At The Sunrise

Chapter 12

"I'm glad you enjoyed the dinner, Mrs. Valeria." ani Zach matapos niyang maubos ang desert.

"You pleased me well today, Mr. Valeria. You're quite romantic. Now, how can I thank you?" pilya niyang sagot rito.

"Allow me to sleep in your bed tonight." dire-diretsong sagot nito.

"I don't think that is a good idea, Zach." she answered in a low voice.

"I promise to behave, Yvonne. I want to sleep beside you."

"Zach, ayokong sanayin natin ang isa't isa sa ganito. We agreed on terms and I think we shall keep it that way."

"What are you afraid of, Yve?"

"N-nothing. Why would I be afraid?"

"I don't know. But something is telling me you are afraid of something."

"I'm not afraid, Zach. Pero mas praktikal para sa atin na ganito. I like the friendship we have now and I don't think it's necessary we go farther."

"I look forward for us to be better than that, Yve. And all of these things that I'm doing for you makes me happy."

"No, Zach. Please, don't make it hard for us. Last year lang tayo nagkita muli pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon. We don't know each other that well."

"You are starting to get to know me, Yve. But I don't cause you don't share a lot to me. You don't talk that much except when it's all about business. How do you expect me to know you better? You are so near me but I feel like you are too far to reach. You don't even talk to me about your long term plans."

"Cause I don't have to, Zach. I wanted us to just as casual as possible. I appreciate that you are making me part of yours but I can't be the way as you are."

"But why, Yve? Tell me."

She was silent. She can't look at him in the eyes. May mga bagay siya na ayaw sabihin dito dahil natatakot siya. She felt that familiar pain again. She never thought that it would still haunt her.

"Look, kung hindi ka handang sabihin sa akin, it's ok. But please, give me a chance to work things out for us, Yve."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" nagtatakang tanong niya rito.

"Well, I have been dying to ask this since dumating tayo but I did not get the chance until now. But officially starting today, I'm courting you." nakangiting sagot nito.

"What!?"

"Yes, you heard it right. Liligawan kita. Hindi ko man nagawa ito dati sa arrangement ng mga magulang natin but it's not too late. Now that I can have all the chances to do it, hindi na ako magpapaliguy-ligoy pa."

"Zach, I don't know what game this is but I'm seriously not getting myself into this."

"This is not a game, Yve." seryosong sagot nito.

"You are so frustrating, Zach. Bakit mo ba to ginagawa?"

"Because I want to. Because apart from my parents, you are making me happy. Because this 8 years that I have with you is something I look forward to."

Nabigla siya sa sagot nito. Hindi siya makasagot. She thought na pwede nga silang magkaroon ng chance ni Zach but now she realized, she is not ready. She is still too afraid to love again. She thought she is over the pain.

"Let's get to know each other, Yve. Not for the sake of the agreement, the money or our parents but for us." ani Zach habang hawak ang kanyang kamay.

"I don't know, Zach."

"You know, this is the first time that I'm doing this. I never actually dated anyone before romantically. At natatakot rin ako, Yve."

Mas lalo niyang ikinabigla ang pahayag nito.

"You may have heard rumors about me before, Yve. Yes, part of them was true. I had girlfriends before but none of them is someone I would've wished to be part of my future. I never courted anyone before. Naging girlfriends ko lang sila dahil sa mutual understanding or because we were sexually involved. But what we have is different. I never felt lust when I'm with you. This is a strange feeling for me and it scares me, too."

What he said made her cry.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I said something wrong." ani Zach habang pinapahid ang mga luha niya.

"No, it's not what you think, Zach. Sa tanong mo kanina, yes, I'm afraid. I was once shattered because of love, Zach at natatakot akong magmahal muli. I had a long time boyfriend of 4 years. Everything was so perfect that it made me broken when he cheated on me. And the fact that you have history of women problems scares me. Ayokong muling maradaman yun. At isang malaking sugal para sa akin kung mamahalin kita."

"I know, Yve but if you give me the chance, I'll show you the part of me that no one has ever seen before. Naging maloko man ako dati pero kaya kong patunayan sa iyo na mali ang pagkakakilala mo. I'm not the man everybody thinks I am and I want you to give me that chance to prove it. That we can be together for good and there is a future for us. I don't believe in destiny, Yve. But I believe in perseverance. And whatever pain you had before, give me the chance to take it all away."

Hindi siya sumagot. Zach wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose and finally give her an assuring kiss.

"Everything will be all right, Yve." ani Zach habang inaalalayan siya ni Zach patayo.

He lead her away from the dining table and near the musicians. Inilagay niya ang ang mga kamay ni Yve sa braso niya. He then put his hands around her waist and they started to sway along with the music. It was the beautiful melody of the song "Your Guardian Angel" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

She closed her eyes and felt the song. Yes, she is still afraid but it's worth a try. Hindi pwedeng habang buhay nalang siyang matakot. She must take risks and he is right, she must give him a chance. Paano nila malalaman kung hindi nila susubukan?

So, she has decided. She will give it a try to work things out.