Unchosen [Baguio Series #2]

46

46:

Nang makarating kami sa Luna Pebble Beach, I was shocked to see a very beautiful sea with no sands, but with beautiful stones and pebbles. This is the first time I went here.

"Uy, this place is beautiful," sabi ko kay Bernard habang nilalakad namin ang pebbles and stones.

Hinawakan niya pa ang kamay ko para maalalayan ako sa paglalakad dahil naka-wedge ako ngayon. Okay lang naman, though. Kaya ko naman. But I appreciate Bernard's gentleman gesture to me.

"Thank you," I said.

We went to the Bahay Na Bato in front of the beach. It's made up of stones that I think is from this beach. Ang ganda! Makaluma pero maganda. Mayroon pang mga naghahabi ro'n ng tela. Very native, indeed!

Hindi ako tumitigil sa pagkuha ng litrato no'n mula sa cellphone ko. Alam ko na hindi ko naman maia-upload 'to, but, isn't it nice to have a remembrance for a place that you know you don't see everyday?

La Union is a paradise, I must say. Zambales becomes my favourite place in Luzon when I went there aside from Batanes, but La Union can be, too.

Nang makababa kami ay naglakad-lakad kami ni Bernard sa lugar at nag-selfie sa mga may magagandang background. Nagpapa-picture din kami sa taong naroon para naman may full body at magandang shot kami na hindi selfie lang.

Nang matapos ay nanatili na lang kami sa gilid ng dagat, pinanonood ang malakas na paghampas ng alon habang umiihip ang malakas na hangin. Inipon ko ang buhok ko sa kanang balikat ko dahil tumatama iyon sa mukha ni Bernard.

"Thanks for bringing me here. Ang ganda." I said.

Tumingin si Bernard sa akin. "Hindi ka pa nakapunta rito?"

Umiling ako. "Hindi pa. Sa ibang lugar pa lang ako nakapunta, tulad ng Tangadan Falls and Urbiztondo beach. Also the beaches in San Juan. But here? Ngayon pa lang."

Ngumiti siya at inilahad ang kamay sa akin. Tiningnan ko lang siya at sumenyas siya sa akin na ilagay ko raw ang kamay ko ro'n. I chuckled before putting mine on top of his hand. He held it as he intertwined our fingers.

"I'm sorry, I never really let go," Bernard said as he put down our hands. "You're not easy to give up, Tori. I hope you know that."

I smiled, nodding. "I know. I can feel it, though."

"Give me until Christmas eve. I will really let you go even if it hurts."

I sighed. "Just take your time. I am not rushing you. Isipin mo ang sarili mo, Bernard. You've loved me for so many years and didn't receive anything from me in return other than the fling I can only offer. The best thing to do is for you to let me go, but I am not rushing you."

He sighed too, as he chuckled. "I know. I don't want to rush too, though. Loving you was one of the best decisions I've ever did. The moment our lips first met, I know I can never forget that, and I'll never get over. But I tried, Tori. You know that. When I've found out that you were finally in a relationship with him, I backed out. I don't meddle with someone who's in a relationship. I know that it's disrespecting, especially for someone I claimed to be the one I fell in love with."

Tumango ako at tahimik na pinakinggan ang mga sinasabi niya, kasabay ng tunog ng malakas na hangin sa tainga ko at ang paghampas ng alon sa dalampasigan.

"I may be someone they called playboy, but I am not stupid," he chuckled. "But then, you broke up with him and saw you always eating alone. For weeks, I've waited for Maverick to come to your table and eat with you...but he never did. And so I started eating with you. I never left you alone anymore. I didn't take advantage of your fragile heart for being broken by being a replacement because I know that everything's still fresh for you..."