Moments

A Question

© Mark Sablan IG

9.8.16 AMACon3 Day 21 Drabble Challenge

A Question 

"I have a confession to make"

Natigilan si Maine sa narinig. It was around two in the morning, kakatapos lang ng photoshoot nila and Alden insist to accompany her up to her condo building. Pero sa halip na umakyat, nakiusap itong sa playground malapit sa condo niya sila mag-usap.

Dahil madaling araw naman at walang tao, pumayag siya. They just made sure na yung mga sasakyan nila ang nakapalibot sa pwesto nila, just in case.

She's sitting on the swing, sa katabing swing si Alden, but he stand up once he started talking.

Confession? Tumingin siya dito. Nakatingala siya habang isang dipa ang layo ni Alden sa harap niya. "About what?"

Alden took a deep breath. Put his hands on each side pocket of his jeans, he's wearing a simple white shirt; same with her except she's wearing denim short and then he gazed back at her.

"I like to say that you've done a good job! Our secret dream has become a reality! Imagine that! I hope you're happy. As happy as I am now. If you're not (which I really, really, really, really 20x) wish is not the case, remember that things happened for a reason, that life is full of ups and down (nasa down ka lang ngayon, if ever, sana talaga hindi), you'll come around and rise up stronger. If happy ka---"

"Wait! That's---!" Maine cut him off but Alden raise one hand to stop her.

"---if happy ka, I'm really, super-duper-over glad then. It means we or I did a great job! Sinubukan natin ang mga imposible at ginawang posible ang maraming bagay. We've come out of our shell and show the world we can do it. That's already a great feat. So keep going and do what you always love. I hope that by this time, alam mo na ang magpapasaya sa iyo and what makes you whole is already standing beside you. Stay happy and healthy. P.S. Kung sino man ang nasa tabi mo ngayon, I like to think that he makes you happy and that he loves you as much as you love him. "

Matagal silang natahimik matapos magsalita ni Alden. Lumapit ito sa kanya at mula sa bulsa ay may inabot sa nakatiklop na papel. Namumula ang tenga nito. He's avoiding her eyes as he handed her the paper. She took it from him. Nakatingin lang sa binata.

Alden then said "I accidentally saw it. You dropped it from your small notebook, yung binigay ko on your last birthday, a couple of days ago. Ibabalik ko sana agad but I had already read it..." He finally stared back at her again; he gives her a timid smile, still his dimple is showing "I read it multiple times, that I already memorize all the lines...I'm sorry. I know, na private yan. That I should not have seen it. But I always find myself looking at it and..." he looks sideways, at the tree beside the swing, hiding them from onlooker on that playground, "I tried to read between the lines, kahit di naman dapat. Kaya, kahit alam ko madalas kong itanong ito sa iyo, pero hindi siguro ako magsasawang itanong. Kasi, ang sagot mo lagi sa tanong na ito ang isa pinakamahalagang bagay para sa akin...syempre bukod sa OO mo."

He sat in front of her, unmindful of the dirt on the ground. She's still sitting on the swing, he's a bit lower that her now. "Alden..."

"Maine, masaya ka ba?"

Napatango si Maine. She now understands. Why this question will always matter for Alden. Her Alden. Her Richard. He'll always make sure that my happiness comes first. Nabasa niya siguro sa "future-self letter" ko ang wish na iyon. Kulit ko rin kasi naman dun...pero kasi naman, dapat di niya nabasa yun. Hay!

So, she did what she always does to reassure him. Nowadays. She leans forward, her left hand touch his cheek, his eyelid, the top of his nose, and then his jaw, she closes her eyes before she gives his mouth a soft reassuring kiss.

When she opened her eyes again, their faces are an inch away, she whispered "Masaya ako. Lagi. Dahil Sa Iyo. Mr. Richard Faulkerson Jr." she put emphasis on each word.

Alden smile back and kiss her again, this time more passionately, the kind of kisses that left her breathless. He pulled back and let his forehead touch hers. "I love you, always."

Maine grinned and laughed. She patted Alden's left cheek before pulling back on the swing to sit properly. "I love you too."

She pouted, "Papatawarin kita ngayon, pero sa susunod, sabihin mo agad sa akin ha. Masyado mong sineryoso yung letter na yun, eh katuwaan lang naman namin yun nila Ate Pat at nang mga taga-barangay kaya ako gumawa nun"

Pinisil ni Alden ang pisngi niya at ngumiti. "Opo, Ma'am. Di na po mauulit, Ma'am"

"So, kung ikaw gagawa ng "future-self" letter mo, anong ilalagay mo?" Maine can't help but asked.

Tumayo si Alden, his hands on his side pockets again, and leans forward. Their faces inches from each other, closer, a prelude to a kiss before he said, "Kung asawa mo na si Nicomaine Dei Capili-Mendoza-Faulkerson, mas magaling ka pa kay Iron Man! Love her. Make her happy. Treasure her. Forever"

Namula si Maine pero bago pa siya makasagot ay nahuli na ng labi ni Alden muli ang kanyang labi. This time she knew, this kiss is a seal for a promise he will keep. Forever.