Before Sunset (U N O)

W A K A S

I thought I lost her.

The moment she promised to stay, it gave me the courage to fight everything. Kahit alam kong mahirap kalabanin and mundo, and pamilya pati and nakaraan. But, if losing everything means staying by her side forever, then I don't care.

"Mahal kita..." I finally said it again after the despair. I've endured that waiting so I guess I can endure the next few years. I'm not saying those two words to hear it back but, I just want her to know how sure I am.

I don't even know why I'm crying. Maybe because of too much happiness.

She smiled at me, irises cozy and warm. Fuck, I'm contented with it. Isang ngiti lang na ako ang dahilan. Kahit wala siyang sabihin basta nariyan siya.

She's silent but I can hear her heart beating frantically. The small distance between us made it a little less heavy. As if this set-up will give us protection and comfort.

There is an urge to taste her lips but I don't want to rush her. I don't care if it will take months, years, or what. Basta alam kong nandiyan siya ay sapat na. I'll stay by her side even if life is dark. I'll stick with her as she tames her fears as well as mine.

"Let's go..." she said. Her aura is calm and her voice is like a radar that guides me through the night.

The evening may still be young and I don't even know how long we've been looking at each other, but God knows how happy I am. And I held her hands even if she's silent, maybe a little preoccupied about everything that happened within a day.

I don't know why I'm slowing my car down just to go with her pace. Madilim ang sitio na dinadaanan ngunit mukhang alam niya naman ang patutunguhan. Hindi ko alam basta't nakabuntot lang ako sakaniya.

She went out of her car soon after she parked. Lumabas din ako at hinintay siya. I don't know what to say to her but I stood beside.

"Saba-" Talia did not finish what she's about to say when we heard a loud voice descending from the door.

"Garret!" nagulat ako sa malakas na sigaw ni Aislyn while storming out. Sa tindig niya pa lang ay alam ko na kung ilang mura ang aabutin ko rito. Of course we never informed anyone about that trip kaya alam ko kung bakit ganito ang itsura into.

"Hayop ka talaga! Saan mo pinagbibitbit 'to?" pinaghahampas niya ako tulad noong madalas niyang gawin saakin noong high school. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o tatanggapin ko na lang ang pasakit niya.

Umiiwas na lang ako dahil panay mura niya. I don't care, at least I won Talia back.

"Ais..." saway ni Talia. Natauhan naman ang galit niyang pinsan saka naman siya ang pinagkukurot. Akala mo naman Nanay kung makaasta, well it's not new anyway.

"Mga letse kayo! Kung magtatanan kayo, care to inform me! Papatayin niyo ako sa kakaisip kung saan ko kayo hahanapin!" naluluha na siya kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang pag-ngisi.

"May nagtatanan bang nagpapaalam?" I smiled a little before gazing at Talia. Kung titingnan nang mabuti ay makikita mo talaga ang pagiging mugto ng mga mata but I saw her smile that's why I'm not worried.

"Letse ka talaga!" pinanghahampas pa ako ni Aislyn bago ako tuluyang pinapasok. Talak siya nang Talak at rinig iyon halos lahat ng kasambahay nila. Talia was silent kaya nanahimik na rin ako.

Her Aunt is seatubg at bahagyang nagulat sa presensiya ko. She's too worried lalo na raw ay bigla-biglang nawala si Talia. I can see the curiosity from Talia's eyes.