Patawad, Paalam - Moira Dela Torre x I Belong to the Zoo
TW: mention of death and cursing
Last Chapter
The silence of the night and the cold breeze gently kissing my skin were enough to hush my emotions down. The warmth of the mug on my hands and its little smoke somehow managed to comfort the chaos inside my mind.
I plastered a weak smile as I watched the dark sky twinkling with stars. Tulog na ang mga kaibigan ko dahil pasado alas tres na rin kasi nang madaling araw. I just woke up to have tea, and sat down outside, hoping to see him... again.
I knew it was Jinoh.
It was him who drove us home safely. I knew it was him the way he carried me in his arms—gentle and careful. Kilalang kilala ko ang presensiya niya... na kahit nakapikit ako, lasing, alam ko ang boses, amoy... lalo na ang galaw niya.
It was his voice—manly yet gently, like a lullaby meant to hush me down; like a whisper cradling my name in the wind. It was his scent. It lingered on me for so long like a memory I would never let go. And I knew it was his comfort—gentle and soft stillness, because I once called it home.
The moment my heart recognized all those, it somehow lightened up again.
Pero pinili ko pa rin ang isipin na hindi siya ito. Niloko ko ang sariling puso na hindi siya ang katabi ko dahil lang natatakot ako. Natatakot akong makita ang mga mata niya na noon ay puno ng saya at mga pangarap na binuo namin sa limang taon na pagsasama.
Umihip ang malamig na hangin at nilipad ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko.
"Paayos po ng buhok ko," ngingiti kong sabi kay Jinoh na agad kumilos para itali ang buhok ko. "Thank you po."
Dinampian niya lang ako ng halik sa pisngi, at tahimik na bumalik sa ginagawang pag-picture sa mga lumang picture ko sa album. Napangiti ako habang nagawa ng puto na dadalhin namin sa Sunrise Resort para i-celebrate ang 4th anniversary namin.
"Kanina ka pa sa baby picture ko," sabi ko na tinawanan niya lang. "Bitawan mo na 'yan."
"Ayoko. Ang cute mo kaya. Bilog na bilog ang mukha, parang puto," he laughed.
Napasimangot ako. "Alisin mo na nga 'yang apron mo, hindi mo naman ako tinulungan."
Mas lumakas ang tawa niya. Nagsuot pa kasi siya ng apron nang makita na nagsuot din ako. Ang ginawa niya lang naman ay maupo at tingnan ang album.
"Sana ganito ang maging anak natin," aniya, hawak ang isang picture ko.
Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. "Mahilig ka ba sa bata?"
"Yup, I love their cuteness. Gusto mo na bang mag-anak tayo? I'm prepared and always ready, Elein. Anytime."
I felt my cheeks reddened. "Tinatanong ko lang!"
Tumawa siya. "Oo naman. Lalo kung magiging anak natin."
"Ilan ba ang gusto mo?"
"Tatlo para I love you, mahal," he beamed; made me laugh softly. "But I'm not the one who decides that because I'm not the one who would carry it for months. Ayoko naman na pahirapan ka. Kaya kung ilan ang gusto mo... o kahit ayaw mo... it's fine for me as long as I have you."
My heart warmed. I held his hand then caressed it gently. Hindi naman ako mawawala sa tabi niya.
"I want to have kids with you, mahal," I said.
"Kids? Marami 'yon, ah!"
I chuckled heartily, "Tatlo para I love you."
He smiled, eyes filled with certainty. "Don't worry," he said softly.
BINABASA MO ANG
Light Under The Glooms (MPS#2) | ✓
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