No One Else

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23

Forgotten

Walang mapaglagyan ang pag-aalala ni Belle para kay Sam. Halos hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya. And there was nothing she could do but to wait for news about him and the other soldiers who were with him for hours. Until she heard that they were coming back after a backup was also sent to them.

And now Sam was getting out of the service vehicle, while Belle expected the worst—she expected to see him with war bruises and worst a gunshot. Hindi na siya nakapag-isip pa nang maayos. Parang may sariling isip din ang mga paa niya at basta na lang itong unti-unting naglakad papunta sa kay Sam...

Habang natigilan din naman si Sam nang makita niyang papalapit sa kaniya si Belle. Nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata at nagkatinginan silang dalawa. At binaling pa niya ang katawan sa papalapit sa kaniya na si Belle...

"A-are you okay..." her voice trembled when she asked him.

While Sam's eyes widened as he saw Belle's reaction. Nanginginig ang boses nito habang tinatanong siya kung ayos lang ba siya. And her complexion was pale. And her eyes showed that she was about to cry...

"Isabelle..." Sam's lips parted.

Sam was fine. He didn't even have any bruises. It wasn't safe and they were put in danger just few hours ago. But because he had already expected something and he planned ahead, kaya naman hindi na rin sila napahamak ng mga kasamahan niya. And maybe the first news that came here with Belle was just a little exaggerated. Dahil may humarang nga sa kanila pero nagawan din naman agad nila iyon ng paraan at wala nang malala pang nangyari.

"Belle, I'm fine... I'm okay..." he tried to reassure her. And then he lifted his hand to reach Belle's eyes to try and wipe her tears...

"I'm sorry," umiwas naman si Belle at agad din niya na pinunasan ang luha niya. "I was just worried..." sinabi niya kay Sam.

Habang lumalakas naman ang pintig sa dibdib ni Sam sa bawat sandaling naroon sila at nakatayo na malapit lang din sa isa't isa. And although his own heart hurts a well while seeing Belle shedding tears in front of him, but at the same time his heart also fluttered to hear that she was worried for him...

"I'm really okay now, Isabelle... Nothing bad had happened to me..." he gently told her.

Pero hindi pa rin mapigilan ni Belle ang mga luha niya. And Sam watched her with some awe in his pair of eyes now...

They were only married for a few months, at hindi man lang nag-isang taon silang mag-asawa noon. But they had already spent enough time together and to know of the things about each other. So it wasn't anymore a shock that they've grown attached...

"Isabelle, please, look at me. I'm really okay now. Wala nga rin akong sugat. I'm fine, Belle..." pang-aalo na niya ngayon kay Isabelle na hindi na matigil sa pag-iyak sa kaniyang harapan.

And for some reason a small smile formed on his lips. Hanggang sa hindi na rin niya napigilan ang kaniyang sarili na dinala niya na sa kaniyang dibdib si Belle at niyakap ito. Then he comforted the crying Isabelle...

Hanggang sa naramdaman din niya na niyakap na rin siya pabalik ni Belle. Gusto nang mangiti ni Sam at niyakap na rin niya lalo si Belle. And even him was comforted by their warm embrace.

Isabelle's worry for him had put him in awe...

But probably they both have also forgotten the fact that there were still people watching them—the soldiers and the other part of the medic team...

Hiyanghiya si Belle pagkatapos ng eksena nila ni Sam kanina sa labas. Nakalimutan din niya na may mga tao pa palang nakakakita sa kanila na ganoon. Pulampula ang mukha niya sa kahihiyan at gusto niya rin mag-apologize sa mga kasama...

"Are you okay now?" Sam asked her and now that they're alone.

Binalik naman ni Belle ang atensyon niya kay Sam. Tumingin siya rito at unti-unting tumango. "I'm okay..." sagot niya kay Sam.

"That's good. I hope you have finally calmed down now..." Sam said.

Napayuko naman si Belle at naramdaman niya muli ang pag-iinit ng mukha niya sa kahihiyan. Nahihiya pa rin siya sa ipinakita niya kanina sa lahat. Pero hindi niya lang din talaga napigilan kanina ang sarili niya sa sobra-sobra niya ring pag-aalala...

Tumingin siya muli kay Sam. He looked well like what he said. Mukhang wala nga rin siyang sugat o kung ano. Ngayon pa lang siya nakahinga nang maluwag nang makita niyang okay lang ito. "I'm glad..." aniya.

"Were you really that worried for me?"

Nagkatinginan sila ni Sam pagkatapos siya nitong tanungin.

And Belle still felt a little embarrassed. But then she slowly nodded her head because she was really worried for him...

At kanina habang wala pa siyang magawa at naghihintay lang ng balita tungkol kay Sam, she also realized something. And it included her regrets...

She actually regretted that she didn't tell Sam about her real feelings even back then. At nang mga sandali kaninang akala niya ay baka hindi na sila muling magkita ni Sam... ay labis din ang kaniyang pagsisisi...

Kaya naman ngayong nasa harapan na niya ito ay ayaw na niyang may pagsisisihan pa siya. And she's willing to accept whatever the results will be of her confession...

"Sam—"

"Isabelle,"

At halos sabay pa silang nagsalita at tinawag ang pangalan ng isa't isa. Muli sila nagkatinginang dalawa.

"May... sasabihin ka ba?" she asked Samuel.

Bahagya naman umiling sa kaniya si Sam. "Mukhang may sasabihin ka rin," aniya naman.

Nakatingin lang silang dalawa sa isa't isa nang ilan pang sandali. Hanggang sa umiling din si Belle kay Sam. "Ayos lang, uh, mauna ka na kung may gusto kang sabihin..." sabi niya kay Sam.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded at him. "Yes,"

And then Sam nodded his head a little. "Alright... Well, then..." He then looked up at her again to meet her eyes.

And Belle also watched his pair of beautiful dark eyes back...