This Time

Chapter 33

"Babe, get ready na." si Zander habang inaayos ang sarili n'ya habang nakaharap sa salamin. "We have to leave early baka maubusan tayo ng tickets doon sa park." tumayo naman agad si Marga sa sinabi ni Zander. Marga was so eager to go to the park since they arrived here two days ago kaya hindi n'ya hahayaang maubusan s'ya ng ticket.

Marga just washed her face and hopped on her oversized hoodie and she's good to go. Zander is wearing the same dahil wala namang dahilan para mag-suot pa s'ya ng magagarang damit.

"Wear this cap." isinuot ni Marga ang isang black cap kay Zander kagaya ng kanya. Couple caps na binili n'ya kasama ang mga art materials ni Zander na hindi naman nagamit.

Zander just smiled and fixed his cap. Inikot ni Zander ang dila ng sumbrero para mapunta ito sa likodan. Lumabas na si Zander sa kwarto habang hawak ang kamay ni Marga. They went down and rent a small motorcycle made just for the two of them.

"Wow, you can drive a motorcycle pala?" si Marga habang nakasakay si Zander at sinusubukan ang inupahan nilang motor.

"Hindi mo alam? I hate you." si Zander habang naka-nguso pa. Tinawanan lang s'ya ni Marga at pinalo ang balikat n'ya.

"Aba, malay ko ba. Simula nung nakita kita dito puro kotse lang mina-maneho mo."

"College palang sanay na ako mag motor, hindi lang talaga ako pinapayagan. Sa motor ako ni Isaac nagsanay n'on." si Zandet habang inaabot ang pink na helmet kay Marga habang suot naman n'ya ang kulay asul na helmet. "Do you still remember, hindi ako nagpapakita sayo for one week kasi puno ng sugat yung mukha ko dahil nasemplang ako sa motor." Marga carefully listened sa mga kwento ni Zander, she leaned her head to Zander's broad shoulders para mas marinig ang sinasabi nito. "Then Lolo and Mama found out tapos galit na galit sila sa amin ni Isaac, tapos nung sinabi ko naman sayo tinawanan mo lang ako kasi sabi mo simpleng motor lang hindi ko mamaneho ng ayos kaya simula n'on kotse ko nalang ang ginagamit kong pang sundo sayo." the both of them laughed sa kwento ni Zander. Marga surely remembers the things Zander said.

"Pero buti naman natuto kang mag-drive ng motor." habol ni Marga sa kwento ni Zander.

"Yeah, hindi naman ako tumigil. Sinubukan ko ng sinubukan hanggang sa matuto ako." he proudly said. Marga looked at Zander's smiling eyes, whatever it is she's proud that Zander never gave up sa bagay na 'yon, maging sa relasyon nila.

"Oh, andito na pala tayo." si Zander habang tinuturo ang parke na pupuntuhan nila ni Marga. Inalis naman ni Marga ang ulo n'ya sa balikat ni Zander para tanawin ang tinuturo ni Zander.

Zander turned and they are already at the entrance of the park. Mabuti nalang at kaunti pa ang tao dito dahil maaga pa at sure na hindi sila mauubusan ng ticket.

Marga bought the tickets while Zander is finding a place to park their motorcycle. Agad naman ding sumunod si Zander kay Marga. Dahil nga maaga pa ay hindi mahaba ang pila, pito lang ata sila sa pila kaya agad namang na-accomodate ang dalawa.

Upon entering the place. Marga jumped happily habang tinitignan ang kinalalagyan nilang dalawa. The park is almost at the same level sa mga ulap. The breathtaking view was too much for her to take.

"Ganda 'no? Walang pinagbago. This looks exactly like the view we saw years ago." Zander wrapped his arms around Zander while holding her hands. "And now, it's even more special dahil kasama na kita ulit after all of the hardships we went through. I love you." Zander turned Marga's body and sealed a kiss on Marga's lips.

"Thank you for not giving up, Zander."

"Thank you for waiting for me, Marga."

They hugged each other while the clouds above them are watching. Marga is about to explode sa sayang nararamdaman n'ya so as Zander.

They roam around the area to visit the spots they visited before. Each spot has it's own story to tell sa mga pinagdaanan at kaganapan sa buhay nilang dalawa.

