Chapter Twenty: Love Choir
Maluwang ang dibdib ko nang magpakawala ng hininga. Payapa kong binabagtas ang gubat pauwi. I didn't mind the semi-sharp things below my bare feet as I walked with ease and calmness.
Nilalamig ako, but it does not bother me and I don't care at the moment because of the lightness I'm feeling. Para akong nakalutang.
I smiled as I inhaled and momentarily stopped. I closed my eyes and let the nature that surrounds me filled my system. Naririnig ko ng maigi at klaro ang mga ibon, ang mga puno at halaman, ang mabining hampas ng alon. Ramdam ko rin ang init ng sinag ng araw na sumisilip sa siwang ng gubat.
This feeling brought me back to my younger self. The carefree one who extremely love nature and peace...I missed that girl. I missed my old self.
Napabuntong hininga ako at minulat ang mga mata at napatitig sa sumasayaw na mga dahon na nasa siit.
Twigs...
~✧~
Eight years ago...
I cannot helped but smile feeling the smooth texture of the leaf I'm touching.
"A leaf can already make you smile, huh."
Napaangat ako ng tingin mula sa dahon papunta sa lalaking nasa tabi ko. I chuckled and gently shook my head because maybe he's thinking I'm acting silly for being this simple-minded.
Little things could makes me happy.
Binitawan ko na ang dahon at pinasadahan ang hilera ng mga palumpong na siyang nagsisilbing division sa ibat-ibang parte ng eco-park na pinadalhan sa'kin ni Vince.
I never knew there's a lot of nature inspired places here in the city. Lahat ng pinagdalhan sa'kin ni Vince ay pawang mga para talaga mga nature-lover na gaya ko. I knew he spent a lot of time to search for these areas...I accidentally saw the searches he's looking when I borrowed his phone one time.
He really exerted efforts and time for me. He's really serious when he said he'll court me no matter how long it takes.
Nagpatuloy kami sa paglakad. I'm enjoying every step I make dahil bawat halaman at puno na nadadaanan namin ay nagpapasaya sa'kin. It always makes me in awe too and Vince doesn't mind tailing me.
"Pwede kang umuna, Vince. Don't wait for me." I absentmindedly said while looking up to a tall tree with red leaves.
A fire tree.
I saw him at my right. He also looked to where my eyes are.
"You know I'll always wait for you and I'm enjoying waiting for you. Take your time, love. I won't mind at all." He took my hand and squeezed it gently.
I bit my lower lip as my pumping organ flipped.
I squeezed his hand too.
Dalawang taon na niya akong nililigawan and today marks the fourth time he held my hand pwera sa mga pagkakataong aalayan niya ako pag kailangan.
Two years and his effects is still like the first time I realized I like him. It always take my breath, always affecting my heart.
"Let's go to the heart?" Mahina kong sambit saka siya nilingon.
I stopped breathing when I saw him already staring at me. I blinked and gulped.
Gosh, Vince.
Mataman itong nakatitig at parang wala sa sariling umangat ang isang kamay nito at hinaplos ang pisngi ko.
And he smiled as if he's already good to go. Like his day is already completed.
"Who's heart?"
Napakurap ako at napatikhim na umiwas ng tingin rito. Naibaba na niya ang kamay na pinanghaplos niya sa'kin and I feel ashamed because it saddens me.
"Love?"
Agaran akong napalingon muli sa kaniya.
"H-Huh?"
He chuckled and pinched my nose.
"Hey!" Reklamo ko although kinilig ako.
"You said we'll go to the heart, and I'm asking you which one. Mine? Or yours?" Nakangising saad nito.
Pabirong umirap ako saka mabilis itong tinalikuran kaya agad na napabitaw ito sa kamay ko.
"H-Hey! Wait!" Tawag nito.
Pigil-pigil ko ang ngiti ko nang abutin muli nito ang kamay ko at lumakad ng sabay sa'kin.
"Ang bilis mo naman akong iwan..."
Kumunot ang noo ko at napatigil sa paglakad. He stopped and stare at me too with his sad eyes.
Napaawang ang bibig ko sa nababasang lungkot sa mukha nito.
"I-I was not trying to...to leave you. I didn't mean it like t-tha—"
Napatigil ako sa pagpapaliwanag ng bumunghalit ito ng tawa.
Pinagtri-tripan na naman ako.
I arched a brow to him and was about to pull my hand from his hold when he pulled me instead and embraced me.
Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat at pagkabigla. Ramdam ko ang nakapalibot nitong braso sa'kin.
I heard him inhaled and exhaled against my temple.
Oh my gosh. He's hugging me?!
"V-Vi—"
"Thank you so much for existing, love." He rasped and kissed my forehead.
Napalunok ako at naestatwang nakatitig sa kaniya.
"I'll always wait for you, alright? Don't feel pressured because it's my pleasure waiting for you." He smiled and tugged me to walk.
Nakatitig ako sa likod nito at sa magkahugpong naming mga kamay.
Thank you, Father God for letting me exist and letting him in my life. I'll be forever grateful.
I prayed silently.
"This is the heart of the woods..."
Awed.
Once again, I'm awed by the creation. Every. Time.
"Wow." I gasped at the sight.
The heart of the woods is the pond...a pond!
"Come here..."
Nilingon ko si Vince na ngayon ay nakaupo na pala sa isang wood bench na nasa may likuran namin. He tapped the space beside him.
"Sit with me, come." He nodded.
I could feel my checks heated as I approached him. He keep on staring!
A girly giggled caught my attention and I tore my eyes from Vince due to my curiosity. Sa may right side namin nakatayo ang dalawang tao—a couple to be exact. The girl is sniffing the bouquet of assorted flowers that the guy in front of her gave. She's giggling and gently slapped the guy's arm.
Napakunot ako ng noo.
"Do you want that too? We have a garden in our home, let's go there later and picked some flowers. Mas fresh yon kay—" Napatigil ito nang galit akong lumingon sa kaniya. Agad itong tumayo at lumapit sa'kin na nangangamba. "What's wrong?" He caught my arms and he wants to caught my eyes too pero ayoko.
I avoid his eyes.
"L-Love? What's wrong?" Ulit nito.
I shook my head and pulled my arms from him. Umupo ako sa bench. He followed right after.
"D-Don't bother." Napapikit ako sa inis at hiya na unti-unting lumulukob sa akin. "I won't go pick flowers...no, I...I don't want to." Dumilat ako at determinadong tiningnan siya. I shook my head. "Ayoko." I firmly said.
Dahan-dahan itong tumango kahit pa nababasa ko ang kalituhan sa kaniya.
"Okay...we won't." Saad nito at inabot ang kamay ko. "I'm sorry for suggesting tha—"
"—N-No... it's..." Pagputol ko saka muling umiling. Bumuntong hininga ako at umiwas ng tingin, "nevermind."
Pinisil nito ang kamay ko at umusod pa palapit. "Hey... it's okay, you can tell me anything you want. I'll gladly listen, okay? But it's also okay if you don't want to, I understand. It's okay..."
I stare at his eyes that's mirroring gentleness and adoration. Who would have thought that he'll like me and I like him? It's crazy how I hate him the first meeting we had. I hate his arrogance, I hate his smirks, I hate his audacity...and now...
Who would have thought that he is like this? A wonderful being.
A wonderful being who likes me...how?
Umiwas ako ng tingin at nagpakawala ng hangin saka tumingin sa payapang lawa. Napapikit ako nang marinig muli ang tawa ng babae na nakatanggap ng bulaklak. Why am I so petty?
"I-It's nothing, Vince. It's not important..." I looked at him and smiled a little, "But I would love to see the Teroi's garden."
Though mailang ulit na akong nakabisita ron pag bumibisita kaming pamilya sa mansion ng mga Teroi. And yes, I've been to their majestic garden...pero parang gusto kong pumunta ron na kasama si Vince...siya at ako lang.
Why am I like this? I like him so much...
Ngumiti ito at marahang tumango.
"Alright...we will."
Namayani ang katahimikan. Umalis na ang magkasintahan kanina kaya ang ingay ng kalikasan lang ang siyang naririnig namin.
Payapa.
Sumandal ako sa upuan at nahigit ang hininga at agaran ding napaupo ng tuwid nang matamaan ko ang braso ni Vince na nasa sandalan pala.
"I-I'm sorry! Hindi ko alam, masakit ba? I'm sorry..." I held his left arm and search for anything. "I'm sorry di ko sadya." I whispered and looked up to him who has a sweet smile.
Napakunot ang noo ko. He looks so happy.
"Di ba masakit?" Paninigurado ko.
"Sandal ka." Malambing nitong utos at hindi pa rin nawawala ang marahang ngiti sa mga labi.
"H-Huh? San?"
