Starstruck Melody (Completed)

Chapter 25

"Take me back, Bel," mahina niyang usal. Nagmamakaawa ang boses at bakas ang desperasyon sa tono nito.

Tears started to form in the corner of my eyes. I had spent so long building walls around my heart, afraid of getting hurt again. But seeing the sincerity in his eyes, I felt those walls begin to crumble.

"P-Paano kung ayaw ko?"

Nanghihina ang boses ko. Isang malaking kasinungalingan kung sabihin ko na hindi ko gustong bigyan ulit ng pagkakataon ang relasyon namin. I've always loved him and always will kahit ilang taon pa ang lumipas.

He stared at me gently. "Then I will wait, Bel. Just like before, handa akong mag intay hangga't kaya mo nang bigyan ulit ako ng isa pang pagkakataon."

Tumungo ako, iniwasan ang titig niyang parang hinihigop ako dahil nakakawala 'yon sa katinuan. "What if you messed up again? Paano kung kailangan mo ulit magsinungaling sa akin?"

Inabot niya ang kamay ko at dinala 'yon sa dibdib niya, sa tapat ng puso niya. "Do you hear this? Sa'yo ko lang nararamdaman 'to. Kapag nakikita kita halos kumawala ang puso ko sa saya."

I met his gaze. "You haven't answer my question yet, Xav."

I felt him slightly squeezed my hand. "I won't let that happen again, Bel. I don't want to lose you again and wait for more fucking years just so I can be with you. I'll make sure I would never make the same mistake."

"Xavier, it’s not that simple," I whispered, my voice trembling. "We’ve been through so much."

"I know," he said, his grip on my hands tightened. "But I’ve changed, Serena. I’ve grown. And I see now what a fool I was to let you go. Please, give us another chance?"

I searched his eyes, looking for any hint of doubt or insincerity. Pero ang nakikita ko lang ay ang lalaking minsan kong minahal at minamahal ko pa rin hanggang ngayon. 

"Xavier..." nabasag ang boses ko. "I’m scared. What if it doesn’t work out? What if we hurt each other again?" sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kanya.

He gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped from my eyes. "We can’t let fear dictate our lives, Serena. We have to take risks, especially for something as beautiful as what we had. And what we could have again."

My heart pounded as I felt myself leaning into his touch. The familiar warmth of his hands, the intensity of his gaze—it was all so overwhelming. Nakakalango ang mga hawak niya sa akin, tipong gusto ko na lang bumigay.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. I have so many doubts inside me but that wasn't enough for me not to trust his word. Lalo't alam ko sa sarili ko na gusto ko rin 'to. Maybe...just maybe, things will get better on the second way around. If not, then I'll willingly give up my love for him. Kahit ang kapalit no'n ay mawala ulit siya sa akin.

"Paano kung ayaw ko pa rin? Liligawan mo ba ako ulit?" tanong ko sa kanya. A flicker of hope crossed his eyes. Namumungay ang matang tumango siya sa akin.

"Pumapayag ka na?"

"No, I'm just asking kung liligawan-"

"Is that what you want, Bel? Liligawan kita ulit, kahit tayo na liligawan pa rin kita araw-araw," putol niya sa sasabihin ko.

Hindi ko napigilan mamula sa narinig ko kaya nag iwas ako ng tingin pero hinawakan niya ang baba ko para magkaharap kami.

May mapaglarong ngiti sa labi nito kaya naiinis ko siyang hinampas sa dibdib. "Stop smiling!" asik ko sa kanya.

He still smiled at me. "This is your fault."

Masama akong tumingin sa kanya. "I'm not even doing anything!"