Hopeless Romantic (Published under Precious Hearts Romances)

Chapter 6

Sabay ulit silang pumunta sa Burnham Park for their assignment for their last day. They were required to write a short story. Dahil uso nga sa park ang mga lovers, love story ang gagawin nila.

"Ano ba yan, halos kalahating oras na tayong nakatunganga dito pero wala pa tayong nasisimulan."

Nang tignan niya ito, nakatingin ito sa malayo. She heard him sigh.

Curious, tinignan niya kung ano ang nakita nito at napabuntong-hininga. She saw a couple. Iyong babae'y nakaupo sa isang silyang de-gulong. Parang may sakit ito. Hinang-hina na ito pero nakangiti. Hinaplos nito ang mukha ng kasamang lalaki. He smiled.

Hindi mahirap hulaan ang sitwasyong kinasusuungan ng dalawa. With this, she had an idea on what to write.

"Ej, can i ask you something?" inihanda ang mga gamit para magsulat. Ito na lang ang tatanungin niya sa mga bagay-bagay. Kung paano mag-isip ang mga lalaki. Total silang dalawa naman talaga ang gagawa ng kuwento.

When he look at her, may kung anong damdaming nasasalamin sa mukha nito. Hindi niya alam magbasa base sa mukha ng isang tao kaya hindi na lang niya ito pinagtuunan ng pansin.

"What is it?" mahinang tanong nito. Dahan-dahan itong bumaling sa kanya giving her all his attention.

"For example, we really love each other. Then one day you found out that I have only 24 hours on this earth. How will you spent this 24 hours with me?" seryosong tanong niya dito giving him a situation to start on for their story.

Tinitigan siya nito. As if thinking very hard on what to do. Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali, kinuha nito ang kanyang mga kamay at ikinulong sa malalaking kamay nito.

"Ayokong isipin na malalagay tayo sa ganoong sitwasyon." Matipid nitong sagot.

"Example lang naman! Para makagawa na tayo ng kuwento." With pleading eyes, tinitigan niya ito. Masyado itong seryoso. Hindi tuloy niya alam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip nito.

"Ok. Paano nga ba?" nangalumbabang baling nito sa kanya nang mapansing hindi niya talaga ito titigilan hangga't hindi siya nakakakuha ng matinong sagot mula rito.

When he gained back his thoughts, mas lalo nitong hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kanyang mga kamay.

"I want to spend your last 24 hours alone. Instead of spending it inside the hospital, I'd rather take you to our place – Bangui. We will go in the beach. We will sit on the shed of one of the Windmills there. I will let talk and talk until you ran out of words. I want to memorize your voice, how you talk because i know that i will miss it that much."

Pinakawalan niya ang mga kamay mula rito, medyo nailang sa pinagsasabi nito. But before she could open her mouth to stop him, inunahan na siya. "Please let me finish first?" when she nod, he again take her hands.

"At sunset, i'll stop you talking by kissing your kissable lips. All you can hear is the birds singing at us and the soft sounds of the waves in the ocean. I will hold your hands like this while reminiscing the happy days we have. When the night is cold, i'll hug you tight sharing the warmth of my body to yours.

"I don't want to cry. I want you to see that i'll be okay for the next few days without you by my side. I want you to sleep peacefully thinking that things will be alright. But deep within myself, i know that it will take me a lifetime to be okay. It will take me a lifetime to forget our memories together. It will take me a lifetime to move on and be myself again."

"When you close your eyes slowly, i'll touch your face feeling you. And when you finally sleep and rest, i'll kiss your pale lips wanting to feel your last breathe."