"3 days more, I'll b back, luv. Usap tayo pagbalik ko."
Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang ulit ko nang binabasa iyon. Pero magdadalawang linggo na ay wala pa rin akong narinig na balita mula sa kanya. The waiting time feels like an eternity, and it's...
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
Out from the darkness, nakaharap ko si Cliff. Mukhang wala siyang dalang payong kaya basang-basa siya sa ulan. I wanted to run to him and give him warmth. Siguradong giniginaw na siya ngayon at baka magkasakit pa siya. Still, I found myself holding back.
"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" I asked coldly.
I tried my best to show no emotions in my face. Naalala ko ang mga araw na hindi niya ako pinansin at in-ignore niya lang ako.
He took some steps forward and stopped a few of feet in front of me. My heart ached nang makita ko ang bakas ng pagod sa mukha niya. He looked exhausted. And his sad eyes exuded a painful longing as he looked back at me.
Wala akong lakas ng loob na tumitig ng diretso sa mga mata niya, so I transfixed my gaze to the side. I clenched my teeth and breathed in deep to control my temper.
"G-gusto ko lang masiguro... na m-makauwi ka ng maayos," he slowly answered.
I turned my head to face him again. And by the flickering streetlight overhead, nakita ko kung gaano ka-emotional ang pagkakatitig niya sa akin. Suddenly, I couldn't find the proper words to say. Pakiramdam ko ay para akong nauupos na kandila. Ano nga ba talaga ang dapat kong sabihin?
There was a moment of silence between us. Napasinghap ako nang walang babalang tumakbo siya palapit sa akin. Then he abruptly pulled me close to him and hugged me so tight. Halos hindi ako makahinga sa loob ng yakap niya.
"Please, don't do this to me. Hindi mo ba nakikita na nasasaktan ako? Napapagod na 'ko sa larong 'to. But I don't wanna let you go, Fiona," he whispered.
There was weariness in his hoarse voice. Nahalata ko na tahimik siyang umiiyak. Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang panginginig ng balikat niya. It was a silent indication that he was indeed inaudibly weeping.
His words burned through me like a blazing fire. I felt the icy numbness in my cold heart slowly melting away. Then, along with the pouring rain, tears rolled down my cheeks and fell to the wet pavement below.
Nilunod ng malakas na kaba ng aking dibdib ang mga salita na gusto ko sanang sabihin. Napatingala na lang ako sa madilim na kalangitan. I silently thanked the rain for bringing him back to me.
Kusang tumaas ang mga kamay ko papunta sa likod ni Cliff. Nabitawan ko ang dalang payong. I closed my eyes as the object fell to the ground with a slight thud. The heavy rain dripped all over us, masking my tears with its every drop.
Hindi ko napigilan ang mapahikbi as I tightly hugged Cliff back. God, how much I missed him! And I felt so guilty dahil alam ko na labis ko siyang nasaktan.
Dahan-dahan niya akong pinakawalan from his embrace. Then he cupped my face with both hands and looked straight into my eyes. His loving gaze pierced through my very soul. My hands remained at his sides as I looked back at him.