He cocked his head to the left pertaining to the chair. Naguguluhan man ay sumandal ako sa upuan habang hawak pa rin ang kaliwang braso nito.
"My arm please? I'm not hurt, don't worry." Ngumisi ito.
Mabilis kong binitawan ang braso nito at animo hinagis sa banda niya. Oh gosh, I'm such an idiot.
He chuckled and place his left arm behind me. Para siyang nakaakbay sa akin. Ako nama'y nakamata lang na nanonood lang sa ginagawa niya. I gulped realizing our position. Siguro kung may makakakita samin, maiisip na nagdi-date kami.
"Can I?"
I blinked thrice and arched both my brows. "W-What?"
"Pasandal, ah?"
Bago pa man ako makareact ay sinandal na nito ang ulo nito sa kanan kong balikat.
I stiffened while my heart goes in rapid. My breathing hitched when he spoke.
"You know what? I want to tell you something so bad every time you're here with me..."
I gulped. I don't want to assume...I know he likes me, he told me before he court me but there's this idea in my head that 'that something' he wants to tell me is the emotion that we may both felt.
"But I want to save it when time comes..." Pagpapatuloy nito.
Why not now?
I didn't say anything and let him speak.
"But if you're ready to hear it...just tell me and I will." He rasped.
Nakikita ko sa gilid ng mata ko na nakatingin siya sa'kin.
Am I ready to hear it?
Katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan namin. I don't want to give an answer yet although I'm ready since the first day he brought me to the hill.
I don't know...pero parang di pa oras...
"It saddens me how people plucked flowers and sell them. Then...yong bibili ay itatapon lang din ang mga bulaklak pag nalanta na. I hate it."
Lumingon ako sa kaniya nang umayos ito ng upo at matamang nakikinig sa'kin. I smiled a little.
I'm pertaining to the couple awhile ago. Specifically the bouquet, and I believe nakuha naman agad ni Vince ang kinikwento ko.
"It's petty, masyadong mababaw pero ayoko lang nang ganon. Naaawa ako sa mga bulaklak na tinatapon na lang sa basura pag wala nang pakinabang porket di na maganda." Napayuko ako at bumuntong hininga.
"If they want flowers, bakit di na lang ang mismong halaman ang ibigay? At least mabubuhay pa ng matagal ang bulaklak pag nasa paso pa. Why do they need to cut them out and later on be thrown to the trash when they welted?" I hissed and irritatedly looked at him.
"Kasi diba...it takes time for flowers to bloom pero masiyadong maiksi ang buhay nila dahil tinatanggal agad sila para ibenta, then malalanta at itatapon. They're not leaves na mabilis na tumubo at madami kung tumubo. People are heartless..." Bumuntong hininga ako. "Ang babaw ko ba? I told you, it's petty." Puno ng pagsisisi kong tanong.
I should have just keep my mouth shut. Baka naturn-off na siya sakin dahil sa mga mababaw kong paniniwala.
"What do you like more, the flower or the leaves?" He asked.
Kumunot ang noo ko.
"I love them both, of course. Flowers are marvelous, yes. Because oftentimes they're so colorful and majestic but same goes with the leaf. Kahit madalas green, especially here in our country. But leaves are majestic and colorful too, like autumn leaves in the other countries. So, I like them both...I can't chose one, and I don't want to chose between them. They're the same for me."
Ilang minuto ang nagdaan at mataman itong nakatitig sa akin. Bumibilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko sa mga emosyon na nakikita ko sa mga mata niya. He's not saying anything but his eyes already did the speech.
Umawang ang bibig ko nang maintindihan ang nais iparating ng mga mata niya. I looked away but he held my chin and motion me to looked at him again.
"V-Vince..."
He licked his lower lip and gulped.
"Angelie..." He whispered my name.
"Are you ready?" He rasped.
I gasped and blinked.
Ito na ba? What to say? What am I going to do? Di man lang siya nag-alinlangan sa nalaman mula sa'kin? Di na turn-off?
Nang ibubuka na nito ang kaniyang bibig para magsalita. Pikit matang sinalita ko ang mga salitang di ko inaasahang masasabi ko ng diretso.
"I love you." / "I love you."
Pareho kaming natigilan, nanlalaki ang mga mata at nakaawang ang mga bibig.
Did I heard him right?
Did he said...
"You love me?" / "Really?!"
Pareho kaming natigilan muli dahil sa pagkasabay and we laughed.