AMANDORA - ONE-SHOT FICTION

Fiction 11

Fiction 11: BEAUTIFUL IN MY EYES

Dedicated to Chiana:>

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On a serene evening at Palacios' Estate, as the stars twinkle brightly in the sky, the staff members have settled down for the night.

However, Amando, unable to sleep, takes it upon himself to check on the mansion's well-being. As he walks through the dimly lit hallways, he hears soft laughter coming from the living room.

Intrigued, he approached to find Francis, Cairo, Rico, and others—gathered together, sharing a moment through song.

"Sir! Naistorbo po ba namin tulog niyo?" Rico's voice broke the atmosphere, and the group turned toward Amando, a hint of guilt on their faces.

"Ah, hindi naman. Hindi kasi ako makatulog kaya lumabas ako. Bakit nga pala kayo nanditong lahat? Hindi ba dapat nagpapahinga na kayo?" Amando asked, concern etched in his expression.

"Medyo nabored lang po, Sir. Tapos ito kasing si Francis, may nakitang songbook sa may old library. May mga lumang kanta nga po eh." Cairo answered, passing the old book to Amando.

"Sir, bakit hindi na lang muna kayo makijam? Kantahan muna tayo!" Francis beamed, holding up his guitar.

"Maaga pa 'kong gigising bukas—"

"Sir, kahit isang song lang. Pagbigyan niyo naman kami." Rico urged, and the others echoed his plea. After a moment of hesitation, Amando sat down in the sofa beside Francis.

"O siya, sige. Isang kanta lang at magsitulog na tayo pagkatapos."

"Anong kakantahin mo, Sir Amando?" Francis asked, tuning his guitar.

"Saglit lang..." Amando turned another page, and his heart skipped as he recognized a long-loved song. A secret smile crept onto his face as he showed it to Francis.

"You're my piece of mind, in this crazy world. You're everything I've tried to find, your love is a pearl..." as the first strum filled the air, the staff fell silent, captivated by the soothing sound of Amando's voice as he began to sing.

"You're my Mona Lisa, you're my rainbow skies. And my only prayer is that you realize, you'll always be beautiful in my eyes..."

As the enchanting melody flowed, Cairo exchanged glances with Rico, who was blushing.

"Hoy, Tibo! Kinikilig ka ba? Pula na ng pisngi mo!" Cairo teased, nudging Rico playfully.

"Ha? Hindi ah! Bakit? Kung oo, bawal ba? Babae pa rin ako!" Rico shot back defensively, but laughter erupted among their friends, momentarily breaking the spell of the song. Amando continued, his voice melodic and rich, enveloping the room in warmth.

"The world will turn, and the seasons will change. And all the lessons we will learn, will be beautiful and strange..."

In that moment, Amando's gaze drifted to the far end of the room, where he caught sight of Aurora, silently watching him. The world around him faded as he sang the next lines, his heart racing.

"We'll have our fill of tears, our share of sighs. My only prayer is that you realize. You'll always be beautiful in my eyes..."

"You will always be beautiful in my eyes, and the passing years will show. That you will always grow, evermore beautiful in my eyes..."

As he finished the chorus, he noticed Aurora walking away, disappearing up the staircase, and it jolted him from the heartwarming moment. He quickly excused himself from the group, his heart heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"Bakit, Sir?" one of the staff asked, but Amando waved them off and rushed after Aurora.

"W-wala. Sige na, magpahinga na kayo."

He reached her just as she was about to close her bedroom door.

"Sandali..." he said, gripping the handle, stopping her. Startled, Aurora turned, a mix of surprise and apprehension in her gaze.

"Why, Amando? Do you need anything?" she tried to sound casual.

"Bakit gising ka pa?" he asked softly.

"Nauhaw lang ako." she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Silence enveloped them, an invisible barrier hanging heavily between them until Aurora broke the silence.

"That song... you used to sing that for me. I never thought na maririnig ko ulit 'yon after so many years." Aurora said, a bittersweet smile dancing on her lips.

"Paborito pa rin natin." Amando replied, his laughter tinged with sadness as he took in the sight of her.

"Hindi na ngayon." she stated, her eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't quite grasp. "Everything has changed, Amando."

"Ibig mo bang sabihin, hindi mo na gusto?"

Aurora shook her head. "Gusto ko pa rin pero hindi ibig sabihin mababalikan pa." her voice was steady, but the weight behind her words felt like a fragile glass, ready to shatter.

"Aurora—" he started, desperation creeping into his tone.

"Marami ng nagbago, Amando."

"Pero—"

"We only have now our professional relationship. Nothing more, nothing less. Let's not forget about that."

The finality in her voice felt like a sharp knives, leaving Amando momentarily speechless. They locked eyes, and in that silence, the unspoken weight of their shared history hung heavy between them.

Amando's heart ached as he saw the pain reflected in her eyes—pain that confirmed the truth he had known all along.

No matter how many times he tried to pursue her, she could never return the love he had always offered.

Fiction 11: BEAUTIFUL IN MY EYES