By any chance... will you marry him?

CHAPTER 9

***

It's already that day.

Chance is now leaving for Dubai with Suzy.

Ayaw sana ni Luna na sumama sa paghahatid dito sa airport, pero alam niyang magtatanong ito kung bakit hindi siya kasama.

"Passport mo, dala mo?" tanong niya kay Chance.

"Yes, mam."

"Important documents? Lahat nasa folder?"

"Yes, mam."

"Gamot sa hilo, may baon ka? Mahiluhin ka sa b'yahe 'di ba?"

"Oo meron. Nasa bulsa ng bag ko."

Lumunok muna si Luna. Huminga nang malalim bago itanong ang sunod niyang tanong.

"'E 'yung sing-sing para sa proposal, dala mo?"

Napa-pause si Chance nang ilang segundo. Ngumiti. "S'yempre," sagot nito.

Luna patted him on the head. "Good."

Both of them were close to crying then, habang si Luna pinapat si Chance, at si Chance habang pinapat ni Luna.

Both of their hearts are breaking then, pero wala sa kanilang umiyak habang magkaharap. Walang nagtangkang umamin sa totoo nilang nararamdaman. They were really good at holding back, the both of them.

"Chance... kailangan na nating pumasok sa loob!" tawag ni Suzy.

"Luna, we need to get going too. Baka malate ka sa shift mo. Medyo traffic ngayon," sabi naman ni Paul. Yes, he came with Luna to the airport too. He offered to take Suzy and Chance to airport since he's the one who has a car.

Tumango si Chance kay Suzy. Ganoon rin si Luna kay Paul.

Pagkatapos no'n, Luna and Chance took one last lingering look with each other.

"Sendan mo 'ko ng picture 'pag may natulungan ka nang camel!" biro ni Luna kay Chance.

He didn't laugh. He was suddenly serious. "Are you really going to be happy here, Luna?"

Isang butil ng luha ang kumawala sa mga mata ni Luna. "Of course."

Chance smiled at her.

She smiled back.

Both of them were smiling, but neither was truly happy.

Chance pulled Luna close and hugged her. He knows Paul might misunderstood, but heck, baka 'yun na ang huling beses na mayayakap niya si Luna nang gano'n kahigpit, kaya sinamantala na niya.

Luna hugged him back. Tighter than how he was holding her. She knows Suzy is watching, and that she might get jealous, but heck, she would have all the time in her life to hug Chance after this since she's gonna be his wife soon, s'ya ito na lang sandaling 'tp ang t'yansa niya, kaya sinamantala na niya.

Neither of them wanted to pull back and let go of the other, but the circumstances they have created, the world, and the announcement of departures on the airport forced them to do so.

"Goodbye, Luna," Chance said, waving.

"Bye, Chance," she replied, waving back.

Pagkatapos no'n, lumakad na si Chance papunta kay Suzy, at pumasok na sila sa loob ng waiting area.

Si Luna, hawak-hawak ang kamay ni Paul for support, para hindi siya biglang mapaluhod sa sakit at sa lungkot, lumakad na palabas ng airport.

She went to the hospital and worked as if nothing happened. As if she didn't let love ride an airplane to Dubai, and disappear without him knowing how she truly felt.

The end.

Wait.

The end na nga ba?