ECLIPSE.
Nakatingin ako sa unahan mula sa likod at di na kayang lumapit pa. I still remember our first meeting. It's here, on this church.
As the mass ended, people immediately went to the exit to go and continue life outside the church.
Nanatili akong nakatayo at hinintay na kumunti ang taong lumalabas while looking at the sculptures in the altar. It was all skillfully crafted. And then I realize, the maker of this crafts are humans and the item they are making is life. We are the one who creates our selves while He is only our guide. One wrong move and it will break. One wrong move and you will be broken.
Umalis ako sa kinauupuan ko ng makitang kunti nlng ang lumalabas.
“Miss,”
Natigil ang paglalakad ko sa gitna ng simbahan ng may tumawag at kumalabit sa akin sa likod. The man can't straightly look at me in the eye but he is handling me a familiar handkerchief.
“Naiwan mo iyong panyo mo.” saad niya ng hindi pa rin ako tinatapunan ng tingin.
His ears are turning red kaya bahagya akong napangiti. Cute.
Kinuha ko mula sa kamay nya ang panyo ko at nginitian siya.
“Salamat.” mahina kong saad.
Tatalikod na rin sana ako ng magsalita siya ulit.
“Uhm, I'm Jax.”
Sa pagkakataong ito, nagawa niya na akong tingnan sa mata at inilahad ang kamay sa akin. I accepted his hand shake and smiled.
“I'm Novalie.”
That's the first time I met you. Infront of the altar. In the center of the church.
We got along together every sunday. Sa akin ka tumatabi simula ng araw na iyon. For a short period of time being together, we both enjoyed each others company.
And then a month of just being a mass partner, you ask me out for a date.
“Will you uhm, go out with me tonight? Have a date with me perhaps?”
Kakamot kamot ka pa ng ulo mo nung sinabi mo iyon. Your ears slowly turned red too. You were so shy and nervous. But I didn't declined your offer and said yes.
My sunday that only about going to church and going back home changes. It's now going to church and going out with you.
We dated for months not until you told me to be your girlfriend, but on a funny way.
“Novalie Kansas, can you be my girl from this day onwards?”
Nagulat ako ng lumuhod ang isang paa niya na animo'y nag-aaya ng kasal pero natawa ako ng pinagdikit niya ang dalawang palad na parang nagdadasal.
“Please baby, say yes.”
I laughed and laughed at you that time. But ofcourse, I said yes to the man I love.
Being in a relationship with you was almost perfect. I was in cloud nine. The happiness I felt was too much.
Ika nga nila; lahat ng sobra hindi nagtatagal.
And now, we are here again at the church who witnessed our growing love and a very painful ending.
Not because you are marrying someone else infront of the altar but... because you are now laying there, inside a coffin.
I found out that you are battling cancer. That's why we only see each other every sundays but you started seeing me everyday.
“You should didn't do that!” naiiyak kong saad sa kanya.
He is now slowly loosing his hair and weight but he will still remain handsome to me.
“Dapat nagpagaling ka nalang!” dugtong ko pa.
Umiling siya bago hinawakan ang pisngi ko.
“I know I won't last long, baby. That's why I lived my life to the fullest with you. Be happy for me, please.”
At sa huling pagkakataon, dinampi niya ang kanyang malambot na bibig sa aking mga labi.
Bumuhos ang panibagong luha habang nakatanaw ako sa kabaong mo.
“𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰
𝘈 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”
~♥~
Last lyric Credit: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
Photo Credit: from unsplash.com
| work of fiction |
Fenella Arantxa
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