Nang makapag-ayos kami ay nagkita kami sa entrance ng ice skating.
"Bili tayo nang maiinom." Aya ko at bumili.
"Miss, isang mango juice tsaka wintermelon milktea."
"Anong oras na?"
"4PM na." Sagot ko.
"Ice skating ulit tayo sa susunod, ah?"
I smiled. "Sure."
"Where's the next destination?"
"Punta tayo sa lugar na sinasabi ko."
Pagkakuha namin ng inumin namin ay lumabas na kami ng mall at dumiretso sa parking lot.
"Nabitin ako sa totoo lang." Sabi niya nang nasa loob na kami ng kotse.
"Kung gusto mo next week ulit, eh." Pinaandar ko ang kotse.
"Ay, sige."
Thirty minutes din kaming bumiyahe bago pumasok sa isang subdivision papuntang tuktok o 'yung tinatawag naming magtotropa na high place.
"Wow!" Sambit niya at binuksan ko ang bintana at nakalanghap kami ng sariwang hangin. "Omona! Waaah!" Tumingin siya sa akin nang nakangiti. "Steaven-sshi! Neoneun jinjja daebak!!!" [Steaven! You're the best!] Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa bintana. "Ang ganda naman ng view dito!"
Kalauna'y nakarating din kami sa high place.
Kinuha ko sa backseat 'yung DSLR ko at binuksan ito. "Nasa dulo na ba tayo? Ang taas na nito, oh." Bumaba kami. "Wow! This is so cool, mehn!"
"What did you say?" I smiled at her reaction that's why I tried to capture that smile.
"Omo, kitang-kita nga dito ang araw, oh!" Tumingin siya sa akin at nakita niyang nakatutok sa kanya ang DSLR ko.
Nag-peace sign siya na agad ko namang kinuhanan habang nakangiti.
Tiningnan ko ang litrato habang naglalakad papunta sa kanya. "Ang ganda." Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Did you like it.?"
"Sobra." Nakatingin lang siya sa araw. Kinuhanan ko ang liwanag nito. "Paano mo naman na-discover itong lugar na 'to?"
"Dito kami tumatambay nina Travis at nang iba pa no'ng high school kami lalo na kapag gabi." Tumingin ako sa kanya. "You will be more amazed if you're here at night. Stars are very bright in here."
"This is the perfect place to unwind." She looked around. I tried to take a picture of her again. "This place gives me a feeling of somewhat joyf--" Naputol ang sinabi niya nang tumingin siya sa akin. Ningitian ko lang siya habang naka-focus sa kanya ang lens. "Huwag ka magtataka kung masira 'yang DSLR mo, ah."
"Masira dahil sa sobrang kagandahan mo."
"Talaga ba?" Tumango ako habang nakangiti at tumingin sa kanya. "Iba pala epekto ng wintermelon sa iyo, ah? Mabili nga kita no'n araw-araw."
"Kahit huwag na." Umupo kaming dalawa sa may damuhan. "Tingnan mo 'yung mga kuha ko dati dito kapag gabi." Hinanap ko saglit 'yung dating pictures "Ito."
Binigay ko sa kanya ang camera. "A-ang ganda ng pagkakakuha mo." Zi-noom niya ang litrato. "Dito ito?"
"Yup."
Tiningnan niya itong maigi bago ito ibalik sa akin. "Grabe. Punta tayo ulit kapag gabi naman tapos sama natin sina Jannessa."
"Sige. Gawin natin iyan soon."
"Mahilig ka palang mag-take ng photos gamit iyan?"
"Oo. Madalas kong ginagamit ito kapag nagagandahan ako sa nakikita ko."
"Kailan mo huling ginamit iyan?"
"Matagal na. Since college hindi na ako nag-ganito, ngayon nga lang talaga. Nakalimutan ko rin na may ganito pala akong gamit."
Fool of me I didn't get to take a shot Blair even once.
"Buti naalala mo na may ganyan ka pala."
