- I gave you a red tinted rose, but, you gave me only the thorns.
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"Class dismissed." Sabi ng professor namin. Nilagay ko na ang mga gamit ko loob ng bag ko then lumabas ako ng classroom.
"Hi, Shee!" Gwen greeted me with her beautiful smile.
"Gwen? Ano ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong ko.
"Walang klase lahat because of faculty meeting. Sama ka sa akin and may pupuntahan tayo." She didn't let me speak. All I know is, she's pulling me somewhere and nagpadala lang ako.
Pumara kami ng jeep and hanggang makasakay kami, hawak niya lang ang mga kamay ko. Just by the touch of her hand against mine made me feel safe.
After almost thirty minutes of commuting, nakarating na rin kami sa pupuntahan namin.
We walked upwards until we reached the peak of a small mountain here in our province. We can see the beauty of our town beneath us.
She helped me to sit on the bench near the cliff as we watch the beautiful horizon in front of us.
"Tell me a story, Shee." She requested in whispers. I turn to see her and my heart skipped a beat meeting her comforting gaze towards me.
"Anong story ba?"
"Kahit ano."
"Have you read or heard the story of a rose who fell in love with a boy?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. She shook her head so I started to tell the story.
"There's a beautiful red rose in the garden. One day, a boy spotted her. The boy admired the beautiful rose instantly. They always talk to each other. Every day, gumagawa ng paraan lagi si boy para dalawin si red rose. They've become friends as time goes by. One day, narealize na lang ni red rose na mahal niya na pala si boy. Every time they spent together, the feelings of the rose towards the boy grew..."
"Why do I feel like hindi ito happy ending?" Gwen commented between the story.
"Huwag ka muna maingay.."
"Dumating ang araw na hindi na masyadong bumibisita si boy sa garden para makita si red rose. It saddened the red rose, of course. The old tree told her to be careful of her love because it might blind her. The red rose got mad of the old tree and told him that he doesn't understand what true love means."
"After a few days, the boy came back and approached the red rose. The red rose was delighted with his presence."
"The boy asked the rose "it says that roses symbolise love. I love a girl and I wonder if she likes me back?""
"Ikinalungkot ito ni red rose pero wala siyang magawa. She's a rose and the boy she loves is a man. But because she loves him, she told him, "pick each of my petal, whatever the last, it says about her feelings." And the boy start to pluck her petal.. "she loves me" , "she loves me not." The boy continues without thinking that the flower is hurting. "
"The last petal said that the girl loves the boy. He smile happily then left the garden, leaving the flower without her beautiful petals."
"Tama na." Gwen said. "Ang lungkot ng kuwento mo." She added.
I just smiled at her, without her knowing that I relate too much to the flower.
"Anyways, dinala kita dito kasi I wanted to thank you." Gwen said
"Thank me for what?"
"Because you healed me. You helped me bring back my old self. If it wasn't for you, baka hanggang ngayon hindi parin ako nakakausad."
