We woke up late the next morning. We took our time in packing our things. This is the last day for us dito sa The Cove. I am a little bit scared to go back to Makati and face reality.
What if things won't work out again in the end? What if hindi papayag ang mga magulang namin sa kung ano ang meron kami? What if iwiwithdraw ng VRE ang partnership with NCFMC?
My eyes are full of worry when I felt Ryu's arms snaked my waist from the back. Pinatong niya ang ulo niya sa aking balikat at hinalikan ang aking leeg. "What's bugging your mind, baby?" he asked softly.
Ngumiti ako at umiling, pinatong ko ang mga kamay ko sa nakapalupot niyang kamay sa akin baywang at hinihimas ito. "Nothing. I just wish we could stay here forever."
His eyes lit up and a big smile formed from his lips. "Do you want to?" Tumawa ako. "Stop it. We have work." He laughed with me and kissed my cheeks. "Let me pack my things or else, gagabihin tayo sa daan." Ngumuso siya ngunit pinakawalan din ako sa mahigpit niyang yakap.
I continued packing habang siya ay nakaupo sa kama, nakatitig lang sa akin.
Nginitian ko lang siya habang tinutupi ang mga damit ko. When I finished, we decided to eat lunch outside bago bumyahe.
Hindi na rin kami nagtagal at nang matapos na kaming kumain ay agad naman kaming bumalik sa villa para kunin ang mga gamit.
We checked out at the reception at para maisauli ang key card doon. Ang babaeng receptionist noong dumating kami ay naroon pa rin.
Nakangiti siya nang makita kami at binati kaming dalawa ni Ryu. "Good afternoon, Maam, Sir. We hoped that you enjoyed your stay even after the misunderstanding."
Tumango si Ryu sa receptionist at ngumiti naman ako. "It's okay. We enjoyed our stay." Si Ryu habang inaabot ang key card sa babae. Kinakalikot ng babae ang kompyuter at maya maya ay nakangiti kaming hinarap muli. "Okay na po, Sir. It was great serving you and we hope to see you again soon."
Umalis na kami sa reception area at nagtungo sa parking kung nasaan ang sasakyan ni Ryu. He opened the car door for me at pagkatapos ay inilagay niya na ang mga gamit sa likod na upuan bago pumasok sa driver's seat.
Inilagay ko ang aking seatbelt at nang matapos ay nagsimula nang magmaneho si Ryu pabalik sa Makati.
Nakatingin ako sa bintana ng kotse habang nasa biyahe kami. Ryu's hand snatched mine and held it while thumb is caressing my hand. Napalingon ako sa kanya at ngumiti.
"What are you thinking about? Hmmm?" malambing na tanong ni Ryu. I looked at him and was trying to deny about some things that have been bugging me. Umiling lang ako pilit na ngumiti.
But I guess he wasn't convinced. His eyes are focused on the road but his hands on mine show that he is actually concerned. He stopped when the traffic light turned red and he looked at me. "I have known you for years. We may ba apart for too long pero I know when something is off. Tell me, baby."
Hinarap ko siya at nagbuntong hininga. "I am worried, Ryu." Panimulang pag-amin ko sa kanya. His face confused at what I am saying. "Worried about what, baby?" he asked.
"About us. About everything. We're going back to reality. And technically, you are still engaged to Julianna." I said. The light turned green at bumubusina na ang nasa likod namin. Ryu turned his attention to the road and started the car again and took off.
We remained quiet for awhile hanggang sa makahanap si Ryun a open space para makapagpark. He turned off the car's engine and faced me. "Are you breaking up with me again?" his eyes hooded, jaw clenched.
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat. Umiling ako. "I did not say that, Ryu. I was just thinking about every obstacles that we may face once we go back to work and once our parents come home."
Huminga siya ng malalim bago sumagot. "Please trust me on this one, Ky. Akon a ang bahala sa lahat but please don't tell me to stay away from you again. I will loose my mind this time if it happens again." His husky voice is about to break.
I extended both my arms to him to hug him. He hugged me back instantly and sniffed my neck. "Can you promise me that you'll trust me on this one, Ky?" he whispered to my ear. I nodded before facing him.
His eyes on me are pleading, begging me not to push him away again. "I trust you, Ryu." He smiled and kissed me on the lips. I gave in and kissed him back to reassure him that this time, I will be strong for us. I will trust him and I am never going to push him away again.
Umayos na si Ryu sa pagkakaupo at nakahawak ang kamay niya sa manibela ng kanyang kotse. "You ready to go?" he asked. I nodded and smiled at him so he won't be discouraged. He turned on the engine of his car and started to drive again.
