Beyond the Fields

33

"Klein? What are you doing? Why are you still awake?"

In the middle of the night, I was half asleep. I don't know if I'm just dreaming or not but I saw Klein who's packing up his things.

Papikit-pikit pa ang aking mga matang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Napatigil siya nang marinig ang aking boses at dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin. Lumuhod siya sa gilid kama at naramdaman ko ang paghalik niya sa aking noo.

"Thalysia... I'll be away for quite some time..." I heard him whisper. I also felt him caressed my hair as if it was the most fragile thing in the world.

"Where are you going?" I asked softly. Mukha ring bihis na bihis siya... It's still midnight, though.

Matagal bago siya nakasagot. "Somewhere."

"Somewhere? Babalik ka pa ba?" tanong ko pa ulit.

Muli siyang natahimik. My eyes feels so heavy. Inaantok pa talaga ako. Kahit nais kong idilat ay hindi kaya.

Naramdaman ko ang mabigat niyang paghinga. "O-Of course, I will..." Hinawakan niya ang isang kamay ko at hinalikan ang likuran ng palad ko.

His soft lips lingered on the back of my palm. So soft, so warm...

"Do you promise?" I whispered, trying to lift one eye.

I saw how he nodded. "I will always love you, okay?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. I just yawned.

"Thalysia, listen to me..."

"Hmm?"

"K-Kung ano man ang malaman mo, sana paniwalaan mo pa rin ako. All I want to do is to protect you... sana mahintay mo pa ako. Mahal na mahal kita, palagi mong tandaan at panghawakan 'yan. Wala akong ibang mamahaling babae kundi ikaw lang, Thalysia. Ikaw lang ang mahal ko. Ikaw lang ang babalikan ko... ikaw lang ang pakakasalan ko."

What was he blabbering about?

Bakit siya gano'n?

Am I just really dreaming?

Maybe, I am...

Ngunit kada salita niya ay nakatatak na kaagad sa aking utak. Mukhang nais niya talagang ipa-alala sa akin 'yon, dream or not.

"Okay..."

"Babalik ako, babalikan kita. We'll be together soon, okay? I'll do my best... I'm doing this for the both of us. I love you, I'll always will."

I felt his lips on mine.

It was soft and tender...

His lips lasted on mine for a long time as if he never really wanted to go and that he would rather stay with me.

Nakarinig ako ng mahinang paghikbi at paglubog ng kamang katabi ko. Akala ko ba'y aalis siya?

"Fuck... I can't do this..." he said, I felt his arms wrapping around me as he hugged me tightly.

"Why are you crying, hmm? Who hurt my darling?" I whispered.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I have no choice..." paulit-ulit niyang pagpapaumanhin, ang kaniyang tinig ay tila ba'y hirap na hirap siya sa pagsasalita.

"Wala kang kasalanan, ano ka ba..." Mahina akong natawa.

What was he apologizing for? Baliw 'to.

He buried his face on my chest. "I don't want to leave you..."

"Then don't go," I said.

"But I have to..." he said softly.

"Ewan ko sa'yo!" Natawa nalang ako.