A Twist in My Story *Completed*

Chapter Fourty

FOURTY

Bago ako umalis ng bansa ay nakipagkita ako kay Ace para linawin ang lahat. I am certain of what I'm feeling now. I know masyadong mabilis. But I'm really sure of this. I have no right explanation but I'm sure.

"Ace, I'm so sorry." Panimula ko. Kumain kami sa isang fine dining restaurant. Mamahalin ang lahat ng nandito even if I'm fine woth just a fast food chain, he still insisted to go here.

Fear, worry, hurt, and confusion are very evident in his eyes. It's like he's having an idea but don't want to acknowledge it.

"Sorry?... For what?" Tanong niya, naguguluhan. I looked at him with my sincere sad eyes.

"I don't want to hide this from you. I don't want to prolong this agony for you." Pagpapanimula ko. Even me, I'm hurting just saying this. What more sa kanya? Alam ko ang pakiramdam noong infatuated ako sa kanya. He was my first love, and will always be.

"What is it? Please tell me," Tanong niya at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Oh, this became more hard for me.

"Ace, I'm sorry. It's just... I think," Napapikit ako sa sobrang hirap sabihin. This will definitely hurt him. "I'm starting to like Ars," Utas ko at nagbuntong hininga. Arsen... He was very kind ever since. I treated him, only as a brother because he introduced himself as a 'gay.' But when I came back, there is something I can't explain. I don't know if I'm just amused, excited at our first meeting or what. I don't know.

Narinig ko ang malakas niya pagbuntong hininga. He closed his eyes at pagmulat niya, namumula na ang kanyang mga mata.

"Then?" He asked even if he knew this was hard for him.

"Uhm, I wanted you to know this... Just so hindi ka umasa or what. I don't want to hurt you more. Ace, I'm sorry. But the moment you rejected me, I moved on. Lumipat ako sa ibang bansa, mas lalo akong nalayo sa'yo, mas lalong lumayo ang pakiramdam ko. My feelings for you faded slow but cannot be taken back." I said that looking directly into his eyes. Yumuko ito at nakita ang butil ng kristal na pumatak sa lamesang pumapagitan sa'min. Oh, how bad am I to make a man cry? 

"So... I lost my chance? Or... You chose to not give me? Damn! If only I ran after you," Aniya habang nakayuko. Umiling-iling ako at hinaplos ang kamay niyang mahigpit ang kapit sa'kin.

"You already lost it before, I'm so sorry." Halos bulong na lang ang lumabas sa'king bibig. Dumami ang patak mula sa kanyang mga mata.

"Dapat hindi na kita hinayaang makawala pa sa'kin noon. I should've been honest with my own! Why did I ever hesitate? Just to end up getting hurt?" Dire-diretsong sabi niya habang nakatingin sa'kin. I can't stand seeing him like this. I can't stand seeing him hurting. Did he ever felt like this way before?

"I don't know, Ace. Maybe you deserve someone better," Umiling-iling ito.

"You are more than better. More than better which made you not enough for me," Aniya at pinalis ang mga luha. "Time didn't made its way onto us. I hope you gave me chance to prove my love for you. But if you... Do you really like, no, love him?" Sobrang lungkot at lambot ng kanyang mga mata. Para bang nakikiusap ito sa'kin na itigil na ito at hayaan ko siyang magpahinga.

"I'm falling, Ace. Slowly, but deeply. I'm sure of it. Nothing... No one can save me," Sagot ko at hinimas ang kanyang kamay na nakapatong at nakakapit sa kaliwang kamay ko. "Kaya ko piniling pangunahan ang lahat, because if I ever fell so, so deep. At saka ko lang sasabihin sa'yo, mas lalo ka lang masasaktan. Mas lalo lang sasakit ang lahat para sa'tin," Nagpakawala muli ito ng buntong hininga at saka ngumiti.

"If you are happy with him, then I'm letting you go." Aniya at tumayo at saka ako hinalikan sa pisngi. Tumayo na rin ako at ang mahigpit na kapit niya sa'king kamay ay unti-unting lumuwag, hanggang sa tuluyan ng nakawala. "For the last time, I love you." Malungkot niyang utas. Nahulog ang mga luha sa mga mata ko at niyakap siya.

"I'm sorry, I hope we'll continue being friends." Halos hindi na maintindihan ang sinabi ko.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for causing you trouble and hardship. You are free from harm now, Sel." Bulong niya at hinagod ang likod ko. May narinig kaming tikhim sa likod dahilan upang mapabitaw kami sa isa't isa. Pinunasan ko ang aking mukha samantalang si Ace ay nakipagtapik kay Ars.

"One tear, then you're done." Rinig kong bulong ni Ace. I chuckled.

"She have to cry for me, in order to replace the million tears you caused. But of course, when she cries, it's because it's our wedding day." Bawi naman ni Ars. Nagsukatan ng tingin ang dalawa. Agad ko naman silang hinampas. Kaya guminhawa ang paligid. "Thank you, pare." Sabi ni Ace at muling nakipaghigh five. Lumabas na kami at naghiwalay ng landas.

Hindi siya pumayag na makipagkita ako ng ako lang. Kaya naman hinayaan ko siyang sumama ngunit sa malayo lamang siya, sapat para matanaw kami.

"Why'd you do that? I told you to wait for me," Utas ko habang naglalakad papuntang parking lot.

"Oh? I can't stand seeing you two, holding each other's hand, and caressing each other's back. That's just... For me," Aniya at hinawakan ang kamay ko at hinimas na para bang may binubura doon. He even hugged me while walking. Pinatunog niya ang sasakyan nang makalapit.

"Oh, jealous man." Sambit ko habang sumasakay sa kanyang kotse. Ngunit pagka-upo ko pa lamang ay may humigit na ng mukha ko kasabay ng paghila ko sa pinto. My eyes widened when I felt his lips against mine. Ngunit agad rin akong kumalma at pumikit. He kissed me deeply like he's sucking my soul. Napigtas lamang ito matapos ang halos ilang segundo. I breathed heavily. He just smirked gave me a quick peck.

"Yes, I'm goddamn jealous and don't make it happen again." Wika niya at hinaplos ang labi ko bago tumutok sa steering wheel. Pinaandar niya ang sasakyan habang ako'y napahawak na lamang sa labi ko. "How are feeling? Are you sad?" Tanong niya habang nagmamaneho. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at pinaglaruan ito habang ang isa'y nasa steering wheel.

"Hmm, yeah. I don't like anyone getting hurt." Bulong ko.

"That's inevitable, my Queen." I frowned.

"Queen," Bulong kong muli. Nilingon niya akong muli.

"Yeah, and I'm not just a 'man'. I'm your King, your husband." Sumimangot ako sa narinig ngunit hindi pa rin nakatakas ang kilig. Oh, what a childish feelings.

"We aren't married," Sambit ko. He glanced at me, seriously.

"Then marry me," Utas niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Agad- agad?! "This is my proposal," Aniya at naramdaman ko na lang na inilalagay niya ang singsing sa kamay kong hawak niya. I'm so shook! How come?

"What-- what is this?" Tanong ko, hindi makapaniwala.

"You can't answer now, but I can wait. I will wait, but you are going to wear that ring, always. Unless, it's replaced by our wedding ring." He smirked at me. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko it pinagmasdan ang singsing na kumikinang sa'king daliri. It's so beautiful!

He's so confident! This is him! This. Is. Arsen. We. Are. Talking. With!