A Letter from Gabrielle

Epilogue

"Hi Love!"

"Hey!!" Reina looked surprised the moment she saw me standing in front of my car. "What are you doing here? I thought you have a team building?" Mabilis siyang tumakbo sa aking kinatatayuan at yumakap sa akin. Its Saturday and I've decided to come to her apartment and surprise her. Guess I did a good job!

"Well, it was really the plan and it was the schedule. But the HR department informed us that it will be resched for next week." I said as I held her waist using my left hand while my right hand is behind my back.

Bahagya siyang dumistansya sa akin saka ako mabilis na hinalikan sa labi. "So does it mean I have you for the rest of the day?" Excited niyang sabi.

"Ahhmm.." Nagkunwari akong nag-iisip.

"Mikaelle!" Pinandilatan niya ako ng mga mata saka ako marahang hinampas sa aking braso.

I grinned and shrugged. "Well, you can say that, my Reina.."

Napaingos siya at umirap. "Parang napipilitan ka pa ah!"

Natawa naman ako sa inakto niya. "I'm not! You just don't know how relieved I was when the HR called me."

She raised her brow. "And why is that?"

Muli akong ngumiti ng malapad saka iniabot ang bulaklak na kanina pang nakatago sa aking likuran. "Cause I badly wanted to spend this day with you.. Happy anniversary, Love!"

"Oh my God!" Napatutop siya sa kanyang bibig at mas lalong nasorpresa. Napatingin siya sa tulips at sinamyo ito. "I-I t-thought y-you've forgotten.." She said while stuttering.

Kinabig ko siya at masuyong hinalikan. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Love.." Bulong ko sa kanyang tenga. Hinawi ko ang buhok niya saka ngumiti. "So would you want to run away with me for a day, Miss Reina David?" I teasingly asked.

"I would love to run away with you even for the rest of our lives!" Excited siyang tumango tango saka ako muling niyakap. "Thank you, Mikaelle. Happy anniversary.."

I just smiled and hold her tight.

***

"Ate Morrie, akin 'yan!!!"

Napatampal ako sa aking noo nang tingnan ko sina Morrie at Mia. Pilit inaagaw nang huli ang hotdog na naisubo na ng Ate niya.

"I'll just give you another one, Mia.." Awat naman ni Reina na napatingin sa akin at umiiling.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako saka nagpatuloy sa pagsisindi ng bonfire. Narito ulit kami sa tabing dagat ng private resort na binili namin noon ni Gab at naging get away place na namin twice or thrice a month.

"Isusumbong talaga kita kay Ate Gab!" Nakangusong sabi ni Mia saka yumakap kay Reina.

"Morrie, stop teasing your sister!" Saway ko naman kay Morrie nang makita ko siya na binebelatan ang kanyang kapatid.

Habang tumatagal malimit nang magbangayan ang magkapatid. Iyon na rin ang daing sa akin ni Tita Delia. Siguro dahil na rin sa age gap nila. Pero hindi naman ako masyadong nag-aalala dahil alam ko kung gaano kamahal ni Morrie ang kanyang kapatid. For sure, way of paglalambing lang nya ito kay Mia. Just like me with Mike.

Tumingin sa akin si Morrie at napakamot sa kanyang ulo nang siguro makita niyang seryoso na ang aking ekspresyon. Kumuha siya ng isang stick ng hotdog at saka ito iniabot kay Mia. "Ito na oh! Sorry.." Na agad namang tinanggap nang huli at bumalik na sa kanyang kinauupuan. Nakangiti na siya ng malapad ngayon.

Lumapit naman sa tabi ko si Reina saka ako sinubuan ng marshmallow. "Its done!" I proudly said nang finally masindihan ko na ang bonfire.

"Yehey!" Pumalakpak pa si Mia at bahagyang inilapit ang stick ng hotdog sa apoy.

"I want to dance!" Excited naman na sabi ni Morrie na nakataas pa ang kamay.

Napatingin naman sa akin si Reina na tila nanghahamon at may mapanuksong ngiti. Tumayo siya at hinila sa kamay si Morrie at Mia. "Hit it, Mikaelle!"

"For sure!" Masigla ko namang sagot. I unlocked my cellphone (by which is already connected with the speaker) and played our favorite song.

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete

Tumayo na rin ako at humawak sa kamay ni Mia at Morrie. Sinabayan naming apat ang tugtog habang umiikot at magkakahawak ang kamay. I even sing along with the music. "Oh, simple thing, where have you gone? I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on.." Bumitaw sa pagkakahawak ko si Morrie saka isinayaw mag-isa si Mia. Ganon din naman ang ginawa ko kay Reina. Kinabig ko siya palapit sa akin. "So, tell me when you're gonna let me in. I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin.." I sang at her while I slowly brought my face closer to her face.

Reina smiled and pulled me closer. "Mikaelle, do you remembered the time when you fetch me in the airport?"

I raised my brow and nodded. Our bodies are still pressed with each other while swaying in the tempo of the music. "Hmm..?"

"You told me that Gab asked you to give me my favorite flower."

I nodded. "Yes."

"Why'd you give me tulips?"

Nangunot ang aking noo. "Because Gab told me." I shrugged.

She smiled widely. "You do know that Gab's always giving me roses, don't you?"

"Yeah?" Napahinto ako at pinagmasdan siyang mabuti. Nangunot ang aking noo at napagtantong may punto siya. Bakit nga ba? Alam ko namang roses nga ang malimit na ibinibigay sa kanya ni Gab. "I-I don't know. I j-just r-remembered she told me na bigyan kita ng paborito mong bulaklak..."

Lalong lumapad ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Reina. "All those years up to now, ikaw lang ang tanging nakakaalam ng paborito kong bulaklak Mikaelle." Muli niyang iginiya ang aking katawan sa pagsasayaw habang ang magkapatid na Morrie at Mia ay panay ang paghagikhik at tila ba nagkaroon na ng sariling mundo.

"Am I?" Hindi ko mapaniwalaang tanong.

She nodded enthusiastically. "You know what Gab told me in the letter?"

"Hmm?" I know na hindi lang ako ang iniwanan ng sulat ni Gab. But I never asked Reina anything about it.

I was never really meant for you, Reina. Ako lang ang nagpupumilit at kumakalaban sa tadhana para maging tayo. Sinubukan ko dahil alam kong iyon din ang gusto ni Ka-el at ang totoong gusto ko. Pero mahirap talagang kalaban ang tadhana.

I asked her to buy you your favorite flower. And I know that she will not give you roses (which I usually give you).

If there is one person that knows me better its Ka-el.

And if there's one person who loves you deeply and unconditionally, its definitely my bestfriend-- Mikaelle.

Be patient, Reina. Let her take her time. One day, she will be free.

And on that day, surely I'll be there watching both of you  dancing with our favorite song.. happily and contentedly cheering for the love that you both deserve.

"I love you, Mikaelle.."

I wiped her teary eyes and smiled. "I love you too, Reina.." Niyakap ko siya at napatingin ako sa may dalampasigan.

Standing there is my bestfriend-- Gabrielle-- beaming and smiling brightly at us.

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute, why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So, why don't we go somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know

THE END