Garden of Words (Compilation) | Completed

18 - Two Is Better Than One

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan.

Maybe it’s because I don’t want to accept that it’s over. Or perhaps because the pain of losing her still feels fresh.

I first met her one afternoon sa coffee shop sa kanto.

It was a regular day; I was just trying to finish some work when I saw her. Ang ganda niya, nakaupo siya sa isang sulok ng cafe, nagbabasa ng libro habang umiinom ng kape. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong tignan siya. Her presence was magnetic, and there was a calm about her that drew me in.

Hirap na hirap ako sa pagtapos ng trabaho ko dahil sa kanyang presensya. It felt as though she was the only one in the room that mattered.

And that’s how it started.

I’d find myself coming to that same coffee shop just to catch a glimpse of her. Ang bawat araw na siya ay nandoon ay parang isang regalo. Minsan, nagpapanggap akong nagtatrabaho o nagbabasa ng libro, pero ang totoo, ako ay lihim na nanonood sa kanya.

One day, the first day I saw her in that café crying. And I finally mustered up the courage to approach her.

“Here,” I said, nervously giving her my handkerchief. 

She looked up at me. Nakahinga ako ng tinanggap niya ito. She dried up her tears and finally squinted her eyes on me.

To my surprise, she smiled warmly. “T-thank you.”

That was the start of our friendship that turns into relationship.

We talked about everything—our dreams, our fears, and our favorite books. She made me laugh, and I began to realize that I was falling for her. So, I court her and she said yes.

I don’t want to keep my feelings to myself. The more time we spent together, the more I fell for her. She had this way of making every moment special.

“Panoorin natin ‘yong bagong Japanese movie.”

We’re celebrating now our first monthsary and I laughed at the thought that she wants us to just watch a tragic movie.

“Tragic ‘di ba ‘yon?” I asked.

Napatango agad siya at sobrang sayang in-on ang TV.
I shook my head and smiled.

Ngayon lang ako nakakilala ng babaeng nasisiyahan sa panonood ng tragic.

We’re here at her dorm kung saan siya malapit nagta-trabaho. Nasa abroad ang parents niya kaya natuto na rin siyang maging independent sa buhay.

“Nakita ko mga clips nito sa tiktok e kaya na-curious ako.” She said, leaning her head in my arm.

Drawing closer.

That’s the title.

Since, I’m into drawing kaya pinagbigyan ko nalang siya. And it captures my interest too. And also look forward to her reaction watching such type of movie.

Hindi pa kami nakakalahati sa movie ay panay na ang iyak niya. I didn’t even feel anything pero siya ay para binabaha na ang dorm sa iyak. The only I did is giving her tissues.

“Hindi talaga natin hawak buhay natin ‘no?” She laughed, teary-eyed. “Iyong tipong kahit gusto mo pang mabuhay pero wala ka ng magagawa kung kukunin ka na.”

I looked at her with her sudden words.
Meron akong nararamdaman na hindi ko maipaliwanag. It was a sense of urgency, a feeling na parang may isang bagay na hindi tama.

“Ivory ko…are you okay?” I asked, hesitated.

Then she looked at me.

“Oo naman, ganito talaga ako manood. Na-ri-relate.”