Blythe Alejandrina Madrigal was my dream star. Siya iyong bituin na nagniningning sa kalangitan. She shines the most. Siya iyong klase ng pagmamahal na hindi basta-basta nawawala. She was the woman who changed me. Hindi ako magiging si Ares Villas kung wala si Blythe Alejandrina Madrigal. I remember the very first time I saw her. She was the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on. Si Blythe iyong bumuo sa akin.
"Do you still remember everything?" Napangiti ako nang tanungin niya ako. Humarap ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang kanyang pisngi na namumula. She was now tipsy. She just smiled at me.
"What part, my sweet?" I asked her. Umingos siya at humilig sa akin.
"All of it... Hmm, the day you fell in love with me? How did you know that I was the one?"
She asked me the question I had been longing to answer. Paano ko ba nalaman na mahal ko siya?
I kissed her head and started talking. Pansin kong nakapikit lang si Blythe habang hinihintay ang magiging sagot ko. "I remember you were trying to pair me up with your friend. Ipinakilala mo ako sa kanya, but I ignored her because it wasn't her that I liked... It was you." Nag-angat ng tingin si Blythe.
She bit her lower lip while looking at me. "Mahal mo na agad ako? But I hit your—"
I cut her off. "You did kick my balls, woman." I shook my head, laughing as I recalled what happened back then.
"Because I didn't like that time," she said. "But you caught my attention when you danced with me during my eighteenth birthday, Ares. Thank you for saving me that time, love." Her eyes were dreamy as she gazed at me.
My heart still raced wildly whenever Blythe looked at me. Even now, I couldn't believe that I was the one she loved. All her life, she had admired John. She loved John when she was still eighteen, while I was the person secretly loving her. She did everything for John, and I did everything for her, just to make her happy. That's how I love Blythe Madrigal. She changed my life without even trying. She came without warning, and I had nothing to do with it. I love the feeling of being in love with her.
"How did you know that you love me, Blythe?" I asked her. Napansin kong natigilan si Blythe. Kinabahan ako, dahil takot ako na baka nasabi lang niya na mahal niya ako dahil ako na lang ang mayroon siya. Ako na lang ang taong kayang magtiis at mag-alaga sa kanya. Natatakot ako, pero kahit ganoon man ang maging sagot niya, kaya ko pa rin siyang tanggapin. I love her so much, and I don't want to let her go. She is now my life, and I could not live without Blythe.
Blythe was now facing me. Walang emosyon ang nababakas sa kanyang mga mata. She was just staring at me, and I think she was calculating her thoughts. Namumula siya, at namumungay ang kanyang mga mata. Nasa veranda kami ng bahay ko, at naisipan naming uminom. I wanted to be with her before our big day.
"Ares..." tinawag niya ako. "Hindi ko alam kung kailangan kita minahal, basta ang natatandaan ko lang ay gusto kong kasama kita palagi. I am always looking forward to my birthday because I know you'll be there with me. I kept on waiting for your messages in Messenger, Viber, or even your phone calls. Araw-araw akong naghihintay, Ares. I may have been busy chasing John, but you never left my mind. Hindi ka kahit kailan nawala sa isip ko. Mahal na kita noon pa, Ares. Hindi ko lang kayang aminin dahil masyado akong nalubog sa akala kong pagmamahal ko kay John."
Nag-iwas si Blythe ng tingin sa akin. She was looking at the can of beer she was holding. "I think even before, you already owned a part of me, Ares," she whispered. "Iyong part na hindi ko kayang pangalanan noon. Mas minahal pa kita nang kinausap ko si Venice. I never knew that you orchestrated a lot for me, Ares. Marami tayong nagawang kasalanan kay Venice at kay John, pero mas lalo akong bumilib sa'yo... Bakit ba mahal na mahal mo ako?"
