Umakyat sa rooftop si Sarah. Parang pakiramdam niya nasasakal siya sa mga kaganapan. She was equally surprised to see Gerald in the hospital. Nevertheless, it was wrong of him to make conclusions especially since they haven’t been talking regularly recently due to both their crazy schedules. Sa sobrang inis niya sa nagiging mas kumplikadong sitwasyon, nakakaramdam siya ng galit. She walked towards the edge of the building and was looking out towards the horizon. She needed some breathing space or she’ll lose her mind.
Hinabol ni Gerald si Sarah and was bothered when she decided to climb up the stairs towards what he thought was the rooftop. His mind went overdrive thinking of possible scenarios although in his heart, he knew Sarah couldn’t do it. Wouldn’t even think of it. When he entered opened the door leading to the topmost floor, he saw Sarah....still...unmoving...almost on the edge but not too close. He knew she was safe. Gerald couldn’t help but admire the sight in front of him. Sarah’s profile partially facing the horizon, bathed in moonlight with the vast sky, scattered with stars, as her backdrop above, and the lights below seemingly focusing a spotlight on her face. She seemed so achingly beautiful, so hauntingly lonely...her frailty affected him the hardest. It made him feel like he was literally hit in the gut.
“Babe?” He started to call him.
Sarah broke away from her thoughts and glanced at Gerald’s direction. She looked at him and tried to hold back her tears. Disappointment obvioiusly showing in her eyes.
“Babe, sorry na....” Lumapit si Gerald at hinaplos ang kanyang braso at siko. “Baby girl...please naman..”
“Bakit ganito? Parang ang hirap hirap. Isn’t loving supposed to be easy? No doubts, no fears. Isn’t it supposed to lift you, not bring you down? Remember nung nagsimula tayo Ge? It was close to heaven... “
“Are you telling me something?” Gerald said. He withdrew his hand touching Sarah. His mood shifted.
“Ewan ko...magulo ang isip ko...Sorry kung mahina ang babaeng pinili mo...Ito kasi eh..” sinabi ni Sarah sabay turo sa puso niya. “Akala ko ang tapang na nito ..pero hindi pa pala. Ang dami pa rin tanong. Yung kay dad...bakit ‘di kita maipaglaban? ..yung sa trabaho mo, bakit napapanghinaan ako ng pagduda ko?..”
“Babe, ‘di ko naman hiningi sa yo na sabihin mo na agad agad di ba? Where is all this pressure coming from? ”
“Because I hate deceiving him Ge. I feel guilty for keeping us from him. Tingin ko, as her daughter, he has the right to know about us. Ang takot ko...baka may hilingin siya na mapilitan akong pagbigyan o baka dumating yung time na kailangan ko siyang suwayin at may mangyari sa kanya...I love my dad, yes...but I don’t know if I can ever survive being without you again. Why is life this cruel? Wala na ba akong karapatang sumaya? ”
“Alam ko na mahirap babe pero this is real life. Wala tayong magagawa kundi sabayan ang agos nito. Kung mahal mo ako, kung gusto mo na maging tayo sa huli, we need to hold on. I’m not asking you to go against your dad, no. I’m just asking you to have faith in us.”
Sarah gently placed her hands on Gerald’s cheeks and said, “I promised you na babawi ako ‘di ba? I won’t break that. Paninindigan ko tayo whatever the consequence is. As long as you want me in your life, I’ll be yours.”
Niyakap ni Gerald ang kasintahan. “Thank you babe, that’s all I ask.”
Sarah felt at peace, albeit temporarily, she knew. On the otherhand, the wheels were turning in Gerald’s mind. Sarah wouldn’t agree but he felt that he needed to somehow take the reins. It was time for him to face her father. He hoped that if her dad heard his intentions towards Sarah, things will be better for her. He hated seeing her this miserable. However, he knew the risk. He could make things more complicated than how it is. He kept on remembering how it was 6 years ago...she left him without giving him the right to do anything. This time around, the ball was in his court. At least, if things would fall apart, he would be at peace knowing he did everything to fight for her.
