CHAPTER TWENTY
"SO where are you taking me?" Walang ganang tanong ni Natalie pagkalabas nila ng hotel.
Vhal turned his head on her and smirked. Ha! Umiiral na naman ang pagkapilyo nito.
"I could take anywh--"
"Vhal!" Saway niya rito na siya namang kinagalak ng binata pagkuwa'y dumating na ang sasakyan na dala ng valet.
"Here's the key, Sir. Enjoy your day!" Bati ng valet sa kaniya pagkuwa'y binuksan na ni Vhal ang passenger's seat para kay Natalie.
"I'm driving" ani Natalie at nilahad ang kamay.
"No, I am driving"
Natalie just rolled her eyes. Alam niya na matatalo lamang siya rito kaya sumakay na siya ng sasakyan.
"Where are you taking me?" Tanong niya ulit. "I'm serious, Vhal"
He just chuckled. "We're going to the global captial of fashion and design or also known as the home to the national home exchange"
"Oh c'mon, Vhal. Ano 'to? Educational trip?" Para naman kasing alam niya ang lugar na tinutukoy nito!
"You'll see later. Just sit there and relax, we'll be there soon" he smiled and turned on the stereo.
🎵🎵
Off to the land of sleepy time I go
I'm gonna take my shoes off at the door
I'm gonna go with dreams
like rivers flow, woah
When the alarm goes off
I just won't know
Won't you, come with me?
Won't you, before they're
gone in the morning,
I wanna know why they're
gone in the morning,
I feel alone when they're
gone in the morning,
I wanna know why they're
gone in the morning, I, woah I.
Napaayos ng upo si Natalie ng makita ang pamilyar na lugar sa daan. She have seen this place before...
Oh my god..
"Welcome to Milan, Natalie" he smiled as he hold her hand, to tight enough for her to let go.
Hindi na niya ito inalis, mukhang hindi naman papayag si Vhal.
Talaga ba, Natalie? O ayaw mo lang talagang alisin?
Ilang sandali pa ay pinark na nito ang sasakyan at naglakad sila papunta sa isang malaking simbahan.
"Wow" she was just speechless. It's the massive Cathedral of Milan which the Milanese call just, "Il Duomo" she murmured.
"You know this place?"
Oo naman, how could she forget? Isa ito sa lugar kung saan pinangarap niyang magpakasal, considering the place at higit sa lahat, this is where her parents got married.
Yes, hindi man halata pero dito nga sa simbahan na iyon nagpakasal ang kanyang magulang.
"You want to go inside?" He asked, syempre hihindi pa ba siya? Of course she wants to!
Pumasok sila sa loob ng simbahan at nakita ang tunay na kagandahan nito. It was really beautiful.
"Do you think these people believe that God hears their prayers?" Out of nowhere, Natalie asked him.
Vhal just looked at her. Naninibago dahil sa mga ganitong usapan ay siya ang madalas na nagtatanong kay Natalie but right now, it was the other way around.
"Siguro" that was the only safe answer he could say.
"Ikaw ba, naniniwala ka na naririnig ka ng Diyos?" She looked at him while they're sitting at the back. "Do you even pray?"
Actually, no. He's not a prayerful man not until last night, before he closed his eyes he just uttered a silent prayer.
"When was the last time you prayed?" She asked again.
"Last night"
"What did you pray for?" Umiwas ng tingin si Vhal at sandaling napatingin sa taas.
"You" he said and again, looked into her eyes. "Ikaw lang naman ang laman ng mga panalangin ko, Natalie"
Naginit ang mga mata ni Natalie sa narinig, she didn't saw that coming.
"You asked me if I think these people believe that God hears their prayers?" He said. "I think they do"
Tumingin sila muli sa mga taong nasa harapan nila na nananalangin. "I think what they have is greater than believing, it's more than that"
"You know what they have?" Dagdag na tanong ni Vhal sa kanya.
Tumango si Natalie. "Faith" she murmured.
"Yes, faith" he smiled. "Regardless of religion, that was the only connection we have with Him. Faith. Faith in Him"
Parang tumatalon ang puso ni Natalie sa narinig. She never thought that she would hear him say those words but right now, he just did.
Sandali pa ay umalis na silang dalawa at pumunta sa susunod na lugar. "Oh my.. ang ganda!" She exclaimed.
" We're at Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II or what Milanos called as il salotto!"
It's a vibrant place where people get to meet their friends or family for lunch or coffee in its elegant cafés and browse in its luxury shops.
"C'mon, I'll take a photo of you!" Siya namang pumosing at hinayaan si Vhal na kunan siya ng litrato gamit ang cellphone nito.
Habang nagpipicture ay may isang matandang Milanong babae ang nakahulog ng mga pinamili niya.
Agad namang tinulungan ito ni Natalie habang si Vhal ay napangiti sa ginawa nito.
She never changed, Vhal. She never changed.
Agad din niyang nilapitan ang mga ito at tinulungan.
"Grazie mille!" Maligayang sambit ng matanda sa kanila.
"Prego" Vhal replied at sandali pa silang tinignan ng matanda.
"È tua moglie?" Napakunot ang noo ni Natalie, hindi na niya iyon naiintindihan. "sei molto fortunato"
Napatawa si Vhal at tumingin sa kanya. Anong pinaguusapan nila?
"No, non accetterà ancora il mio amore" Aba! Nagchismisan na ata ang dalawa.
"Awww" hinawakan na ng matanda ang kamay ni Natalie na kinabigla niya. "La cosa più grande che imparerai mai è semplicemente amare e essere amata in cambio. Ti ama, bella ragazza. Non lasciarlo andare"
Ano daw?
Nagpaalam na ang matanda at iniwanan na sila. Agad siyang tumingin kay Vhal na pangiti ngiti ngayon.
"Anong sinabi mo sa kanya?" Diretsa niya sa lalaki.
"Wala" he shrugged his shoulder. "Gwapo ko daw--aray!" Siniko siya nito.
"Ang haba haba nun, tapos iyon lang?"
"Hindi ko rin naman naintindihan" ani Vhal. Weh? Di nga? "Just kidding, mamaya ko na lang sasabihin sayo. Tara kain tayo!" Hinila na nito ang kamay niya.
Non lasciarlo andare
What's the meaning of that?
