Only Ever After

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

"Saan mo ako dadalhin?" Tanong ko kay Liham.

Tumingin siya sa akin, "that's a surprise." He grinned, tumigil ang sasakyan niya sa isang flower shop, binaling niya ang tingin niya sa akin. "Stay inside."

Bumaba na siya sa kanyang kotse at gaya ng utos niya ay nanatili akong nakaupo sa passenger's seat, sinundan ng tingin ko si Liham na pumasok sa flower shop, may isang matandang babae naman ang lumapit.

Pinagmasdan ko si Liham na seryosong nagsasabi ng gustong kunin na bulaklak, doon ko napansin na sa akin lang siya ngumingiti at hindi nagiging seryoso, the thought of it made me feel happy.

Matapos ang ilang sandali ay nagbayad na si Liham at saka ang matandang babae naman ay nag-ayos ng bouquet, pagkatapos ay kinuha ni Liham ang mga bulaklak at umalis na, binuksan niya ang likod ng kotse at nilagay ang bulaklak doon...

Bakit kaya siya bumili ng bulaklak? Para sa akin?

Umiling ako, that flower can't be mine...

Nagtataka akong tumingin kay Liham, nagsimula na naman siyang magmaneho. I can't really predict what he is up to right now, halos isang oras ang biyahe namin, tumigil ang kotse sa entrada ng sementeryo.

Nanlaki ang mata ko, "dito tayo magde-date?"

He shrugged, "let's go." Utos niya't bumaba na siya, kinuha niya ang mga bulaklak sa likod ng kotse, ako naman ay hindi maiwasang magdalawang isip kung sasama ba ako o hindi... pero lumabas na rin ako.

Hinawakan ni Liham ang kamay ko at sabay kaming naglakad papasok sa sementeryo. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa kanyang maamong mukha, walang bakas ng peklat o ano man, his face was soft, it was perfect.

Then my eyes trailed to his pinkish lips...

Binaling ko ang aking tingin sa daanan, matapos ang ilang sandali ay tumigil si Liham sa magkatabing puntod, binasa ko ang mga pangalan doon...

Lisanna Ty-Silician

Hamle John Silician

Napatingin agad ako kay Liham nang lumuhod siya at saka nilagay ang bulaklak sa pagitan, tinignan niya lang ang mga puntod. "Ma, Pa..."

That means... Liham and Lessy's parents are already dead?!

Kaya pala sa tuwing ang mga magulang namin ang aming pinag-uusapan ay tila umiiwas si Lessy, now I finally know... siguro kaya ayaw niyang pag-usapan ang ganitong mga bagay.

But, why did they die?

Nagulat ako nang tumingin sa akin si Liham, he caught me looking intently at him! "Come." Utos niya sa akin, "I'll introduce you to my mother and father."

Ngumiti ako at tumango.

Naglakad ako palapit, Liham took my hand and squeezed it comfortably, "Pa, this is Yomi Delos Santos, hindi ba't pangarap niyo ni Ma na magkaapo na? Well, finally! Magkakaapo na kayo."

I've never seen Liham this passionate, I've never seen the pain in his eyes, he was able to hide it well but this time, he decided to show the pain to me, I want to take all of that pain away ans just give him happiness!

Kaya pala ganito si Liham. Kaya pala napakaseryoso niya, dahil marami siyang pinagdadaanan. Ganoon rin ang kaibigan kong si Lessy na kapatid niya.

It feels like he is entrusting me his feelings, he won't show this side of him to me if there's no reason...

"Ma, Pa... I'm sorry kung ngayon lang ako nakabisita, masyado kasi aking busy sa trabaho." Tumingin siya sa akin, "won't you say hello for them?"

"Hello po, ako si Yomi... aalagahan ko po ng mabuti si Liham." Those words came out again without my knowledge, those words seem to have their own life!

Liham was weirdly looking at me after that, umiwas na lang ako ng tingin.

"Aalagahan din kita ng mabuti, ikaw at ang anak natin." Liham murmured in my ears and I felt the passion in his voice rush into my heart, causing it to pound hard.

We stayed like this for a few moments before he faked a cough, "tara na." Tumayo na kami at nagpaalam sa mga magulang niya.

It made me feel lucky somehow. Buhay pa si Mama...

But I'm ignoring her...

Hindi pa ako handang harapin sila na ganito ako.

I think it's better if she forgets that I exist, that I don't exist. I'm better off being dead for her.

"Saan na tayo pupunta?" Tanong ko nang nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan, tumingin siya sa akin. "Another surprise."

"Liham, salamat..."

Halata ang pagtataka sa mukha niya dahil sa biglaan kong pagpapasalamat. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, thank you... kasi kahit papaano ay binuksan mo ang sarili mo para sa akin."

He smiled, "because I like you, Yomi. I really, really like you. Of all the girls I've met, you're different. I know that sounds cliché but that's how I really see you. I'm drawn by your difference, Yomi."

I was speechless. Was he confessing to me his feelings?

Say something, Yomi!

"You don't have to say something, parang ang baliw naman kung ilang araw pa lang tayong magkasama tapos gusto na agad kita, hindi ba?"

"L-Liham..."

"Ssh. If you're only gonna reject me, don't even think about it." Namula ang pisngi ni Liham.

I smiled, "I like you too, Liham."

"Then let's get married." He said, straight to the point. Dahil doon ay nataranta ako, hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko! I know deep inside, I wanted to marry him as well...But there is a boundary between us.

He is rich. I am poor. He is everything. I am nothing.

It's simple, a woman like me doesn't deserve a man like him...

I don't deserve someone who is unreachable.

"But I don't like you enough for me to marry you..." I managed to say without stuttering...

Lies. Lies. Lies. I like you so much, Liham! Every seconds, this likeness is gradually deepening, but I'm afraid that one day, it becomes love! I'm afraid...

The fact that I finally know we have a chance is enough to keep me going, Yomi." He grinned. "Watch me make you fall in love with me as I slowly fall in love with you."