Our Journey To Happy Endings

Finally

Dedicated to Ate @xmeimeix. She owns some of the most beautiful stories I ever read.:)

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“Tell me you don’t love me back; tell me to give up. Because only then would I finally stop.”

~AquilaAndromeda~

April 12, 2014

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finally

"Kiel!”

I lifted my gaze, and my heart instantly skipped a beat.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling ear to ear. Hearing her call out my name in this very special day just makes everything better.

Here I stand near the University Forum's gate, my feet glued onto the ground, my heart beating three times faster than normal, smiling happily as I anticipated a hug from her.

A moment later, I was locked in her warm embrace, making my smile wider. Halos sumabog na ang dibdib ko sa lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Could this day get any better?

"Happy graduation, Kielooo, mah men!" She greeted me with her ever-so enthusiastic voice.

I could see her smiling the same smile that's plastered on my face. I could just get awed by how beautiful she looks today in her graduation gown. At kahit na kating-kati at init na init na ako sa toga na suot ko, at nakayakap pa sya nang mahigpit sa akin, I didn't bother putting up a fight. For today, I have nothing else in mind but to savor this very day.

Because today, I am with her.

I closed my eyes as I returned her hug. I could smell the strawberry-ish scent of her hair. I gently stroked her black locks and patted her back. Dahil hindi ko alam kung gaano magtatagal ang moment na ito, sinulit ko na.

"Hoy, Michael! Tulala ka na naman dyan!"

I snapped back to reality just to see her staring at me with a grin on her face. Kumalas na pala sya sa pagkakayakap sakin.

"Okay ka lang ba?"

Sinalubong ko ang tingin nya at ngumiti. "Mm, okay lang ako. Ikaw ba? Nagusot na yang toga mo. Ikaw kasi, excited masyadong yumakap sa matcho kong katawan." Pinagpagan ko ang dulo ng graduation gown nya na bahagyang nagusot at pilit pinakalma ang puso kong nagtatatalon sa tuwa.

"Sus, ako pa ngayon? E ikaw nga dyan ang parang nakayakap ng sariling unan e." She flashed a playful smile.

I stared at her beautiful face that I would surely not forget even after a thousand years. I smiled at her. “Happy graduation,” I greeted her back with a soft tone.

Suddenly, she had a grim expression. And we were in each other's arms again.

"I'm gonna miss you, my Kielooo." I could hear sadness in her tone. Although she tried to hide it in her smiles, I know she's saddened by today's news as much as I am.

I heaved a sigh and patted her back again. “I’m gonna miss you, too, my Dafny,” I whispered in her ear the endearment I got used to calling her. “Pero magkikita pa tayo. Trust me, magkikita pa tayo.”

I pushed myself into believing what I said. If only it’s as easy as 1-2-3.

“Wag ka ngang umiyak dyan.” HInawakan ko ang balikat nya nang humiwalay ako sa yakap nya. “Yang make-up mo oh. Sige ka, hindi ka na maganda sa huling picture natin nyan.”

She tried to smile and looked at me. “Mag-iingat ka ha?”

Tumango ako. “We still have the whole day for us, Daf.”