Love In Progress

Epilogue

Ukiyo

"Are you Mischa? Ikaw ba yung sumira sa relationship ni Ms. Cheska at ng boyfriend niya?" Tanong ng babeng hindi ko kilala.

Excited ako sa araw na to dahil sabi ni Ace ay babalik na si Flint. After how many weeks of being away and 2 days of almost no contact, he's finally coming back.

Tahimik kami ni Ellie, John at Ace na naghihintay nang biglang dumami ang tao sa paligid namin.

Things happened so fast and so chaotic, the next thing I know I felt a pain and my nose is bleeding.

Sumisigaw si Ellie habang minumura ang mga reporters, suddenly lumayo ang mga reporter samin at napalitan yun ng mga security guards.

They assisted me and led us to the clinic para magamot ang ilong ko. It was nothing serious, just a bruise at dumugo lang sa impact ng mic na tumama. The nurse stopped the bleeding of my nose at nilagyan ng bandage pagkatapos ay pinayagan na kaming umalis.

Ellie is so mad at Cheska dahil naniniwala siyang siya ang may pakana nito. Galit din si Ace sa nangyari at sinabi na uuwi na kami, wala akong nagawa kung hindi sumunod.

"Stay at home, hiwalayan mo na si Flint, puro sakit ng ulo lang binibigay sayo." Si Ellie na galit parin.

"It wasn't his fault naman..." I tried to defend him.

Her eyes narrowed on me. "Yes, but it was because of him! I'm sure it's his ex."

I've always known that Cheska has a big following, she is a social media influencer, after all. Pero never ko naisip na maiintriga ang media sa lovelife niya?

Parehong umuwi na sila Ellie at Ace pagkadrop off sakin sa bahay. I feel stuffy staying inside, hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa nauntog ang ilong ko o sadyang hindi lang ako makahinga ng maayos.

Nagpaalam ako para lumabas, I need fresh air.

Matagal bago ako napayagang lumabas but I convinced them that I'm completely fine.

I went for a jog to calm my mind and also para na din a change of scenery. It was almost 30 minutes before I decided to go back home.

"Nagkasalubong ba kayo ni Flint?" Bungad sakin ni Mom nang makita ako papasok ng gate.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. Sino?
She gave me my phone and I saw a ton of missed calls from Flint.

"Tumakbo siya palabas, hinahanap ka."

Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang matapos, lumabas ako ulit para hanapin din siya.

I stood still when I saw a guy running around. Palingon-lingon siya, may hinahanap.

When our eys met, he went straight to me and hug me so tightly.

"I'm sorry baby." He whispered at mas binaon lang ang mukha sa leeg ko.

When we separated after the hug, I saw tears falling from his eyes.

My heart felt a pinch. This guy is crying because I got hurt?

"I felt like I lost you & I couldn't find you even though I kept on running." He said.

Then I realized. No, he is not crying because I'm hurt. He is crying because he thought that I left him.

"Does it hurt? Bakit ka nasa labas? Dapat ay nagpapahinga ka sa bahay." He slowly caressed my nose with his thumb.

"I just needed fresh air."

Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko nang bumalik kami sa bahay. Kahit nasa loob na kami ng bahay ay ayaw paring bitawan.

"I will make sure whoever's behind this will pay for it, Tito." I heard him talking to my dad.

That night, he didn't want to leave. Sabi niya ay nasa probinsya pa buong pamilya niya at wala siyang kasama sa bahay. And I can't believe that my dad offered him the guest room.

"Oh, pumasok na kayo sa sarili ninyong kwarto pagkatapos mag-usap ha." Paalala niya bago umalis.

Nasa garden kaming dalawa ngayon, magkatabing nakaupo sa bench swing. The bench is swinging slowly, I rested my head on his shoulder listening to him.

"Then I booked a flight to Malaysia. I was really planning to talk to your grandma, that's why. Isang araw lang ang balak ko doon pero napatagal dahil gabi na kami nakapagusap ng lola mo. She let me wait the whole afternoon."

Napatawa ako. That trick is so lola, hindi lang alam ni Flint siguro ay habang naghihintay siya, inoobserve din siya ni lola.

"I also had a nightmare you know..." he pouted. "I was so devastated in that dream because you told me you're marrying someone else na."

"Aww, poor baby. That's why you cried when you saw me?" Biro ko.

I was expecting him to deny it and say a bunch of things about how manly he is but he said "Yep."

We both turned to look at each other with dreamy eyes.

The bench stopped rocking.

I was too stunned by his word that I couldn't move.

He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on my lips.

I closed my eyes.

Ukiyo

Japanese

(n.) living in the moment.

I read the word written on my wallpaper.

The biggest lesson Flint taught me is to enjoy the present and don't fear the future. I always had worries about what will happen, all those what ifs that sometimes it occupies all my present and I don't enjoy life anymore.

Flint has always assured me that whatever is coming, we will solve it one by one; we will sove it together.

He taught me how to relax, be chill and enjoy the present of life. Kaya iyon ang ginagawa ko, ang gagawin ko. As much as possible, I will focus on our present and try my best not to worry about our future.

On his graduation day, we had a quick gateaway. We were sitting on a blanket laid over the sand. Walang ibang tao sa beach, you could only hear the roaring sounds of the waves.

We watched the sun as it sets. The color of the sky is so mesmerizing and to be able to watch it with my love is such a blessing.

My heart feels full with just his hold, his little kisses and his confessions.

"I wasn't sure what love feels like until you came... Flint."

He smiled and pulled me closer for a hug.

"Mischa, you see yourself so lowly pero you deserve all the love in the world. You deserve so much more, I hope you see that. You are not just a nobody to settle on just anything or anyone."

Tears started to pool in my eyes.

"Thank you for waiting for me, patiently."

As he sees the tears forming in my eyes, he immediately brushed it off gently with his thumb.

"Letting things go naturally was actually so much sweeter than rushing it."

He told me as his sweet lips brushed mine.

"I love you."