Saving Grace [Completed]

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"HAVE you ever seen an eclipse?" Tanong ni Taliya sa lalaki habang nakahiga sa kandungan nito. Kasalukuyan silang nakaupo sa isang built-in couch sa isa sa mga bintana. Hindi na naman sila natuloy lumabas ng bahay noong Sabadong iyon dahil sa lakas ng ulan.

"A thousand times, I think." Ali answered while looking at the same spot in the window where Taliya was looking. They had been laying around every Saturday, doing nothing at all. Most of the time, just cuddling on her bed or his, having the best sex of their lives or just sitting like that having random conversations while watching the rain.

Umikot ang dalaga padapa at nangalumbaba sa kanyang harapan. "I have never seen one." Nguso nito. "Laging umuulan kapag meron, hindi tuloy nakikita lagi rito." Saad ng dalaga. Hindi umimik ang lalaki at nanatili lamang na nakatitig sa ulan.

Tinapik niya ang kamay nito. "Ali?" Tawag niya. Ngunit hindi pa rin ito umimik.

Ali had been silent since yesterday. Madalas itong tulala at parang lumulutang ang isipan. She could feel his edginess too. Parang lagi itong may malalim na iniisip. Hininto niya ang pagkuha ng atensyon nito at humigang muli sa kandungan nito.

Ali, not even aware that Taliya had been silent for more than five minutes now, still stared at the window spot where a continuous drop of rainwater could be seen. Ni hindi nga niya napansin na nakatulog na pala ang dalaga.

Eclipse. He laughs on the inside. A sarcastic laugh. He knows why Taliya had said that. There's an eclipse coming this week. He perfectly knew about that because this one is perfectly rare among all the eclipse he had seen. It had only happened once in his lifetime.

And this would be the second time. The very rare occurrence of a syzygy, where the Earth would perfectly align with moon, sun and all the planets that there is. And during this phenomenon, the blood moon will occur.

The blood moon that he had always been waiting for his whole life until Taliya came in. The blood moon that is part of the prophecy of his saving.

Napayuko siya sa dalaga. Mahimbing na ang tulog nito sa kanyang kandungan. Tatanungin niya sana ito kung gusto ba nitong manood noon. The syzygy would be seen just before ten in the evening. The both of them can watch it.

Yumukod ulit siya upang tignan ang dalaga. He hasn't told her about it. At wala siyang planong sabihin ito sa dalaga. Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito at ito naman ang pinagmasdang matulog.

Taliya had not ask him about it again. Hindi rin nila pinag-uusapan ang hinaharap. She had not asked him the questions he is expecting her to ask and questions he would not dare ask.

So, what now? Ali is basically an immortal and Taliya would grow old each day, week, months and years. Would they still stay together even when her teeth had fallen, her skin had wrinkled, and her youth totally gone from her?

Would she still want to be with him despite everything? Is she willing to stay? To let him hold her and be with her throughout her life? Grow old with him even if she would really be the only one growing old?

Napapikit si Ali at napasandal sa dingding. Minsan napapaisip siya kung hanggang saan pa ba ang kaya niyang hirap. Naitatanong niya rin ng paulit-ulit sa sarili niya ang mga tanong sa kanya ni Pepe.

If her time comes, would he be able to endure her death again? And live with it for hundred more years? Could he really make it again?