"Oo nga, eh. Bigla ko na lang din naalala. Siguro dahil may nakikita akong maganda lagi kaya pumasok sa isip ko na kuhanan iyon."
And I want to say that it's you. But I don't have the courage to tell.
"P-picturan kita."
"O-okay."
I stuttered.
Binigay ko sa kanya 'yung DSLR at lumayo nang kaunti sa akin.
I smiled and she said hana, dul, set. [One, two, three.]
"Isa pa." Tumayo siya kung kaya't ako rin. Lumayo siya at kinuhanan ako nang half body. "Ayan." Pagkalapit niya'y tiningnan ko ang kuha niya.
"Nice shot." Wow. "Wait, wala tayong picture together."
"Oo nga 'no."
Kinuha ko ang DSLR. "Let's take a pic."
I took a picture while we are both smiling.
Next, was me having a V-sign while her had her thumbs up.
Another shot was I pointed out my lips and Melody had her tongue stick out.
And the last one was smiling widely.
After that, she pointed out her hand to the sun. "Papalubog na ang araw!" I ignored her notice and immediately clicked the button to capture her. She ran after to see clearly the setting of the sun. "Steaven!" She called me out and I went to her.
As we were looking towards it I thank God for the right timing. For this opportunity to be with her.
"Ang puso ko." Naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa akin sa braso ko.
I looked at her. "Oh, bakit ka umiiyak?" She's so cute!
"Naalala ko lang si papa."
Pinunasan ko ang mga luha niya. "I'm sure, he's looking at you happily while he's in heaven."
Kinuha ko ang panyo ko sa may bulsa at binigay ito sa kanya.
"Thank you for this. You made this day happy and joyful."
"Thank you rin. If you're happy, I am happier."
She smiled and looked again in front. "Ang ganda talaga."
"Yeah. Let's go home after this."
Sumakay na kami ng kotse nang tuluyan nang lumubog ang araw. Habang nasa biyahe ay unti-unting nakatulog si Melody at hinayaan ko lang siya.
"Melody?" I gently woke her up. "Wake up. You're home."
She opened her eyes and slowly got up.
"Nakatulog pala ako."
"Oo. Hindi mo nasaksihan kung gaano ka-traffic."
"Gusto mo ba munang pumasok sa bahay?"
"Hindi na. Kailangan ko na ring umuwi sa bahay. May nakakamiss na sa akin, eh."
Kinusot niya ang mata niya. "Sino?"
"Si Mommy." We laughed.
"Mag-text ka kapag nasa bahay ka na, ah."
"Yes, Ma'm."
"Bye."
Pagkarating ko ay kinamusta ako nina Mom sa kung ano ang nangyari sa amin ni Melody.
"That's good to hear." She smiled widely. "By the way, gusto mo bang magsimba bukas? Sumama ka sa amin ng Daddy mo."
"What time ba?"
"Mag-uumaga kami, eh. 9AM."
"That's too early, Mom."
"May iba pa namang service. They have, 11AM, 1PM, 5PM AND the last service whice is 7PM. I just don't know what time nag-seservice sina Linda."
"I see. Baka mag-7PM na lang ako."
"Really? Okay!"
Sunday came and Mom told me where the church was located and I went there 7PM sharp.
5 minutes before it started I saw Melody and it shocked me big time.
She was with few people whom I think will play the music because they're in front and later on they prayed before going up to the stage.
My eyes were fixed with Melody as she gets her acoustic guitar and started to play along with the other musicians.
If you'll see me you will caught my mouth opened.
They were playing instruments while waiting for the countdown to get time out.
I was sitting at the left side back part of the area and I am amazed by how she play guitar. I don't know she does this.
It is really Melody.
We stood as the service started and I clapped and sing and some time looking at Melody and I caught her once smiling.
She's enjoying this and me too.
After they played comes the preaching and I see her sitting to where I saw her a while ago.
