Clouded Hearts

Epilogue

Astraea

"Do you remember when I made a promise to you?" She asked suddenly. We were sitting on the beach, the wind carrying the rhythmic wooshing of the waves.

"Promise?" I still couldn't recall everything, though, I remember a few but not all.

"I made a promise to you. I promised that I will always come back to you. No matter how long it takes or no matter what happened. I promised that I'd always know where I was going to." Her voice was steady, filled with certainty, and I listened closely.

"And as you can see, I did. I came back. I always knew which path to take. Hindi ako naligaw, hindi kagaya ng dati na sobrang hina ko sa directions. When it comes to you, I never lost my way back." She's really an expert when it comes on making my heart pound so loud and jump in happiness.

"I also made a promise, right?" I said. I do remember that one thing. Sobrang linaw niya, parang kahapon lang.

"I promised you that I will wait for you. That I will stay, and won't walk away from where you left me." I licked my lower lip as those words slipped through my mouth.

"I'm sorry for leaving you—"

"You don't have to apologize. Past is past. Let's let go of that, hmm? Let's welcome the future together. Remember that, no matter how many problems we may encounter, we will always have each other's back." Nang lingunin ko siya ay ngiti niya ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Sure, pero paano kung masyado na akong mabigat?" Inalis ko ang nakatabing na buhok niya sa mukha niya, inipit ko ito sa likod ng tainga niya saka marahang pinisil ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa hita ko.

"You will always be the bag that I'm carrying. Magaan man o mabigat, it doesn't matter to me. You are my precious bag that I can't bare to lose. So, don't ever fall off again without telling me. Okay?" I reminded her gently.

"Thank you for fulfilling your promise, Win." I took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"You know I'm not a fan of promises but because of what you did, maybe there's a chance. Basta ikaw ang mangangako... dahil alam kong tutuparin mo iyon."

"Thank you for waiting, for staying. Thank you for coming back." She whispered

"I may not remember everything that we've been through, but my feelings for you will never fade. Even if I forget you... my heart will always call for you. My heart will always call your name. My soul will always yearn for its other half. " I looked at her lovingly, and she meet my gaze, as if memorizing every detail of my face.

"Thank you for recognizing my love for you again. For the second time, you've found me. Your heart, acknowledges my existence once more." Dahil sa hangin ay nilipad lang ang buhok niya. Again, I tucked the strands of hair behind her ears. It's covering her eyes, not today. Kanina pa eh.

"It will always recognize you. Our heart are connected, beating the same rhythm. Our souls tied up to one another. We are bound to be together, that's what's written on my mind. Even the destiny failed to separate us, that's how strong our love is."

"Do you think... tayo na hanggang dulo?" Tumawa naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Kailan pa siya naging overthinker?

"Bakit ayaw mo ba? Sabihin mo lang." I teased, she shook her head immediately. She hugged me tighter, resting her chin to my shoulder.

"If you were to ask me, ikaw lang ang gusto kong makasama hanggang sa dulo. You are my life, my world, my breath, my oxygen. How can I live without you? You are the most essential part of me. When I left, I died too. At ayoko na nun, I swear, Magkamatayan na tayo, basta ikaw lang ang end game ko." Tinignan ko ang mukha niya. Seryoso niya iyong sinabi. She meant it, every word that's coming out from her mouth, it's all facts.