How We Unravel

Eighteen

Eighteen: Sweet Surprise

"At kung hindi ka pa rin naniniwala... heto," may kinuha siya sa bulsa ng shorts niya. It was a piece of paper. "Sinulat ko para sa 'yo, pasensya na, 'yan lang nakayanan ng utak ko."

He smiled sheepishly and handed me the folded paper. I opened it and started reading what was written inside.

I will fall in love with you
fill your empty halls with memories of truth
I will be the soldier for your wars
and I, the lover that would kiss your scars

For my love may not be your healing
but your happiness is my life
In your ocean I'd go sailing
for the treasure of your soul, I'd dive.

And if God forbid you'll be my Annabel Lee
I will love you like how Edgar Allan Poe did.
My love it is stronger by far than the love
of those who are older and far wiser than we.

We will love with a love that is more than love
I and my midnight beauty — my Bethany.

It was signed by him at the bottom right. Isang luha ang hindi ko namalayang pumatak na pala sa papel na hawak ko. He wrote me a poem as a response to what I've written, and nobody has ever paid that much attention in me. I have written about people, but nobody has ever written about me; and I don't know what to feel, or how to react.

When you're used to being treated like you worth nothing, you question whether you do deserve all the good things when someone treats you right. Because when you lived your life full of lies, how do you know when one's real?

My heart is aching for unknown reasons. Mabilis kong pinunasan ang luha ko bago pa ito muling tumulo. I looked up at him, his eyes expectant, his eyebrows raised, and his thumb immediately found its way on my cheeks, brushing all the tears away.

My heart was pounding fast against my chest and for a second, my heartbeat was louder than the sound of the waves and laughter surrounding us.

Tumingkayad ako para maabot ang kan'yang maamong mukha, hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya at tuluyang pinikit ang mga mata, until the only thing I felt was the softness of his lips. I kissed him like it was my first time to kiss, and when he responded, I felt my feet floating from the ground. He held me on my waist for support as we kissed just like how the moon and sun kiss during the solar eclipse.

"Is that a yes?" He asked when I gently pulled away. Ginulo ko ang buhok niya at pinagmasdan ang kan'yang mga mata.

I slightly nodded my head, deciding with my heart and not letting my brain fuck this for me. I've far dismissed the idea of having a partner in my life, but this... this is an exception.

Everything just felt right—perfect even. He entered my life in the most unconventional way, and everything was unexpected. But that's the point, there is a sweet surprise in everything unexpected.

And I know I have to trust the process. I have to trust him. And that's what I'm doing, offering myself to him wishing he won't break the already broken pieces.

Lumaki ang ngiti niya hanggang sa naglaho na ang kan'yang mga mata. "Hinding hindi kita sasaktan," he promised.

Magkahawak ang aming mga kamay habang pabalik kami sa tent. I can't believe I'm finally doing this. I can't believe I'm giving myself a shot not just in love, but also in life.