Preaching ended but the pastor told the worship team to go up and praise and worship God for the last time.
G
This is all I want
Cadd9
That the love I have for You
Dsus
Doesn't fade along with youth
Em7
Can You help with that
G
The reason that I ask
Cadd9
I've seen far too many friends
Dsus
Walk away and not come back
Em7
I want more than that
This is ridiculous. In three years of our friendship she didn't even told me this!
Am7
I won't wash away
G/B
Like branches in rain
Cadd9 D
I'd rather be kindling in the light
She played the guitar well and I can see that she is one of God's daughter.
Set me on fire like I've never known
Bm
I want to love You more as life goes on
C
So all of my days I'll place
Am G G
My first love first again
All of us sings and God touched my heart and revealed to me why He brought Melody into my life.
G
This is all I pray
Cadd9
Over everything I ask
Dsus
That my friends one day come back
Em7
Can You help with that?
G
God I know You can
Cadd9
'Cause the fire won't mean a thing
Dsus
If it ends right here with me
Em7
You want more than that
This is just one day but too many realizations.
Am7
The river runs fast
G/B
But You wait at the banks
Cadd9 D
And pull us like driftwood from the wild
Feels like God directs me to a new life. To make me become new.
G
Set me on fire like I've never known
Bm
I want to love You more as life goes on
C
So all of my days I'll place
Am G D
My first love first again
G
Once I was drifting but You called me home
Bm
So I'll give my life for the ones still lost
C
And I'll see my friends reclaim
Am G D
Their first love first again
C Am G Bm
Ooh, ooh, oooooh
C Am G G
Ooh, ooh, oooooh
C Am G Dsus
Ooh, ooh, oooooh
Set me on fire like I've never known
Bm
I want to love You more as life goes on
C
So all of my days I'll place
Am G D
My first love first again
G
Once I was drifting but You called me home
Bm
So I'll give my life for the ones still lost
C
And I'll see my friends reclaim
Am G D
Their first love first again
C
You'll see this world return
Am G Bm
And Your first love love You first
C Am G
To a new chapter of my life with Him, with my family and with Melody.
After that day, I was like dumbfounded.
I know to myself and I am sure that I like her and when I think of that, I feel like I am dreaming.
Parang hindi totoo ang lahat. Hindi ko akalain na magkakagusto ako sa kanya.
Simula nang makita ko siyang nasaktan sa kamay ng mga lalaking muntik na siyang pansamantalahan ay may nag-trigger sa akin to watch her out everyday. My heart melted after I see her weakness.
The thought of her hurting and crying was uncomfortable for me. It makes me want to fight whoever that person is so that he can't harm Melody.
Because of that, I appreciated more the Melody I've known for years, I want more to be with her so that I could know if she's safe or not, I want to talk with her more so that I could see her smile and I want to make more memories together with her.
But one thing stopped me to show my true feelings for her.
Fear.
Fear to be rejected and maybe someday Melody won't talk to me anymore when I get to confess my feelings to her.
One week had passed and I didn't talk with Melody nor texted her because of what's happening to me. She's involved with it and I don't know how to approach her especially I saw her part of the music team at church.
Playing guitar in God's place is another reason added not to tell my feelings about her. Feels like I'm not worthy of her to be his boyfriend or husband in time.
Though I didn't let her to be let go of my hands. I secretly look out after her by my driver to know if she's safe going home from school. I told him to keep me updated to Melody everyday.
Almost a month I let myself to go with Mom and Dad on Sunday early morning to go to church.
Nagpapaka-busy na lang ako sa school para makalimutan ko siya pero habang patagal nang patagal ay mas lalo ko siyang gustong makita.
BINABASA MO ANG
He Is My Man
SpiritualShe fell in love with him and then suddenly nagtapat siya na attracted siya sa lalaki for heaven's sake! May magagawa pa ba siya to change him into a man who should be attracted to a woman? Melody Nicole cannot bear the thought of the man she love b...
