Fictional (making some slight changes)

After Ending: Chapter 2

After Ending: Chapter 2

Paris.

We are going to freaking Paris. Oh god, I'm so excited! I haven't went to Paris all my life—even in my world—kasi hindi naman kami ganun kayaman para magtour around the world.. My smile is plastered in my face kaya tawa ng tawa si Mico.. Palibhasa rich kid tong isang to.

" I was also that excited when I went to Japan." Napatingin ako sakanya, " Japan?"

Tumango sya, " I dreamed about Japan since I watched animes.. I wanted to see Cherry blossoms, so my mom granted that when I graduated from Elementary having the highest award.."

" Show off.." loko ko sakanya kaya natawa sya, " No, love. My mom just grants top-listed wishes whenever I achieved something para maencourage akong magaral.."

Ngumiti ako dun at tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Papataas na yung eroplano—feels like the first time. I'm horrified and excited at the same time.

Everything is great as the flight continue. Mico helped me with everything and I'm so comfortable—nasa business class kasi kami.. Rich kid talaga.

" Ilang taon ka na?" tanong ko kay Mico na nilalaro yung daliri ko sa kamay na hawak nya, " Twenty-eight."

" Oh my god, 9 years ang tanda mo sakin?" tanong ko sakanya kaya napatingin sya sakin, " No. The book preserved you for years. Ako lang ang nag-age pero dahil magkasing-age tayo nung una kitang nakita nung bata pa tayo ay more like nasa 27 or 28 ka na.."

Ngumuso ako, " Daya."

" Even if you get old physically, have wrinkles and your body won't stay the same I will always find you beautiful and my love will stay the same even in the future. I will face endless struggles and start from the scratch but I won't ever stop loving you. I will do everything in order for you to stay with me. I can't afford to lose you again.."

Ngumiti ako sakanya, " Cheesy ah."

" Sira ka talaga.." natatawang sabi ni Mico. At ipinatong ang ulo ko sa balikat nya, " Sleep, we'll get there.." tumango ako at ipinikit ang mga mata ko. I need to get sleep.

" Here, listen to this." Tapos nilagyan nya ko ng headset and some song is playing, nung una hindi ko maintindihan yung kanta pero maya-maya ay naintindihan ko rin.." Lie down on your pillow, in the shadows, close your eyes~ Turn out the old lamplight and sing goodnight lullabies~ You are another day older soon you'll be through the dark~ Tomorrow is a chance to start over, start over again~ Like the setting sun dear as it lingers, falls to rust~ I'll see you in my dreams love, let the long day turn to dust~ You are another day older, soon you'll be through the dark~ Tomorrow is a chance to start over, start over again~" I felt sleep tugging me and make me sleepier, " You are another day older, soon you'll be through the dark~ Tomorrow is a chance to start over~ You re-ignite the spark, tonight you can lay here on my shoulder~ Soon you'll be through the dark~ tomorrow is a chance to start over, start over again~" The melody and the lyrics repeated in my head turning it as my lullaby.. The next thing I know is I'm asleep, feeling oh-so right beside someone who was always there. Never will get tired of me.

\\\

" Wow!" nanakbo ako pahiwalay kay Mico at dere-deretso sa harap ng Eiffel tower.. Para akong bata na nagsisisigaw at arms wide open na nananakbo palapit dun. Napatigil lang ako nang tawagin ni Mico ang pangalan ko kaya napatingin ako sakanya at nakitang nakatutok sakin yung camera...

" Grabe! Yun na yun?" angal ko sakanya kaya natawa nalang sya at naiiling na naglakad pumunta sakin, " Very thing about you is beautiful. It's fine.."

" Dinadaan mo ko sa bola eh!" Tinawanan nya lang ako at inakbayan, " Hindi ah." Tapos hinalikan nya yung noo ko, " Ang sweet mo sobra!" Tiningnan nya ako, " Ayaw mo?"

" Gusto." Tapos ngiting-ngiti na yumakap sakanya at sinubsob ang muka sa dibdib nya. Ang bango.
He chuckled, " Gustong-gusto mo rin ang dibdib ko no?"

