Dare Me To Love You (ITL Series #1) |COMPLETE

Dare 38

CHAPTER 38

MONICA

IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS. And before seniors graduate, may mga traditions ang academy na yearly nagaganap. Isa na doon ang senior's ball. Hindi ko maiwasan ang maging malungkot dahil magkakahiwalay-hiwalay na kami ng schools, but this is normal. We always leave tracks behind, I just wish our friendship was not a part of that track.

Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Gabriel dahil sa gusto ko siyang makita. And I saw him walking inside the gymnasium. He's wearing a black suit that fits him perfectly. I smiled as he walks towards me with a paper bag on his hand. Nang makalapit siya sa upuan namin ay hinalikan niya ang pisngi ko at umupo sa tabi ko. Kasalukuyang sumasayaw ang grade 11 dance major students.

"Still wearing it?" bulong ko sa kaniya at itinaas naman niya ang kamay niya. Napangiti ako ng makita ang singsing duon.

Nang matapos ang sayaw ng grade 11 ay biglang nag-iba ang music. A solemn and slow song filled the whole gymnasium, it's a queue for the students that gives us the consent to dance.

"Winter snow is falling down

Children laughing all around

Lights are turning on

Like a fairy tale come true..."

Ann--a grade 11 student from Music Major--sang the first part.

"Do you want to dance?" napatingin ako kay Gab at sa kamay niyang nakalahad sa akin--waiting for my permission to come and dance with him. I smiled at kinuha ko ang kamay niya at pumunta na kami sa dance floor. He placed his arms around my waist and I put mine on his shoulders.

"Sitting by the fire we made

You're the answer when I prayed

I would find someone

And baby I found you..."

We swayed across the room like nobody was in here, like nobody has the right to stop us. Naramadaman ko ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko and so I leaned my head on his chest.

Naririnig ko ang malakas at mabilis na kabog ng dibdib niya, patuloy akong sumandal sa kaniya na para bang hinahayaan kong ipag-hele ako ng tibok ng kaniyang puso.

"All I want is to hold you forever

All I need is you more everyday

You saved my heart

From being broken apart

You gave your love away

And I'm thankful everyday

For the gift..."

I hummed and joined the song. Naramdaman kong hinalikan ni Gab ang buhok ko, napangiti na lang ako dahil sa kilig na nararamdaman.

"Watching as you softly sleep

What I'd give if I could keep

Just this moment

If only time stood still..."

Paul--a grade 11 student from Music Major--sang the next part. I heard Gabriel joined the rhythm by humming the tune.

"When are you leaving?" kahit na nasasaktan ay nagkaroon ako ng lakas para tanungin siya. Naramdaman ko ang mahina at marahan niyang paghaplos ng buhok ko na parang hindi narinig ang tanong ko.

"But the colors fade away

And the years will make us gray

But baby in my eyes

You'll still be beautiful..."

Ngayon naman ay sinabayan na ni Gabriel ang kanta at hindi pa rin sinasagot ang tanong ko. "Kailan ka aalis?" inangat ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nagsalubong ang aming mga titig.

Hindi ko maiwasang malungkot, knowing that he will leave me. Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at pinagmasdan ang mukha ko na parang kinakabisado ang bawat parte niyon.

"On 26th." the day after tomorrow...

Malapit na. Bigla na lang tumulo ang luha ko. "Hey... stop crying, you know I hate seeing you cry." Niyakap niya ako at binubulungan ng kung ano-ano.

"Pwede ba akong sumama?" umaasa kong sabi at hindi tinatanggal ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya. suminghot-singhot ako at hinayaang masira ang makeup ko.

"All I want is to hold you forever

All I need is you more everyday

You saved my heart

From being broken apart

You gave your love away

And I'm thankful everyday

For the gift..."

So many 'what ifs' filled my mind. Paano kapag makahanap siya duon ng mas better sa akin? What if ma-realize niyang hindi talaga ako?

"Hindi ka pwede dun, you have a life here..." hinalikan niya ang buhok ko at patuloy lang siya sa paghaplos ng likod ko.

"Paano kapag makahanap ka ng mas better sa akin doon?" tanong ko habang yakap siya. "Ano ba ang mas better sa'yo?" balik tanong niya. "Mas malaking boobs, 'yung ka-vibes mo ganon." nakasimangot kong bulong.

Narinig kong mahina siyang natawa. "Kahit makahanap ako dun ng better, ikaw at ikaw pa din ang pipiliin ko." Inangat niya ang mukha ko at tinitigan ang mga mata kong pinupuno ng luha.

"I will always choose you as the best for me." He caressed my right cheek using his thumb. "Promise?" naiiyak kong sabi.

"Promise." Hinalikan niya ang nuo ko.

"All I want is to hold you forever

All I need is you more everyday

You saved my heart

From being broken apart

You gave your love away

I can't find the words to say

That I'm thankful everyday

For the gift."

"Promise me one thing..." bigla niyang sabi, tinanguan ko lang siya

"Wait for me, okay?" tumango ako habang hindi maubos ang luha na tumutulo sa akin pisngi.

"I'll wait f-for you." Masakit man para sa akin kailangan ko muna siyang pakawalan, pero ramdam ko ang taling magdidikit sa amin kahit na malalayo kami sa isa't isa. At kahit na iyon lang ang pinanghahawakan ko'y, mahigpit akong susugal.

Pumikit ako ng maramdaman ang pagdampi ng labi niya sa aking labi. Marahan ang kaniyang galaw, maingat--para akong isang babasaging gamit sa sobrang ingat ng paghalik niya.

Nang maghiwalay ang aming mga labi, tinitigan niya ako ng mabuti "I love you. I will always choose you, Crisa Monica Ramirez."

"I love you. I'll wait for you, Gabriel." I closed my eyes as I felt his lips on mine. We kissed like there is no tomorrow and as if we were the only one who's in there. We didn't care, no one cared. And some may witness our own businesses, I still won't care.

We kissed like this is our last day on Earth. Totoo naman, it's his last day staying in the Philippines. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ulit siya babalik. Sana hindi siya matagalan, sana hindi niya ako hayaang maghintay ng maghintay...

Pero... kahit pa ilang taon siya abutin doon, hindi ako magsasawang maghintay. The moment he told me to wait, I'll stay where he left me. Even if he falls out of love, I'll still choose to win him back. Because this man made my heart do it.

W A N D E R

Epilogue next!!