I Knew I Loved You

Chapter 36

Hindi na rin ako nagtagal kina Miguel. Binisita ko lamang siya dahil hindi siya nagtatrabaho ngayon dahil nga sa kondisyon niya. Hindi maganda ang nas-stress sa kaniya. I'm the one who's going to check on him now.

"How is he?" Tanong ni Grace.

"Well," I said. "He's doing fine. I'm going to visit him again tomorrow. Wanna come?"

She nodded. "That's a good idea couz! By the way, about what you said yesterday... any news from him? Have you gotten information?"

"Yes. He told me that he was beaten up and was shot. Nakasakay daw siya sa isang ferry."

She seems so shocked. "E'di siya nga si Henry! Oh my Goodness Gabb! All this time you were right! He's alive!"

Tumango naman ako. "But we still need to know kung ano ang motibo at pinag bubugbog at binaril siya roon. And the ferry, for sure may kasama siyang bodyguard noon. The only people in that ferry should be his bodyguard, the captain, at kung may so-sobra pa, hindi ko na alam kung sino."

"Well, as far as I know couz, yung ferry na sinakyan noon ni Henry ay sa mga Gonzales," aniya. "Meaning..."

Ilang segundo siyang tahimik at alam ko na ang pinapahiwatig niya. Mabilis naman akong umiling. "No couz, they can't do it. The Gonzales are good people. Hindi nila magagawa ang kung ano mang iniisip mo ngayon."

"But couz, they are already into big debt that time!" She exclaimed.

I sighed. "We'll see that."

The Gonzales. Aldrei. I know they can't do that! They've been good to us. Hindi ko ma-imagine na magagawa nila ang ganitong bagay. Aldrei was like a brother to me.

Hindi ako masyadong maka focus sa trabaho dahil sa mga bagay na iniisip. Pati 'yung sinabi ni Aldrei kanina sa telepono na "hindi ako traydor katulad mo!" What does he meant by that? Sino bang t-traydurin?

I laid on my bed and stopped thinking of many thoughts. I just want to relax. I don't want to overthink. I fell asleep and woke up the next day.

Hindi na muna ako pumasok sa trabaho at gusto ko munang magpahinga kahit isang araw lang. Gusto kong magliwaliw. Ayaw ko munang isipin ang mga problema ko sa buhay. Gusto ko lamang na magpahangin, huminga nang malalim, makisabay sa ihip ng hangin sa dalampasigan, dahil iyon ang magpapakalma sa akin, at magpapalimot sa sari-saring bagay na naiisip ko ngayon.

I should be happy that all this time Henry is with me. That I only call him Miguel right now. But there is something that bothers me. I don't know what it is. Pumunta ako sa dalampasigan at naglakad lakad lamang roon. Lumapit ako sa tubig at nilalaro ito. I closed my eyes and took a deep sigh. I felt relieved.

"Is everything okay?" a familiar voice said. Si Miguel pala.

"Y-Yes," sagot ko.

Umiling lamang siya at umupo sa tabi ko. "No. Something is bothering you. What is it? Tell me."

I smiled at him. I stared at his eyes. He really is Henry. I missed him so much. Unti-unting namumuo ang luha sa aking mga mata. "I love you."

"You're not answering me. What is it, Gabb?" he seriously said. Imbes na sagutin ko ito, niyakap ko siya at tuluyan nang bumagsak ang aking mga luha.

"I missed you so much," sabi ko habang umiiyak. I tried to sound normal but I couldn't. Hindi ko mapigilang umiyak. Kumalas siya sa yakap ko at tinignan akong mabuti.

"May nangyari ba na hindi ko alam?" nag-aalala niyang tanong. Mabilis naman akong umiling. He chuckled and caressed my hair. "Kaninang umaga lang naman tayong hindi nagkita, namiss mo kaagad ako."

He kissed my forehead then lifted my chin. "I love you too, but I don't want to rush things. Love takes time."

I tilted my head. "Why wait for some other time when I could say yes to you right now?"

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko.

"Mahal kita, so anong sense ng pagpapatagal natin nito?" sabi ko. "You kiss me, and I'm kissing you back. It's obvious!"

He sighed. "I'm afraid this won't work kung dadaliin natin."

I held his hand. "I promise you, this will work."

We've been together for few years, Henry. Aaminin ko, nasaktan ako dahil sa nakaraan. I have loved you even I was in Paris for four years. I'm still in love with you hanggang sa nakauwi na ako ng Pinas pero hindi ako basta basta makukuha muli. We've been struggling together, at ngayon, I won't let this break apart. I, we... will make this relationship work.

"So," aniya. "Is it a yes?"

Tumango naman ako. "Yes. I'm your girlfriend now."

He hugged me. I smiled and hugged him back. I'm really happy right now. I felt his lips pressed onto mine.

"Masaya ako na girlfriend na kita," ulit.

Tumango naman ako at ngumiti. "Gusto mo rin naman, pinapatagal mo pa."

He shook his head and chuckled. He hugged me. Ang sarap sa feeling na kayo na ulit. I promise, hinding hindi na tayo maghihiwalay. Pangako 'yan.

"Mga walanghiya kayo!" Sigaw ni Casandra, tila nag aalab sa galit. Papalapit siya sa amin at aakma akong sabunutan.

"Walanghiya ka, Gabbie!" Ani Casandra. "Hindi mo man lang ako nirespeto!"

"Casandra-" pigil ni Miguel.

"Hindi, Miguel!" She said and faced me again. "Hindi ba't sinabi ko na sa'yong may gusto ako kay Miguel? Napaka bruha mo talagang babae ka!"

I couldn't take it anymore. Nagliliyab na ako sa galit. "Yes! You do have feelings for him! But you don't have the right to control my feelings! Hindi mo dapat ako pinag didiktahan kung ano ang dapat kong gawin o hindi! He was never yours and will never be dahil akin lang siya, bago pa siya mapadpad rito!"

She laughed hysterically. "Paano mo naman nasabi iyon? Ilang buwan ka pa lang dito?"

He held my hand. "We were in a relationship for few years already. Nagkahiwalay kami ng apat na taon, Casandra. I have loved her back then, until now."

Halos manlaki ang mata ko roon dahil hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Tears started to fall. Napa-nganga si Casandra sa sinabi ni Miguel.

"Y-You... remember everything?" I said with a hopeful tone, yet crying.

"H-Hindi," she said while clenching her wrist. "No! Hindi totoo 'yan! Imposible! Ako ang kababata ni Miguel! Ano ka ba? Miguel!?" Halos umiiyak na siya sa iritasyon at galit.

"I'm sorry, Casandra but he didn't grow up here. Alam na namin ang totoo, at ako ang kasama niya these past few years," sabi ko.

Suminghap si Casandra. Tumatango tango siya. She forced a smile. "Hindi kita uurungan, Gabbie," at tuluyan na siyang umalis.

I turned to Miguel and sighed. He hugged me. I cried.

"I remember you," aniya. "Nung una pa lang kitang nakita, you're familiar. And now, I remember all... pati nung umalis ka papuntang ibang bansa."

I looked at him. "Do you remember your true name?"

Umiling lamang siya. I sighed. "At least, naaalala mo na ako."