" Charot ka." Sabi ko at kinurot ang tagaliran nya kaya napaliyad sya at umaray, " Nasan yung promise mong hindi mo ko sasaktan?" natatawang angal nya,

" Nakalimutan na. At ikaw, naangal ka na ah."

" Hindi po!" Tiningnan ko ang muka nya at napangiti nang biglang may napansin ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko ang taong nakatago at nakatutok samin yung camera nya." Who's that?"

" Who?" tanong sakin ni Mico at tiningnan din yung tiningnan ko. Then I heard him curse beneath his breath, " Don't mind it, love."

" Sino yun?" tanong ko ulit pero ayaw nya sagutin kaya I gave him a cold-shoulder treatment kaya katapos-tapusan ay inamin nya rin sakin, " Paparazzi."

" Why?"

" Come on. You're smart, figure it out.." sinamaan ko sya ng tingin at agad rin naman rin syang nagsalita, " It's because of my work.. about who I am."

Napahiwalay ako sakanya habang nakakunot ang noo ko, " Sino at ano ka ba?"

" Easy, love. I'm Mico Sennee Hares. An—" napakamot sya ng batok, " Just an international model.."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Akala ko kung ano nanaman. Niyakap ko sya agad ng mahigpit, " Akala ko naman kung ano."

" Hindi ka ba naturn-off?"

Tiningnan ko ang muka nya, ang gwapo. Bakit hindi ko naisip na ang laki ng tyansang model tong isang to. " Bakit ako matuturn-off?"

" Ikaw kasi yung taong ang gusto CEO eh. Eh kaso dahil sa sakit ko, hindi ako makaaral ng maayos kaya model ang bagsak ko.."

Ngumiti ako, " Yes, ganun ang ideal man ko pero nagbago lahat ng makilala ulit kita. Basta ikaw, okay na ko. I know I'm in love with the right person."

" I love you." Sabi nya kaya ngumiti ako, " Love you too."

Hinawakan ko yung dalawang pisngi nya kaya napangiti sya ng mas malawak, " Hwag ganyan, mahahalikan kita."

" Bawal. Magtiis ka." Sabi ko at natawa agad sya. Pero habang nakatingin ako sakanya ay unti-unting nalapit ang muka nya. I can't move. I can't say no—probably because half of me wants it too; Feeling the butterflies in my stomach that I strongly wanna crush—because they are the feeling you want to feel but not to feel at the same time—I closed my eyes and waited for his lips to touch mine...

But instead I felt it kiss my nose, " I'm gonna wait until we are married.." I opened my eyes and smiled brightly the him with the butterflies still pestering my stomach..

\\\

Wedding dress, bouquet of white lilies, wedding bells, and vows. A promise of love that was sworn to last a life time. First kisses were exchanged—everything was perfect. Perfect day, perfect weather, perfect small ceremony.. This is not yet the church wedding but it felt like it.

Why have one wedding when you can have two? The first wedding was just the tie the knot—a civil wedding.. Once you have that someone you know you want to love and cherish in your whole life, would you let him go? If everything falls in place perfectly and fate agrees with you two, why not tie the knot?

Marriage is the best way to tie two lives together. In our case, it was just the right thing to do.. The real wedding will be done in Philippines.

Para walang kawala—sabi ni Mico. Philippines highly honors the blessing of God in marriage and there is no divorce in there yet. Kaya dun kami magpapakasal ulit.

" Mico," tawag ko sakanya na natutulog sa tabi ko. Ngumiti sya sakin at pinilit buksan ang mga mata, " Hmm?"

" Akala ko ba to tie the knot lang yung kasal?" tumango sya, " Hindi ko alam kasama pala ang maglalagay ng baby sa tyan ko."

Tumawa sya ng malakas kaya napangiti rin ako. He opened his arms to me and wrapped me close to him, " Kasama na rin yun." At binaon nya yung muka nya sa gilid ng leeg ko, " I love you."

" Love you too." Tiningnan nya ako gamit ang mga mapungay nyang mata at inilapit nya ang labi nya sa labi ko para halikan, " I love you more."