Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa

Kabanata 8 - Ang Pagpili ni Ybarro

Though it pained Amihan to stay away from Ybarro, she needed some time to think about the situation they were currently in. 

Amihan knew that she had completely fallen for Ybarro, and she couldn't understand if it was a good thing or a bad thing. 

Despite having her entire life planned out, Amihan had secretly longed to find love. Sure, she may have fallen for a prince from Sapiro just like her mother did, but the fact that the man she loved was loved first by her sister had complicated the entire thing. 

Alena was believed to be dead by everyone in Encantadia, but Amihan was never entirely convinced about her sister's passing. First and foremost, they never found her body and second, Alena's brilyante had never found its way back to them. 

If Alena was indeed alive, Amihan knew that she was supposed to feel nothing but happiness. 

There was no room for her to feel upset at her sister's return for it would mean having another ally and another source of strength. But Amihan could not deny that if Alena were to return, it would also mean the end of her and Ybarro's love story, and she wasn't so sure if she was ready to let go of that just yet.

Ybarro was in the middle of having a light conversation with Alira, Aquil and Muros when Amihan had gently excused herself. 

"Prinsipe Ybrahim, maaari ba kitang makausap?" She asked. 

Alira, Aquil and Muros had taken this as a sign that their respective leaders needed some time alone, so they hurriedly bowed as a sign of respect, then went back to their duties. 

"Ano ba ang maipaglilingkod ko sa inyo, mahal na reyna?" Ybarro asked, noticing how tired Amihan looked. He instantly felt a rush of concern flow right through him.

"Hawakan mo nalang ang aking kamay, Ybrahim, sapagkat meron tayong pupuntahan." Amihan said, gently offering her hand for him to take. 

As soon as Ybarro held Amihan's hand, they teleported to a seashore far from the make-shift fort they were staying in. 

"Ybrahim, pasensiya na't naabala ko ang pag-uusap ninyo nila Alira, Aquil at Muros. Nais ko lang sana makausap ka nang walang nakabantay na kahit sino." Amihan admitted. 

"Amihan, handa akong ibigay ang lahat ng oras ko sa'yo kung kaya't hindi mo kailangang humingi ng pasensya." Ybarro said as he continued holding on to Amihan's hand. "Ano ba ang nais mong pag-usapan nating dalawa?"

Amihan breathed heavily. 

"Si Alena." She said. "Kagabi, hindi ako makatulog ng maayos sa kakaisip sa aking kapatid. Kahit na maraming nagsasabing namayapa na siya, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi ko magawang maniwala." She added. 

"Parang alam ng puso ko na buhay si Alena, Ybrahim, at nandito lamang siya sa Encantadia."

Ybarro's forehead creased in reply. 

"Ano ba ang nais mong ipahiwatig sa akin, Amihan?" He asked, obviously not liking the direction of their conversation. 

Amihan couldn't help but tear up, so she decided to turn her back towards Ybarro. 

"Na kung buhay nga ang aking kapatid, kailangan na nating tigilan ang kung ano mang namamagitan sa ating dalawa." She said, her voice starting to break. 

"Amihan..." Ybarro uttered softly as he felt his eyes water.

"Masakit man sa akin na tigilan ang lahat ng ito, kailangan ko itong gawin, sapagkat alam kong mahal na mahal ka ni Alena at ayokong saktan ang aking kapatid." Amihan explained. "Handa akong isakripisyo ang aking sariling kaligayahan alang alang sa kanya, Ybrahim." She added.

Ybarro felt tears run down his cheeks as he embraced Amihan from the back, his chin resting gently on her shoulder. He didn't want this to happen. He loved Amihan so much, and he wasn't planning on ever letting her go. 

"Amihan, matagal ng namayapa si Alena. Bakit mo ba pinapahirapan ang iyong sarili?" Ybarro asked. "Ayaw mo ba maging masaya? Ayaw mo bang masaya sa piling ko?"

"Ybrahim, wag kang magsalita ng ganyan sapagkat mas lalo mo lang akong pinapahirapan." Amihan said. "Hindi ba pwedeng bumalik nalang tayo sa pagiging magkaibigan.. sa pagiging magkaanib?"

"Ayoko, Amihan." Ybrahim said, embracing Amihan even more. "Nais kong mahalin ka, at wala akong pakialam kong ipagtulakan mo pa ako palayo. Babalik at babalik pa rin ako sa'yo."

Amihan turned to face Ybrahim. 

"Paano mo ba nasasabi 'yan, Ybrahim? Paano kung buhay nga si Alena, ako pa rin ba ang pipiliin mo?"

"Oo."

Amihan was genuinely shocked at how sure Ybarro was of her. She had imagined that Ybarro would have a hard time choosing between her and Alena, but now, here he was, declaring that it was her that he loved and not her sister.. his first love. 

"Oo, maaaring una kong minahal si Alena, pero iba ang pinagsamahan natin, Amihan." Ybarro explained. "Hindi ko na kailangang isalaysay kung paano tuluyang nahulog ang loob ko sa'yo, pero sana, wag mo akong ipagtulukan palayo dahil kahit malaman ko pang buhay si Alena, ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko."

"Mahal kita, Amihan, at paninindigan ko 'yun sa ayaw at sa gusto mo." Ybarro added, pulling Amihan closer to him. 

As the queen of the diwatas was wrapped in his embrace, Amihan couldn't help but close her eyes and continue to cry. She was both happy and sad. Happy that Ybarro was so sure of his feelings for her and that he'd choose her, but sad because if Alena was truly alive, she'd have to accept the fact that the man she loved so much, had found love in someone else.. her sister. 

And yes, Amihan was right. Alena is alive, with all her memories intact. 

"Si Amihan at si Ybarro?" The latter said as she watched them from afar. "Ano ang ibig sabihin nito, Cassiopeia? Paano.. paano nangyari 'to?" She added, tears falling from her eyes. 

"Marami nang nangyari magmula nung ika'y yumao, Sanggre Alena." Cassiopeia explained. "Isa na doon ang pagkahulog ng loob nina Amihan at Ybarro sa isa't isa."

"Hindi ako makapaniwalang mapagtataksilan nila ako." Alena said, her fists starting to ball up in fury. "Ano bang klaseng tadhana ang meron ako, Emre? Patayin mo na lamang ako!"

Cassiopeia felt her heart break at the sight of a heartbroken Alena. Among all the sanggres, she seemed to have the most tragic fate, and if only she had the power to give Alena the happiness she truly deserved, she would. 

"Tahan na, mahal na sanggre. Tahan na." Cassiopeia said. 

"Magiging maayos din ang lahat."