The Kiss of the Sun and The Lake

Epilogue: The Unexpected Beggining of An End

DENNIS WAS A man who could sacrifice his own happiness. He wouldn’t spoiled a relationship just because of his feelings. He loved Jacel Anne, had always been in love with her. Cliche, but unlike any other story, he never had any courage to confess his feelings for her.

He kept her in his heart for almost ten years. Hindi siya nagtapat dahil una, ayaw niyang mailang ang babae at masira ang pagkakaibigan nila. Pangalawa, alam niya, sa kaibuturan ng kanyang puso, na iba ang pagmamahalang nabuo kay Lindon at Jacel. Their love story, unexpected as it may seemed, was one in a million.

And now he was attesting their marriage. He was happy, really, for the two. In his heart, no matter how hard it was for him, he needed to move on. Jacel Anne will always have a room in his heart.

Kapag nagsara ang isang pintuan, may isang magbubukas. Pero minsan hindi natin napapansin ang pintuan na nakabukas dahil nakatingin tayo sa pintuang nakasara... naghihintay na magbukas ulit ito.

At the reception of the wedding, he was rooming around when he bumped with a woman. The collision shocked the woman. Nahulog ang mga papel na hawak-hawak nito. Tinulungan niya itong damputin ang mga papel.

“Sorry,” he said.

Lumingon ito sa kanya, at tipid na ngumiti. “It’s okay.” And then she was gone.

There was something in her, something that he couldn’t ignore. Her beauty wasn’t like that of a beauty queen but hers was striking, like a persona with a high character.

Hanggang sa napansin niya ang ID na nahulog nito.

“Marey Juvee Mercedes Benitez,” basa niya. At napangiti siya sa haba ng pangalan ng babae.

Nang tingnan niya ulit ang babae ay naglalakad na ito palayo.

“Marey,” tawag niya sa babae ngunit patuloy pa rin itong naglakad.

“Juvee!” he called, but to no avail.

One last chance. “Mercedes!”

And slowly, like in the movie, she titled her head towards him.

Huminto ang tibok ng kanyang puso. Tila bumukas ang langit at nagsi-awitan ang mga ang anghel. Naging kulay rosas ang kanyang paligid. Na-hipnotismo siya ng mga mata nitong tila nangungusap. He was captivated.

And there, he believed, their unexpected love story started.

THE END.