We were back at the road and he held my hand the whole drive back to Makati. We talked while he was driving but mostly it was about his experiences months before he took the board exam and how we got into NCFMC.
The light on Ryu's eyes is evident whenever he talks about how he achieved everything he has now. I can't help but be proud of the man that he has become. Ibang iba na siya ngayon. Lalo na sa pananaw sa buhay.
Lahat ng taon na nasayang sa amin ay unti unti naming babawiin. Our love for each other will be enough, it must be enough for the both of us. Haharapin namin ng buong tapang ang lahat ng pwedeng sumalubong sa amin.
Alam kong nasa Makati na kami nang naipit na kami sa traffic. We are now on our way back to my condo para ihatid ako ni Ryu. We were stuck in traffic for almost 30 minutes dahilan kung bakit kami ginabi nang makabalik sa condo ko.
Ryu parked at the basement of my building. Kinuha niya sa likod na upuan ang bag ko at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ng kotse. We both headed to the elevator para makaakyat na sa akin condo.
Hindi nagtagal ay tumunog na ang elevator at bumukas ang pinto nito. May apat na taong bumaba mula roon at nang wala ng laman ang elevator ay agad kaming pumasok at pinindot ang floor kung nasaan ang unit ko. May mga sumakay sa floor na nadaanan ng elevator hanggang sa makarating na kami sa tamang palapag.
Dala dala ni Ryu ang aking bag habang nakahawak ang isang kamay niya sa aking kamay. I smiled at him when we reached my door. I looked for my keys sa mallit na bag na dala ko at nang makita ay inilabas ko agad para mabuksan na ang aking pinto.
Binuksan ko ang pinto at kinuha na ang bag sa kamay ni Ryu at inilapag sa loob. Hinarap kong muli sa Ryu at ngumiti. "Thank you for dropping me. Thank you for the wonderful weekends together." He suddenly hugged me and kissed my neck. "The pleasure is all mine." Sagot niya at hinarap akong muli.
"Okay, baka gabihin ka pa. Umuwi ka na at magpahinga ka na rin." Sabi ko kay Ryun a ngayon ay nakanguso. Hawak hawak niya ang aking magkabilang baywang. "Can't I stay here instead?" Tumawa ako sa kanyang pagmamakaawa na akala mo'y aso na iiwanan. "We have work tomorrow. And you need your clothes." Eksplenasyon ko sa kanya.
He pouted again, "I can tell Maria na ipahatid dito sa condo mo ang damit ko." He grinned, his eyes hopeful. Humagikgik ako at umiling. He needs to rest and get ready for work tomorrow. Baka hindi ko pa siya patulugin kapag dito siya magstay. I erase the thoughts from my mind. Umayos ka nga, Ky. "Not tonight, Ryu. Go home and take a rest. I'll see you tomorrow." I cupped his face and brushed a soft kiss on his lips.
His lips twitched into a smile at muli niya akong hinila para mahalikan ako ng mas matagal. I closed my eyes as we kissed. Ngunit natigil kami sa ginagawa nang may nariring akong may humahagikgik malapit sa amin. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita sa Cece na nakahalukipkip at binibigyan ako nang makahulugang tingin, may bahid ng ngiti sa mga labi.
"Magkasama na kayo buong weekend, pahiram naman sa kaibigan ko ngayong gabi, Ryu." Panunukso sa amin ni Cece. Ryu grinned at Cece at nilingon ito pero hawak pa rin ng isang kamay ni Ryu ang baywang ko.
Pinandilatan ko ng mata si Cece at dumiretso na siyang pumasok sa loob ng condo. I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Sige na, Ryu." He grinned and nodded. "Alright, I am going. See you tomorrow, Ky." He kissed my cheek bago tumalikod para umalis. I waved goodbye at him bago pumasok sa loob ng condo.
When I closed the door, Cece was facing me with a malicious smile on her lips. Inirapan ko siya at dinampot ang aking bag para mailagay sa mesa. Tumawa siya nang malakas habang sinusundan ako. "I can see that you both sorted out your issues?" si Cece habang papunta kaming dalawa ng kusina.
Umupo siya sa high chair na malapit sa kitchen countertop habang kumukuha ako ng tubig sa ref para uminom. Umupo ako sa harap niya at hinarap siya. "So? Spill it now, Ky!" she laughed.
Umiling ako sa pagkaexcited niya kaya nagsimula akong magkwento sa kanya. I told her how I poured everything in front of you when I was drunk. "Damn, my drunk ass always gets me in trouble, Cece." I said habang sinasapo ko ang noo ko.
