Beside You [COMPLETED]

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A/N: (____AinA____/Lairre)

"Now that the story 'Beside You' is over, I just want to say thank you so much. Thank you for supporting and reading this story from beginning to end. I truly appreciate you and everyone who supported, read, and enjoyed this story.

Even though the story has ended, I want to say that it will continue to exist, not just in our past or current memory, but it can also remain in our hearts. Each one of us could also be as understanding and an unforgettable friend like Gian and Sophie. I believe that we can also find our true friend who is understanding and unforgettable, whether they come from a faraway place or are just beside us, as long as we never give up and are not afraid to try, whether it's about helping others or understanding and getting to know that person.

If Gian tried to help, understand, and get to know Sophie better, you can also help, understand, and get to know other people. No matter how important communication is in any relationship—whether with family, friends, or a special someone—what's truly more important is being understanding. Because when you're capable of understanding, no matter how you communicate with that person, they will also understand you in the same way you understand them. Just like how Sophie and Gian managed and really tried to understand each other in any situation, whether through sign language or writing in a notebook or on a whiteboard, you can also understand others if you truly try your best, even if it's through a different way of communication. If you liked this story and feel sad that it's over, you can always read it again, just like this story."

"Just like I always say: Always remember, this story might not be perfect, but it will always allow you to be a reader of it."

"Oh, I almost forgot! As a gift for you, I've included the bonus very short chapter, where you'll find out what happened to Sophie and Gian many years later. I hope you enjoy it!"

7 Years Later...

Nasa isang cafe kami ni Sophie na hinihintay si Rino at Cleo na makarating. Habang nag-aantay kami doon ay nagsusulat nga pala ako ng lyrics ng kanta. Yun ay para sa bagong album na ire-release namin. 

Since magkakaroon kami ng comeback at shows sa susunod na buwan. 

Yes, parte na'ko ng banda nila Rino. Vocalist ako doon, tinanggap ko ang offer ni Carlos after thinking about it. 

Hindi na'ko nagdalawang-isip dahil sa ayoko naman masayang ang opportunity. Besides, kasama ko naman doon ang mga totoong taong naging kaibigan ko na at they are someone who also got to be part of my life. And speaking of someone who's part of my life, there is someone who is more than being part of my life. 

Napatingin ako kay Sophie, pagtingin ko sa kanya ay pagbaba niya ng baso niya ay napatingin siya sakin. Nginitian ko siya habang nakatingin ako sa kanya kaya nung makita niya akong nakatingin at napangiti sa kanya ay nginitian niya rin ako. Nag-sign language siya, "Bakit ka nakangiti at nakatingin sakin?" 

Nag-sign language ako at ang sabi ko, "I'm just happy that I'm here with you, beside you, right now." 

Napangiti siya nang sabihin ko yun sa kanya. Nag-sign language siya at ang sabi niya, "Ako rin, I'm happy that I'm here with you, beside you, right now." 

Pagsabi niya nun ay napangiti naman ako sa kanya. 

Maya-maya pa ay hindi rin naman nagtagal ay natigil ang pagtitinginan namin ni Sophie nang makita naman na nakarating na si Rino at Cleo. Sabi ni Cleo pag-upo, "Naku, I'm sorry ah, pinatulog na muna namin yung mga bata. Alam niyo na, para hindi humabol sa amin pag-alis namin." 

Sabi ni Rino, pag-upo sa tabi ni Cleo ay, "Oo nga eh, para hindi sila humabol sa amin, alam niyo na rin na ganito talaga kapag may mga anak na. Mahirap na makatakas mula sa kanila kapag aalis ka ng bahay." Napangiti kaming dalawa ni Sophie. 

Yes, may mga anak na nga si Rino at Cleo, one girl and one boy. After nila ikasal two years ago. 

Tanong ni Cleo, "Kanina pa ba kayo dito nag-aantay?" Umiling kami, sabi ko, "Hindi naman parang mga mag-iisang oras pa lang naman kami dito." Tumango sina Cleo at Rino. 

Sabi ni Rino, "Oh, ano yang sinusulat mo?" Sabi ko, "Ah yung lyrics ng bagong kanta natin." 

Sabi ni Rino, "Haayst, sipag ah. Kakagaling niyo lang sa honeymoon, tapos balik trabaho ka na agad." Napangiti na lang ako. 

Yes, Sophie and I just got married two months ago after I proposed to her last year. This month lang kami nakapag-honeymoon dahil sinakto namin ang spring season sa Japan para mag-fully bloom ang Cherry Blossoms.

Sabi ni Cleo, "Ay oo nga! Speaking of honeymoon, kamusta yung pagpunta niyo sa Japan Mr. and Mrs. Lantawa?" Nagkatinginan kami ni Sophie at napangiti sa isa't isa. 

Pagbalik namin ng tingin sa kanila ay nag-sign language si Sophie, "Masaya, sobrang saya, maraming magagandang iba't-ibang lugar at pagkain doon. At nakita na rin namin ang cherry blossoms doon, at since spring nga ang season nung pumunta kami ay nakita namin ang mga cherry blossoms na fully bloomed." 

Napangiti si Cleo at Rino ng maintindihan nila ang sinabi ni Sophie. 

Yes, marunong na din sila makaintindi ng sign language dahil nag-aral sila makaintindi ng sign language para kay Sophie. 

Sabi ni Cleo, "Wow, talaga?" Sabi ko, "Oo, ang ganda ng mga blooming cherry blossoms doon, mabuti nga at nakapunta kami doon ni Sophie for our honeymoon." Napatingin ako kay Sophie at ang sabi ko, "And finally rin, natupad ko na ang pangako sa kanya." 

Sabi ni Cleo, "Sana kami din ni Labby makapunta next time." Sabi ni Rino, "Wag kang mag-alala Labby, makakapunta rin tayo doon, pag may time." Napangiti na lang sila sa isa't isa. Matapos nga nun ay ang sabi ni Cleo, "Oh, ano yung inorder niyo dito?" 

Sinabi ni Sophie ang order namin. Ako naman ay tinanong at kinausap ni Rino tungkol sa kanta na sinusulat ko. At habang kami nga doon ay magkakasama ay masaya kaming apat. 

Kami man ay mas naging mature man at marami nang narating tungkol man sa relationship ng bawat isa sa amin ay mas naging masaya kami at mas naintindihan namin ang isa't isa. That's why I'm grateful right now. I'm grateful because I've learned the truth—about my past, about who I really am, and about who Sophie truly is in my life. 

I'm grateful for the people who have been with me, like Mama, Lola Grace, Lolo Uno, and Papa. I'm also grateful for the new people I've met and who are now part of my life, like Cleo and Rino, who became my friends and helped us. And because of Rino, I even became part of a band, which was once just a dream for me.

Of course, I am most grateful that... I met Sophie in the first place, the first time, and unexpectedly, the second time.

No one could have imagined that even though I met her the first time, after losing my memory, I'd meet and see her again for the second time—as if it was our first time all over again.

"Oh, at the end of this story, I included a 'STORY TYPE GUIDE,' which means it's a guide or reference that I based on or imagined while writing this story. If you want to know what I based it on, you can refer to it to understand what it is, or if you want to align with the imagination of this story, you can also refer to it. But if you don't want to, that's okay too; it's your own decision 😊."

STORY TYPE GUIDE: MOVIE