√ | 𝑷𝑰𝑪𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑬𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑼𝑺 ; 𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒖

EPILOUGE

I watch as the staffs smiled at me as soon as i step in the building. Smile. Smile. Smile. Left and right.

I can't believe I'm here right now. In front of a whole school body - or should I say alumni. Loyal tributes from the Madrigal Academy.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tinignan ang mga tao sa harap ko. Merong pamilyar, merong hindi.

Tinignan ko ang mga mata nila na nakatingin sakin. Naghahanap ako nang taka, saya at kaba. At hindi ako nagkamali.

Ngumiti ako nang malaki pero bumagsak ito. "Buhay pa pala kayo?" Tanong ko, tumawa sila. "Grabe te! Mahirap patayin ang mga masamang damu huii!"

"That's why I'm still here, living." I told them, smirking. "Kumustang buhay impyerno nung wala ako?"

Far across the crowd I see Rowan, standing there. Smiling at me.

"A lot has happened these past years. And I have to say, kung ano mang pinagdaanan niyo, kitang-kita sa mga mukha kung gaano kahirap ito." Tumawa sila sa sinabi ko. stfu, hinding nga yun joke eh.

"I am proud to say that I actually enjoyed sharing my last school years with these.. people I know standing right in front of me right now. You know how I was - isang supladang pula-buhok na ang palaging bunga ay 'putangina mo rin brad'.
But as all of you might've known, I was caught up in time, lost my memories again - I know, napapagud na tayo sa mga cliché na storya."

"Nakita ang pagbabagu ninyo. May mga gumwapo," Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari pero nakatingin agad ako kay Rowan na agad naman akong nginitian.

".. may mga gumanda, pumanget. At ikaw teh! Grabe! Sabi ko nga na magkakaanak ka nang tatlo pagbalik mo dito haha!" Tawang-tawa ko sa isang kong classmate.

"Oops sorry. Anyways, welcome back alumnis! Ooh, one more thing- I just hope na hindi ko kayo makita sa kalsada na nangangailangan nang bahay at pera. Okay? yeah. Welcome back once again!"

Umalis ako sa stage at nakita ko ring papalapit sakin si Rowan. He smiled before suddenly hugging me. I smile at that.

"You were great, gorgeous." He whispered to my ear before kissing my cheek. "Akala ko si Xyla talaga."

"Pero ako nga si Xyla." sabi ko sa kanya. "Latest and the best."

Tumawa siya. "Let's go out." He gently take my hand then intertwining my fingers with his.

"Where to?" I ask him.

"You'll find out." He teased, hugging me once more then suddenly kissing the side my neck. I giggled at that.

⏳⌛

"Nandito na tayo." Bulong niya sa tainga ko. Nung nakapikit kong mata ay binuksan ko.

My eyes widen. We're at the amusement park! I turn to look at him, smiling brightly. He just chuckle as he place his forehead gently against mine as we lock eyes.

"We'll have a lot of fun." He told me. Pero wala akong pake, kahit saan man kami magpunta, basta kasama ko lang siya - kahit ano masaya.

But apparently "fun" in Rowan's dictionary means.... "danger". He dragged me to a roller coaster.... sits me beside him before buckling up... then the ride started.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" was all I could muster as we go down. "OH MY FUCKING GHAAAAAADD!!"

I heard nothing else the whole ride other than my screaming self and Rowan's laughter.

"Thank you, come again~" The lady opened the gate for people to exit the ride. I sluggishly walk out.

"Woo! That was fun right?" sabi ni Rowan paglabas namin.

Nahihilo ako... tangina...

"Yea yea.." sabi ko sa kanya. Tinawanan lang niya ako bago hinila papunta sa hotdog booth. Umorder siya nang dalawa bago bumayad.

"Ayos ka lang?" Tanong niya sakin.

Bago ko siya masagot na oo, niyakap niya ako. I close my eyes as I hug him back. His scent making his way to my nose. I love this scent. He stroke the lengths of my hair as we wait. The feeling is comfortable.

I smiled.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, we tried more rides which means more screaming then we went home.

I sit on the balcony as I stare at the dark omnimous yet star-filled sky. I inhaled deeply before exhaling.

"Hey.."

Napalingon ako, si Rowan. "Yeah?"

Ngumiti siya. "I just want you to know that... I love you."

I was taken aback but did not hesitate answering.

"I love you too."

THE END

a/n: finallyyyyy