We Bloomed in Borrowed Time

PASEO DE ESTRELLA SERIES #1:

Growing up, I saw what real love looked like.

Daddy loved Mommy in the quietest, most thoughtful ways. Never once did he raise his voice at her. He always listened when she talked. He remembered the little things, like her favorite mug and how she liked her coffee. Kailanman, hindi ko sila nakitang nag-away. Every conversation sounded like a gentle exchange of sweet nothings. Ganoon din nila kami pinalaki, punô ng lambing, pag-unawa, at respeto.

They treated each other with so much care. Kaya naman, ang paraan ng pagmamahalan nila sa isa't isa ang naging batayan ko pagdating sa usaping pag-ibig.

Back in high school, whenever we were asked to describe our ideal person in a scrapbook, I always wrote the same things.

Someone who's soft-spoken.
Someone who listens.
Someone loyal.
Someone responsible.
Someone who would do everything to make sure I'm happy, even in the smallest ways.

Kaya ganoon na lang ang pagkabihag ni Aaron Felix Ezpartinez sa nananahimik kong batang puso, unang kita ko pa lang sa kaniya.

He was the kind of man who chose grace over anger, even when he was hurting. Bagay na tingin ko kung bakit mas lalong lumalim ang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya.

Ang problema nga lang, wala naman siyang gusto sa akin.

Kinikilala lang niya ako bilang kapatid ng kuya ko.

Pero kahit gano'n, hindi iyon naging hadlang para itigil ko ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya. Pinili kong gustuhin siya kahit sa malayo, kahit alam kong hindi niya ako kailanman mapapansin sa paraang gusto ko.

What I didn't know was that some feelings only bloom in moments too fragile to last.

And sometimes, the kind of love we give everything to... only grows in borrowed time.

"I never said it out loud. But everything I became... I became because of him."

[THIS IS WRITTEN IN TAG-LISH]

DATE STARTED: 06/29/25