RETURN TO ME (Completed)

Chapter Twenty - End

“Gusto ko sanang magpagabi uli, magpagod sa kung saan bago umuwi dito. Para pagdating ko, makakatulog na ako sa sobrang pagod. At lilipas na lang ang gabi at magdamag ng hindi ko namamalayan, at hindi ko naiisip kung ano ang mayroon sa araw na ito.” Rui sighed. “But I had no choice tonight, nowhere else to go, nothing else to do. But go home. Here. And you're here.”

“I've been doing the same thing for the past weeks, pero hindi ako kagaya mo.” sabi ni Tori at sinalubong ang tingin nito. “Dahil ako, hindi ko na iyon matagalan. Mahirap magpanggap na hindi kita naiisip, na hindi kita namimiss, na hindi ko ginugustong sana ay nasa malapit ka lang at nakikita ko. Kahit patayin ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho at araling i-bake lahat ng nasa bakeshop ni Ate, hindi yata noon kayang alisin ang mukha mo sa utak ko. Hindi rin iyon nakatulong kahit kailan, para malimutan man lang kita kahit saglit.”

Tumaas lang ang isang kilay nito. “That sounds nice, I wish I can believe it.”

Sumandal siya sa kinauupuan. “Sana din kaya kong paniwalaan na ayaw mo na talaga akong makita o maalala pa.” tumayo siya at lumapit sa main door ng bahay nito. She punched keys on a small keypad on the side, pushed the door open. Napanganga si Rui.
Tori smiled in spite of herself. His expression was priceless. “Paano mo akong makakalimutan kung ang passcode mo  sa pinto ng bahay mo ay zero-nine-zero-seven-zero-seven?  September 7, 2007. Isn’t that the same night you confessed that you have fallen in love with your bestfriend, Rui?” taas ang noong tanong niya dito.

“Masyado akong abala na nakakalimutan kong palitan pa ang passcode.” tila agad nakabawing sabi nito. “How did you know the code, anyway?”

“Nakakalimutan mong palitan ang code, na nagkataong isang date na nagpapaalala sa iyo ng maraming bagay.” Tori shook her head. “Isn't that ironic?”

He simply looked at her. “What brings you here, Viktoria? Bukod sa pagpapaalala mo sa aking palitan ko ang passcode ko, ngayon din?”

Bumalik siya sa kinauupuan. “For a long overdue apology, Rui.” she looked straight into those soulful eyes. “I was wrong, I was a coward, I had too much pride, I was selfish, and I am really sorry. For everything I said and did, before and after... and especially that night, seven years ago.”  she swallowed.

“I left because of an oligation to my family, and because I wanted so much to say yes, and even tell you we should get out of this town and start a new life somewhere, para lang matakasan ko ang obligasyong iyon.... pero magiging makasarili naman ako kung gagawin ko iyon, dahil alam kong may mga pangarap ka din para sa sarili mo at sa pamilya mo.”

“My only dream was to be with you. Tutuparin ko sana noong gabing iyon, pero literal na sinira mo naman.” napailing ito.

“And I regret doing that, Rui. I could have said and done something, pero wala akong ginawa. I was overwhelmed by the decisison I had to make, that I never really  thought about it. Wala akong pinagsisisihan sa mga narating ko ngayon, only that I could have had you with me through all these seven years.” she reached in to hold his hand.

Hinayaan lang siya ni Rui na gawin iyon, habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kanya. “I was never free from you, not for a single moment even after I left. I always missed you, lagi kitang iniisip, na parang nariyan ka pa rin sa malapit. Alam mo ba kung gaano ka-weird iyon? Nakakawindang iyon.”

Tumango ito. “I know exactly what that means. I am surprised pareho lang pala tayo. Given that---”

“Let me have my say first, okay? Hindi lang ikaw ang nasaktan dito.” putol niya sa sasabihin ng binata. Nakita niyang umarko lang ang kilay nito. “I am here. Back in this place where I left you, in this same September night, because I want to try and do it right this time.” she took a deep breath. Kinuha niya ang isang legal size folder sa katabing silya.

“Gusto kong gawing permanenteng anniversary natin ang September 7, Rui...” she  looked straight into his eyes, na ngayon ay nakamulagat sa kanya ana tila hindi makapaniwala sa naririnig. At sa nangyayari
“Will you marry me?” tanong ni Tori sa binata, bago napailing. “No, why should I ask? I should impose...” tumikhim siya. Bago ni-rephrase ang sinabi, “Marry me, Rafael Luis Javellana.”

Hindi sumagot si Rui, nakatingin lang ito sa kanya.

Binuklat ni Tori ang folder. “I have already prepared the marriage contract, nagbayad na din ako ng reservation fees sa simbahan at reception venue sa September 7 next year, at nagpa-book na din ako ng hotel. I thought I would wear a wedding dress, not a gown---”

“You can't be serious, Viktoria.” sa wakas ay sabi ni Rui, na mukhang windang pa rin.

Tinaasan lang niya itong muli ng kilay. “Why not? I have practically booked everything, at wala akong balak i-cancel ang mga iyan. Unless you want a different venue? Or an earlier date?”

Rui held her hand tightly. “You really seriously want to marry me now?”
Tori smiled. “Puwede rin sana ngayon kaya lang walang instant wedding dito sa ‘Pinas. But... I don't want a Vegas wedding.”

Umiling ito. “I don't want that either.” a smile broke across his face. “But I really want to know if you're really serious.”

“Seryoso ako! Ano ka ba? Why do you have to be so sure?” natatawang sabi niya.

“Because I am about to say yes.” sagot ni Rui. “Kaya siguruhin mo lang na hindi mo na ko iiwan at hindi mo na ako uli paiiyakin.”

Tori leaned close and kissed him. A quick,yet thorough one, then pulled away. “Hindi na uli mangyayari iyon, Rui. Dahil mahirap. Isa pa, ayoko.” she smiled then added, as if an afterthought. “Is that really a yes, Rui? Becaue I really love you and I am most definitely serious about it.”

Rui leaned in and gave her a gentle, loving kiss on the lips. “Yes, I am sure. I will marry you, Viktoria.”

THE END

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Thank you much for making it until this part. I hope you enjoyed the story. ❤