They visited the gazeebo near the pine trees. This is the first place they went years ago and it still hasn't changed. And beside that gazeebo is a pine tree where their names are carved.

"Tiganan mo Zander oh, andito pa pala 'to." pagturo ni Marga sa puno na katabi nila. Zander zoomed his eyes and saw their names on the tree. Zander looked puzzled as if he doesn't know this thing existed

"Ikaw nagsulat n'yan?" Zander said while scratching his nape.

It was Marga who wrote it on the tree, but back then. Marga isn't very vocal about her feelings towards Zander because she's scared of what would happen if she easily shows her affection towards him. But Marga can't contain her feelings so she wrote their names on the tree.

"Ako nagsulat, bakit may angal ka?"

Zander laughed at inakbayan si Marga at idinikit ang katawan nito sa kanya. "Sabi na nga ba eh, noon palang crush mo na ako." He laughed while squeezing Marga's cheeks.

Bago pa tuluyang mainis si Marga, hinila na ito ni Zander palabas ng gazeebo at pinuntahan ang isa pa sa mga lugar na saksi sa pag-ibig nila...

The hanging bridge.

Zander ran towards the old hanging bridge nearby which connects to a another town but it is strictly prohibited to go there because it's dangerous so locals are only allowed up to the hanging bridge.

"Remember this place?" Zander while holding both of her hands.

"Of course Zander, how could I forget." Marga said. This is the place where they really felt their love for each other. It felt like eternity when they both had their best memories here. No one around, and just the two of them.

The two of them felt nostalgic, it's like they're traveling back in time. Same place, same person, same feelings.

"This is the same spot when we had our first kiss." Zander said. He wrapped his arms around her and pinned his chin on Marga's head.

"Hala, eto ba 'yun? Talas ng memorya mo ah." Marga said while laughing. Hinampas n'ya ang braso ni Zander na ngayo'y naka-pulupot sa kanya.

"Of course Marga, how could I forget." Zander while mocking Marga.

"Gaya-gaya!" she said. Zander just hugged Marga tighter and now, his head fell at her shoulders. They seized their moment since there's no one in the bridge aside from them.

"Na-miss ko 'to." Zander hummed.

"Alin?"

"Eto, etong ganitong feeling. Yung kasama kita at tayong dalawa lang."

Zander removed his head on her shoulders and pulled her to the bench nearby. Humiga naman si Zander sa mga hita ni Marga habang nakatingin sa mga ulap. Napatingin din naman si Marga sa itaas.

"Feeling ko sinisundo na ako ni Lord." bigkas ni Zander na ikana-init ng dugo ni Marga kaya hinampas nito ang bibig ni Zander.

"Ano ba yang sinasabi mo? Hindi nakakatuwa Zander!" bulyaw ni Marga.

Ngumisi naman si Zander na para bang pinipigilan ang tawa n'ya. "Baliw ka talaga, tignan mo ang lapit kasi!" pagturo ni Zander sa mga ulap. Totoo nga na malapit sila sa mga ulap dahil nasa mataas na lugar sila. Kinurot naman ni Marga ang braso ni Zander dahil hindi rin n'ya alam kung ano ang gagawin kung sakaling mawala nga sa kanya si Zander, she cannot handle it anymore kung muling mawawala sa kanya ang lalaking pinakamamahal n'ya.

"Pero what if nga sundu--" hindi natapos ni Zander ang sinasabi dahil tinulak s'ya ni Marga.

"Bakit?!" si Zander habang hawak hawak ang puwetan n'ya.

"Ulitin mo pa 'yan Zander tatamaan ka talaga sakin. Gusto ko ba ipasundo na talaga kita? Tutulak kita sa bangin!" si Marga habang hinahampas si Zander. Nakasangga naman ang mga braso nito sa mga suntok ni Marga.

"Isa pa hahalikan na kita." si Zander kay Marga habang hawak-hawak ang mga kamay nito. Tinulak naman s'ya nito pero agad itong hinila pabalik. Bumalik na sila sa pagkaka-upo at pinanuod ulit ang mga ulap na nasa ibabaw nila.

The couple sat on the bench happily again. It's like the good old days, but the only difference is that they're better now. They are now the best versions of themselves, more mature and more deserving of each others love. Was torn apart and now found their way back to each others arms. And they will not let anyone ruin it again.