If I See You Again

Chapter 38 Promise

Warning! Mature content! SPG

Lance' Pov

"Hey, hindi ka dapat humihingi ng kapatawaran pagdating sa mga bagay-bagay noong pinapalaki mo si Chance. You've done more than enough to let him grow to be such a fine, brilliant and amazing kid that he is right now. And for that I can never thank you enough. You've done really a great job! Ako dapat ang humihingi ng despensa kasi ako iyong wala nang mga panahong iyon. But you were so brave and tough sweet pea for doing all of the things you did all alone for almost seven long years! You made me so proud and ashamed at the same time..." at mas lalo pa siyang humikbi nang sabihin ko iyon.

Seeing her crying her heart out after telling me all those things that she went through made my heart ache. I scooped her in my arms. I was crying too. Kung sasabihin man niyang nababaklaan siya sa akin, so what?! But then I can't help myself from grinning too. Kanina habang pinagmamasdan at pinakikinggan ko siyang nagkukwento, mas lalo ko yata siyang minahal. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng kabutihan ba ang nagawa ko noon at biniyayaan ako ng Dios ng ganitong klaseng babae na kagaya ni Channel. So selfless, so kind and big hearted, so tough, so talented, so loving, so beautiful in and out at sobrang mahal na mahal ko. I am so happy I finally found her again. That I get to see her again after all these crazy roller coaster rides I took in life.

"Hey stop crying already alright kasi hindi rin tumitigil ang luha ko sa tuwing nakikita kong bumabagsak ang mga luha mo. Nakakabakla!" I told her to lighten up the mood a little.

"Sira! Kahit kailan ka talaga Love!" Hinampas niya ang braso kong nakayakap sa kanya. Ngunit hindi ko inalintana iyon. I was more caught up sa itinawag niya sa akin.

"Why did you just call me? Say that again please?.." ipinungay ko ang aking mga mata to act cute in front of her. Corny ko no.

"What? Why? May sinabi ba akong iba?" Pagkukunwari niya. Tapos bigla siyang naging seryoso.

"Siyanga pala, may iba pa dapat tayong pag-uusapan. At importante 'to. And you have to make sure magugustuhan ko ang rason mo kung hindi..."

I kissed her lips but very briefly, I just couldn't hold it anymore. I missed the taste of it. Almost seven years din ang hinitay ko ha, hindi biro ang tagal noon.

"Lance Mikael ano ba!" Saway niya sa ginawa ko.

After hearing her call me that way, I know she's being serious kaya umupo ako ng maayos. And oh rigth she was saying...

"The mouse bride... why is it with you?"

"The mouse groom... is it with you really?"

Magkasabay na naman kaming nagsalita sa pangalawa at pangatlong beses na sunod-sunod sa araw na ito. Natawa nalang kami pareho bago parehong sumeryoso naman kalaunan.

Si Channel ang unang bumuka ang bibig kaya I decided to listen. "I just got a hold of it today actually, I mean kanina lang noong nagkabungguan kami ng isang kong Tita sa labas ng hall. Ibinigay niya sa akin itong vintage box kung saan nakalagay si mouse bride." Inilabas niya sa purse niya ang maliit na vintage box, exactly the same box na ibinigay ko sa batang babaeng iyon. Halos mahigit dalawang dekada na ang nakakaraan. Ngunit paano napunta sa Tita niya iyon at bakit ibinigay sa kanya.

"Bakit nasa Tita mo iyan at bakit sayo niya ibinigay?" Naguguluhan kong tanong. She can't be possibly that little girl right...? Wait... could it be...?

"I also asked her that, but ang sabi niya, sakin daw talaga ito. And I can never forget what she said before we parted ways. Matalinghaga kasi. Ang sabi niya. Pilitin mong alalahanin ang araw na iyon bago pa mahuli ang lahat. Nagtaka talaga ako at napaisip. But when I openned the box and saw what's inside, floods of memories from over two decades ago came rushing down my mind. I came to remember everything that had happen since day 1 in that Macao business trip my parents went to. Naalala ko pa nga kung paano ako nainis sa'yo kasi inisturbo mo ang pag-iisip ko ng scenery na iguguhit ko sana sa sketch pad na parati kong dala noon. No wonder hindi ko naalala for a long time eh nainis ako sa'yo eh. Not a very nice memory worth remembering don't you think so?" Bumaling siya sa akin ng may nanunuyang ngiti.