Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Twenty-Seven

I was in love with Ara.

I know there are a dozen things that I'm completely unsure of: such as the fact that I have no idea where this will go, and whether or not we were taking it too fast, or if this might end up as a disaster just like the last time. Sa totoo lang, I'm not sure of pretty much anything at all.

But I was in love with Ara Galang.

And that, that I'm sure of.

We broke the kiss and just as I expected, it was awkward. Parang pareho kaming nagulat sa nangyari. And yet, we still went with it.

"Mika, I..." Ara tried to speak, but something seemed to be holding her back. Napayuko siya. "Alam mo na ngayon kung gaano kalaki 'yung mistake na ginagawa ko? I... hindi pwede. Ayaw ko nang masaktan ulit," She uttered under her breath.

It took me a while to figure out kung anong 'mistake' 'yun. Pero alam ko na ngayon.

Hinawakan ko 'yung sides ng face niya at hinarap siya sakin. "I'm sorry if you think loving me was a mistake. And... I'm sorry dahil nasaktan kita dati," I said. Her eyes were becoming teary. "But I promise you, hindi ko na gagawin ulit 'yun. Hindi na kita sasaktan ulit. You're not making a mistake, Ara, I promise you."

Tapos tuluyan na siyang naiyak. She wrapped her arms around me as I accepted it wholeheartedly.

She sobbed on my shoulders hanggang sa naiyak na rin ako. Having her in my arms was like having her forever. It felt surreal, like I was the only girl on the planet who was lucky enough to love and be loved in return.

She pulled away and wiped her tears. She breathed deeply and licked her lips. "I'm not making a mistake, diba?" Ara asked.

I shook my head. "No, you're not."

"Then I have something to tell you," She said. Napakunot ang noo ko. She took both of my hands and looked at me straight in the eye. I felt my heart jump inside my body. "Mika Aereen, alam kong pangalawang beses ko na 'tong sasabihin, at pangalawang beses mo na rin 'to maririning from me. But I'm sure maririnig mo 'to ng maraming beses pa na nanggagaling sa bibig ko... so here it is... I love you, Mika. So, so much."

I couldn't help but smile. Sa totoo lang, sobrang dami kong nararamdaman. Hindi ko na inisip kung ano-ano 'yun, I looked straight at Ara and held her hands tight. "Ara Galang, alam kong unang beses ko 'tong sasabihin sa'yo, at unang beses mo rin 'to maririnig mula sa bibig ko. But I promise you, you will hear this from me for about a million times in the future. And so, here it is. I love you, Ara. Sobra."

"Million times mo lang sasabihin? Ayoko nga," Ara remarked and interlocked her arms.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "E ano gusto mo?"

"Trillion. Ay hindi, Quadrillion na lang. Tsk hindi, masyadong konti. Ah, alam ko na. Pwedeng infinite?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hindi mo pa nga ako nililigawan, gusto mo kagad infinite times ko nang sabihin sayo 'yung 'I love you'?"

Ara's light in her eyes faded away and frowned. Nag-pout pa siya. "Edi 'wag! Akala ko kasi..."

"Joke lang, ano ka ba!" I laughed. I hugged her and said: "I love you, I love you, I love you..."

"Tatlo lang 'yun ha," She whispered in my ear. "May infinite pa."

---

I scratched and opened my eyes and saw that I was in an unfamiliar room.

Nasaan ako? I don't remember sleeping here...