QUARANTINED LOVE

PROLOGUE

“Love conquers all!” That was my mom told me. No certain distance can hinder two hearts longing and thirsty for love. Sabi niya sa akin, as long as the feeling is still there and the fire in both hearts are burning bright, then walang makakapigil sa pagmamahalan.

Back then, I thought she’s just telling insensible things, kasi feeling ko ‘yung sinabi niya was too cryptic. Sabi ko pa noon sa kaniya na hindi lahat ng taong nagmamahal nakakayanan ang lahat ng problema. One time, may isa sa kanila ang bibitaw at aayaw because their situation is no longer bearable. Pero, what made me think twice of my argument was that thing she told me afterwards.

“Anak, you’ll soon understand kung bakit sinasabi ko sa’yo na ang tunay na pagmamahal nakakayang mapagtagumpayan lahat ng pagsubok.” Those lines were keep running into my mind. Kahit limang taon na ang nakararaan magmula noong napag-usapan namin ni mommy ‘yun, it felt like we’ve just had a chat yesterday. I can literally hear her voice at the deepest part of my mind.

But now, ngayon na may girlfriend na ako, I can surely tell na nagkamali ako ng akala. Mom was definitely right at that very moment na sinabi niya sa akin that ‘love conquers all.’ Now that I need to take several miles over Justine, it really pained me. Feeling ko na ang unfair ng mundo sa amin kasi kailan lang masaya pa kami and now mountains and seas seem barricading our way. I keep blaming myself for what happened pero kahit ano pang sisi ko sa sarili ko, I can no longer bring back the time.

What’s inside my mind ay kailangan kong tatagan ang sarili ko kasi ‘pag nakita niya na napanghihinaan na ako, she might surrender as well. Ayokong makita siyang nahihirapan nang ganito. Those tears that keep on running from her eyes, parang pinapatay ako ng paulit-ulit. Yet, I know we can make it through. Not now or ever, hinding-hindi ko hahayaan na mawala pa siya.