Why Can't It Be? (Bachelorette Series 5)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-three

"How are you?"

Mula sa pagtingin sa payapang dagat ng Belladona ay tinignan niya ang lumapit sa kanya.

It's Sierra.

"Fine." She smiled. "Trying to be friends with the sun." She chuckled gesturing to the sky.

Tumango ito at naupo sa katabi niyang sun lounger. "How are you?" Ulit nito sa tanong.

She sighed. Si Sierra nga pala ito. The question is supposed to be simple but with her, a simple question is brought to a different level. "Good." She answered simply.

"Are you happy?" She asked using another question. Alam na kasi nitong 'good' lang ang paulit-ulit niyang sasabihin.

Bakit parang ang bigat ng impact ng pagkakatanong nito?

"I am." She looked away from her.

But after a minute of silence from Sierra... hindi na niya napigilan, tinignan niya ito.

"You're not." She pointed out.

She sighed. Bakit ba kasi may ganyang talent si Sierra? "I'm happy. I have so many reasons to be happy. The fact that i'm given another chance to live is a big reason to be happy." She smiled just to convince her more.

"But you're not fully happy." She pointed the word.

"Siguro hindi pa sa ngayon. But eventually... I will be." And that's true. It's just a matter of time.

"Wala na ba talaga?"

Naguguluhang tinignan niya ito. "Huh?"

Matagal muna siyang tinitigan ni Sierra bago nagsalita. "Wala na ba talagang natitirang pagmahahal para kay Chord?"

She sighed. Sabi na nga ba niya at dito papunta ang usapan. She played with her fingers then look at the peaceful sea. Hindi niya kayang tagalan ang paninitig ni Sierra. It's making her think things... na hindi naman na dapat niya isipin.

"If the love is real, it doesn't fade away that easy." She said instead.

"Has it faded?"

She look at Sierra, she's waiting for her answer. She smiled, urging her to answer truthfully.

Marahan siyang umiling.

"Then it's real."

Silence filled them.

"What's keeping you from accepting him then?" Maya-maya ay tanong nito.

She closed her eyes. Feeling the sea breeze of the afternoon. "I'm scared."

Hindi umimik si Sierra.

"I don't want that kind of pain again." Patuloy niya.

"I can't blame you for being scared. But..."

There goes that 'but' again.

"Being scared is a normal feeling. It's a sign that you're still capable of feeling something. Of being vulnerable. You know what can overpower fear?"

Tinignan niya ito.

"Love. If you love him enough, you'll continue despite of being scared. Love makes you undeniably brave. Your love for him will overpower the fear.
If you want it real bad, no amount of fear, second guessing, doubt can stop you." Ngumiti ito, hindi niya nga lang alam kung para saan ang ngiti nito. "The question is... do you love him enough?"

She fell silent... contemplating things.

Do I?

The moment she asked herself that, an answer is immediately formed on her brain.