come..." he urged and took her hand. Kahit naman nag-aalangan ay sumama si Khloe sa kanya hanggang sa makaakyat sila ng stage. Pinaupo niya ito sa nakahandang upuan doon at muling hinarap ang audience na mukhang inaabangan ang mga sasabihin pa niya.

"Everyone, I have a story to tell... a story about me and Khloe..." he said and looked at her bago muling ibinalik ang paningin sa audience.

"I was 5 when I met this little girl sa park sa loob ng subdivision namin. She was walking towards me nang bigla na lang siya madapa sa harapan ko. I laughed at her while she was crying. Pero nung pagtawanan na rin siya ng ibang mga bata ay nainis ako. Feeling ko kasi ako lang ang dapat mang-bully sa kanya so that day, napaaway ako. That was my first fist fight. And that was the day we became friends."

"Eversince that day, we were inseparable. We do things together, naging sobrang close namin na kahit di kami mag-toothbrush pagkagising ay okay lang. We know each other's secrets. Alam namin kung ano ang gusto at hindi ng isa't-isa." he said then chuckled.

"Pero dahil sa closeness na yun ay naging bulag ako sa katotohanan. I was not able to see the truth. And it hurt us both. I was stupid."

"Hindi ko man lang naramdaman na mahal ako ng bestfriend ko. Na nasasaktan ko siya sa bawat pagkakataon na sasabihin kong may bago akong girlfriend, ni hindi ko nakita na nasasaktan ko siya kapag lagi akong nagpapatulong sa kanya sa mga panliligaw ko. Hindi ko alam na umiiyak siya sa mga panahong masaya ako. Hindi ko akalain na ganun ako kamanhid. " he said and paused for a few seconds. Naninikip kasi ang lalamunan niya dahil sa pinipigil na pag-iyak.

"But that wasn't it, kasi hindi ko alam na mahal ko na rin pala siya sa mga panahon na yun. Kaya pala sa tuwing may nanliligaw sa kanya, kinakausap at tinatakot ko na agad... Akala ko kasi ginagawa ko iyon para protektahan siya, pero hindi, I realized I did those things because I am too afraid to lose her. Gusto ko ako lang ang magpapatawa at magpapasaya sa kanya. I was too selfish kasi gusto ko ako lang ang nakikita niya..."

"Guys, I lost her for six years because I drove her away. I pushed her away because I was too blind to see na happiness ko ang priority niya. That she'd rather sacrifice her own happiness and pride just to make me happy. All I cared about was my bruised ego."

"I thought I lost her forever. And it was the darkest part of my life, I was so lost and scared. Hindi ko alam kung magkikita pa ba kami. Kung masasabi ko pa ba sa kanya na mahal na mahal ko siya at nagsisisi ako na sinaktan ko siya..."

"Totoo nga ang kasabihang hindi mo malalaman ang halaga ng isang tao hanggang sa mawala ito sa'yo. And I learned it the hard way. Luckily, God had been good to me. Dininig niya ang panalangin ko na ibalik siya sa akin. Akala ko happy ending na, pero hindi pa pala..."

"She found someone who loves her the way she deserves to be loved. Someone who is very kind and selfless. Someone who will never hurt her. This time ayoko na magpaka-selfish. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ko pipilitin na agawin siya because finally she is happy. Sabi ko this time, ako naman ang magbibigay. So I left. I let her go..." this time hindi na niya napigilan ang luha niya. He cried infront of everyone.

He wiped his tears and continued, "I lost hope, alam ko kasi na ikakasal na siya sa iba. But Mikhail- the one she was supposed to marry called me, he's letting her go... The moment I heard it, hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko. I never had a chance to thank him. So I am doing it now. Mikhail, thank you. Thank you for giving her to me. Hindi sapat ang thank you pero pasasalamatan kita habang buhay..."

Muli niyang hinarap si Khloe na ngayon ay naguumpisa ng maluha, he held her hand and brought it to his lips.

"Khloe, I want to take this opportunity to say sorry for all those times I hurt you, for all the tears you shed, for the heartbreak I caused you. I know one sorry is not enough to make it up to you so I have a proposal to make... " he said and knelt infront of her.

"I promise to make it up to you for the rest of my life. Pangako ko na babawiin ko lahat ng sakit at lungkot. I promise to make you happy everyday. And I promise to love you until my dying day..." he said and held her hand, sa bulsa ay kinuha niya ang singsing na balak niyang ialok dito.

He showed her the ring and it made her cry a little more. "Khloe, will you marry me? " he asked. Inignora niya ang malakas na tibok ng puso niya at ang mga singhap na maririnig mula sa crowd.

Sa pagitan ng pagluha ay ngumiti si Khloe sa kanya, "Yes I will marry you... " mahinang sagot nito, but it was enough to make him cry again. Tuluyan na niyang isinuot sa daliri nito ang singsing at pagkatapos ay agad siyang tumayo.

Humarap siya sa audience habang hawak ang kamay ni Khloe, "Everyone, meet my bestfriend, my love, and my everything..." he said with so much pride and faced Khloe.

Napuno ng palakpakan ang buong gymnasium. "I love you... " he whispered.

"And I love you too..." ganti ni Khloe.

Then music from Liam's piano, his guitar and Raiden's drum set started to fill the whole gymnasium.

Tumapat siya sa mic stand at kumindat kay Khloe na nasa tabi pa rin niya. "This song is for you my love..." sabi niya at nag-umpisang kumanta.

I did everything I could to get you here tonight, without telling you why. Now girl if you only will, please hold out your hand. Just close your eyes...

I've been dying to ask you one burning question. Will you be mine?

From here to eternity I'm asking you to share your life with me. Now and forever I guarantee, I'll always stay by your side. I promise my love to you, I'm willing and able and ready to whatever you need. I am here for you and I'll always be from here to eternity...

I saved a year for this ring, I can't wait to see how it looks on your hand. I'll give you everything that one woman needs from a woman man.

I'll be strong, I'll be tender, man of my words and I will be yours...

From here to eternity I'm asking you to share your life with me. Now and forever I guarantee, I'll always stay by your side. I promise my love to you, I'm willing and able and ready to whatever you need. I am here for you and I'll always be from here to eternity...

He smiled and bowed his head to kiss her. Khloe kissed him back. Napangiti siya, he knows this is when forever begins.

A/N:
Please read:

The Lazies Series:
The Guitarist- Heartstrings
The Drummer- Beat of my Heart
The Pianist- Melody of my Heart

New Series!!!!!

The Goddess and the Pauper Prince
The Witch and the Ice Prince
The Heiress and the Casanova

Thanks for reading!!!!! :)