Long before I realized that I lost my way from the perception of my sanity, I gripped my hand as I try to go back to the right path.
The rapid of my heart wasn't helping and an act of a claw clutching it in agony tortured me more.
Kailan ko nga ba huling naramdaman 'to?
Hindi ko akalain na makikita ko siya rito. Hindi ako sinabihan nila Rein at Mavros. Hindi ako handa!
Huminga ako nang malalim. Trying to convince myself that there are no more reasons for me to be affected by the fact that he's here, I smiled a little and had my eyes straight to the altar.
Dapat ay matagal na akong okay sa katotohanang ito. Dapat... matagal na rin akong nakalimot. Ngunit talagang imposible.
"Ayos ka lang?" mahinang bulong sa akin ni Mavros na siyang nasa tabi ko ngayon.
Ngumiti ako at tumango. Ngunit mas lalong lumalim ang kunot sa kaniyang noo
Noong tuluyan na akong makalayo sa kanila ay saka ko lamang sinagot si Kenzo. “What do you mean I have a new project?” Rinig ko ang pagsalin niya ng tubig mula sa kabilang linya. Taking his time, I even heard him sipping his water and his big gulp was as if on purpose to tease me. Napahaplos ako sa aking braso noong humangin, nilalamig kahit kasalukuyang tirik ang araw. Wala sa sariling ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kabilang panig ng simbahan at nakitang papaalis na ang lahat para dumiretso sa venue. Nanatili ang paningin ko sa partikular na pamilyang halos pinapanood din ng lahat. Rafael opened the door for Sianna and even held her waist to guide her inside. Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi noong marahas na tumibok ng aking puso dahil sa nakita. Rafael then reached for the back seat, probably to check on their son who was seated there. Pagkatapos ay nakangiti niyang isinara ang pintuan ng kotse at nagulat ako noong bigla siyang bumaling sa direksyon ko! Hindi
“Let’s raise our glasses for the newlyweds as they share another sweet kiss as husband and wife!”Nakangiti kong itinaas ang aking kopita katulad ng lahat. When they finally kissed, noon lang namin mahinang ipinukpok ang baso ng kurbyentos upang gumawa ng tunog while cheering on them. Mas lalong lumakas ang hiyawan noong pinalalim ni Levi ang halik at humawak naman sa batok niya si Rein na nagustuhan ang ginawa ng asawa.Their kiss ended after a few more seconds. Patuloy pa rin ang pang-aasar sa kanila lalo na’t namumula si Rein, noon lang nahiya noong nagsisigaw na ang lahat.“What a very passionate kiss from Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez! Talagang kinilig ang lahat!”Hinarangan ni Rein ang mukha niya at pabirong hinampas ang braso ng asawa. Levi only laughed and held her waist to pull her closer, earning another batch of screams from us.Pagkatapos kumalma ng lahat ay umupo na rin kami. May mga server na dumating para
Hindi ko na nagawang magpaalam nang maayos kay Renz pagkatapos niya akong ihatid sa building ng condo ko. I only got to smile a bit and nodded at him when he bid his good bye. At least, I waited for his car to go before I turned my back and went inside.Tulala ako buong oras na hinihintay kong tumigil sa tamang palapag ang elevator na sinasakyan. At nang makarating nga sa condo ko, dumiretso na ako sa banyo at naglinis.Pumikit ako habang dinadama ang tubig na bumabagsak sa katawan ko mula sa shower. It's draining how I can still see his image right before I entered Renz's car.Why did he even take a step forward? As if he was going to approach me.Rafael... Kailan mo ba balak bitawan ang puso ko?At kailan ko ba babawiin?Huminga ako nang malalim. I should really go back to sleep and take a rest. Mawawala na rin naman 'tong pakiramdam na ito kinabukasan. Ang mahalaga ay hindi ako magtatagal at aalis na rin agad bukas.I was drying my hair with a towel when I remembered that I left my
Sunsets for me are in their most beauteous form when it kisses the sea. The collision of it makes the most ravishing combination. With the sound of the waves crashing through the shore and the sky having its own painting event. With brilliant red, orange, and eternal yellow-brown colors playing its scheme. Capturing the naked eyes’ desire to see a miraculous sight. An apocalyptic, smokey dull scenario that always leaves me in awe. The sunset for me symbolizes that even endings can cease beautifully. That falling down can mean that you were meant for that to rise again. To come back in a brighter and bolder state with the essence of peace, harmony, and the promise of renewal. I am no artist nor a poetic person to describe it in a prodigious way. I play with my words with humbleness and simplicity. I dwell with my description in nakedness and purity. And I sort it out with my experiences. Isn't that how we learn from things? Family. Friendship.
"Royo, Reineste Liana M.," I mentally cursed at myself when I heard Ma’am Grijalba’s voice, our adviser, going through the attendance. Maingat akong humahakbang nang mabilis para makaabot. Muntikan pa akong madapa kanina sa may gate at kitang-kita ko kung paano pinigilan ng guard ang kaniyang tawa! Dalawang kaklase ko pa ang natawag bago ako nakarating sa back door. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ko dahan-dahang binuksan ang pinto. I motioned my classmates to keep their silence when they saw me sneaking in. I tiptoed my way, making sure that I wouldn't get
Gulat akong napalingon sa likod ko noong may magsalita. "Rafael!" Akala ko multo! "Sorry, did I scare you?" he asked while walking towards me. Nanatili akong nakatingala sa kaniya, pinapanood ang kaniyang bawat galaw hanggang maupo na siya sa tabi ko. "He's your friend, right?"
I am secretly a strong shipper of romance… in novels. In reality, I have a faint belief with it. Maybe because the love that I witnessed is from my parents. Ang pag-ibig na maraming kapintasan sa simula pa lang. Simula noong masaksihan ko kung paanong lumabas si Papa sa pinto ng bahay namin, dala ang kaniyang mga bagahe at gamit, naging mababaw sa akin ang sinasabi nilang pagmamahal. To me, it’s the call for chaos. That’s why I swore to myself to never engage myself to the flaw of life. Romantic love, particularly, isn’t part of my comfort zone. But something happened in our 9th grade that caused a ruckus in my heart. All because of that stupid play.
Parehas kaming nanlalaki ang mga mata sa gulat. Everyone shouted and applauded because they certainly saw the kiss! Mabilis kong itinulak ang sarili palayo kay Rafael noong matauhan. Ngunit dahil nga mali ang salo niya sa akin, muntikan na naman akong matumba kaya't agad akong napahawak sa braso niya bilang suporta. Nagkatinginan kami ni Rafael, napalunok ako sa sobrang seryoso ng kaniyang mukha. Impit akong napatili noong madali niya akong itinayo. Our bodies are close to each other because I was literally hugging him and his arms are wrapped around my waist to support my weight. Napatitig muli ako sa kaniya. It was like I was seeing a whole storm in his eyes while he's staring at me. Noong kumurap siya ay saka lang muli ako natauhan at lumayo na sa kaniya. I fixed my hair after and cleared my throat. Nararamdaman ko ang pamumula ng aking pisngi dahil sa init niyon. My first kiss! "W-Wow, uhm, settle down. Settle down." Sinubukang pak