Isang malakas na tawa ang lumabas sa bibig ni Cece. "Anong alak yan at pasasalamatan ko?" Hinampas ko ang braso ni Cece sa sinabi at natawa na lang din. "Seriously, Ky. Both of you should man up already. My God. Nakakastress kayo!" ani Cece habang kinakamot ang ulo.
Tinitigan ko siya nang malalim habang nakangisi siya sa akin. "I'm scared." Pagtatapat ko sa kanya. Tumango naman siya na pawang naiintidhan niya ang nararamdaman ko. "I know you are. But Ky, why choose fear over love?" si Cece.
I stared at her with fearful eyes. "I'm scared of getting hurt again. Natatakot akong hindi kami matanggap ng aming mga magulang. Natatakot akong masira ang NCFMC dahil sa amin ni Ryu. Paano kung kakalas sa NCFMC ang VRE? Malaki ang shares nila sa NCFMC, malaking loss kapag nawala sila." Pagpapaliwanag ko kay Cece.
Nagbuntong hininga ang kaibigan. "Kung patuloy kang matatakot, paano ka na man sasaya kung ganoon? Kung pipiliin mo ang takot, kailan mo pipiliin ang sarili mong kasiyahan? Love is all about taking risks, Ky." She smiled as she comforted me. Hawak hawak ko ang pendant ng aking kuwintas at nang tingnan ko si Cece, she was smiling.
"Paano kung masasaktan ulit ako gaya ng dati?" tanong ko sa kaibigan. She rolled her eyes at me. "Sino bang nagmamahal na hindi nasasaktan?" nakangiti niyang sagot. "Look, Ky, before I met Leo, paulit ulit akong sinaktan at niloko ng mga ex ko but did you ever see me give up?" Umiling ako. "See? If I had given up right after a heartbreak, sasaya ba ako ngayon sa piling ng taong pinakamamahal ko at mahal na mahal ako? Kung sumuko ako dahil sa paulit ulit na sakit na naramdaman ko noon, malamang hindi ko nalaman kung gaano kasaya ang mahalin ka ng tamang tao." She continued.
I continued to stare at her while she continued talking. "At naniniwala akong mahal na mahal ka ni Ryu. Years ago may not be the right time, pero malay mo naman, ngayon pala ang para sa inyo. Come on, man up. Panagutan mo naman ang feelings mo, Katherine Ysabel." Natatawa niyang paalala.
Natawa rin ako sa kanyang pagkasabi at kasabay nito ang mababang luha sa gilig ng aking mga mata. She reached for my hand. "Ky, I can't guarantee that this love won't hurt you, but I know that this love will make you happy. You've held it in long enough, it's time for you to finally open up and love freely." She smiled at me.
I reached to hug her at niyakap din niya ako nang mahigpit. I know that everyting she said makes sense. Totoong takot ako, totoong ilang taon kong pinigilan ang lahat ng nararamdaman ko, totoong ayokong masaktan muli. Pero tama lahat nang sinabi ni Cece. Will I ever be happy kung patuloy kong tatanggi sa totoong nararamdaman ko?
"He told me he loves me." Bulong ko kay Cece habang yakap yakap siya. Sa gulat niya inalog niya ako at hinarap. "Finally! Umusad din si Ryu at nagpakatapang." She laughed. "But I didn't say it back." Pag-amin ko. She looked at me skeptically. "Hmmm, why?" Nagkibit balikat ako at sumandal sa upuan. "I don't know. I guess sobrang nagiging totoo na ang lahat. I wasn't expecting it."
Cece continued to stare att me with judgy eyes. "But do you love him?" seryusong tanong nito. Nakatitig ako sa kanya at marahang tumango. Of course I do. All these years, it was always him, it will always be him. Kahit naman noong mga bata pa lang kami, I know he will always be in my heart.
Ngumisi si Cece sa akin. "You better tell him before it's too late. Again." Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kaibigan. I will always be thankful for having her. Naitigil kami sa pag-uusap nang nagring ang cellphone niya. "Yes, babe? Sige baba na ako. Wait for me there. Love you too."
Nakaharap siya sa akin ngayon. "I have to go, Ky. Leo's downstairs. Susunduin pa kasi naming ang kapatid niya sa airport." Tumango ako kay Cece. "Thanks for being there for me, Cece." Humagikgik siya sabay hampas ng marahan sa braso ko. "Ang senti mo. Oh siya, alis na ako ha. Have some rest tonight. Goodnight."
Hinatid ko si Cece sa pintuan at umalis na siya. I decided to take a bath and head for bed para makapagpahinga na ako.