Conquering Territories: Completed

End

The next thing I knew, I just found myself walking outside the house. The beautiful view of the shore welcomed me as I reached the place. The wide blue sea looked like a big blue blanket covering the entire sand. Halos nagsilbi itong malaking tela sa mga buhangin. Its breeze brushed through my fingers, causing the excitement inside me to double. And to complete the view, the sun was already setting. The horizon was now defined like a line that hides the sun. It was majestically beautiful.

Irvin was now sitting on the sand. He was busy looking at the sunset, enjoying the view. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung napansin ba niya na narito na ako sa likod niya. Maybe he did, but he remained silent.

"So, what do want to talk about?" I asked. I stood meters behind him yet, I knew he heard me. Irvin remained silent after that. I don't know if he was purposely ignoring me. Only the sound of the crashing waves echoed inside my ears.

"Irvin, I'm not playing games." Mahahalata na sa boses ko ang inis habang nagsasalita. Hindi ko kasi malaman kung ano ba talaga ang gusto niyang mangyari. I don't know what he's up to. Hindi ko alam kung pinaglalaruan lang ba niya ako o ano.

"I'm not playing games either," Irvin answered. He was still facing the water, which caused me to be quite irritated. Bakit hindi niya ako harapin. Parang tanga lang.

"Then, what is it?" I asked once again. Bahala siya kung may balak ba siyang sumagot ng matino o wala. Kung wala pa rin siyang balak sumagot nang matino, babalik na ako sa loob ng bahay.

"Remember that I told you to wait for me at the sea?" Irvin said. My eyebrows creased after hearing those words from him. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay wala naman siyang sinabi sa akin na maghintay ako sa kanya.

"What? As far as I remembered, you did not say those words. Sabog ka ba?" I couldn't help but say such words because I couldn't understand a single thing. Naguguluhan na ako. Nalilito na ako sa mga sinasabi niya.

"I did. Why can't you remember?" I saw Irvin's hand shaking at that moment. He was nervous. Mas lalo lang akong naguluhan dahil sa mga aksyon niya. It's just that, his words doesn't align with his actions.

"When? Where? Why?"

"On my letters. Haven't you read those?"

I was stunned for a moment after that. Irvin. Vin. Chinese. Chaos entered inside my mind after that. It was too surreal for that to happen. It wasn't him. It wasn't.

Tears were now building inside my eyes. My knees were now trembling because of the sudden surprise. I don't know if I should believe him or not but, all the things, everything was pointing at him. It was him. He was Vin.

My heart was now beating hard. My shoulders were now shaking. I could feel sweat on my palms. My mind's now in chaos. It's just that, everything was now fuzzy.

"Vin..." I couldn't help but to call his name. The crashing waves made my heart palpitate even more. Seeing him. Knowing him. Everything about him. All this time, he was with me. Ang tanga lang.

I thought Irvin would ignore me again but, he did not. He stood up from the sand and faced me eye to eye. I couldn't help but to notice something. His face was now much more vibrant than before. He was now much alive than before.

"Weird as it may sound but, since I came here, the only thing I was looking for was you," Irvin started. He was now walking towards my direction, making the sunset his own spotlight. "I tried to look for you everywhere, which caused me to meet you. I don't know that it was you I was looking for."

Irvin shed a tear while his lips curved into a soft smile. "After all this time, it was you."

At that moment, I lost it. Tears flowed down my cheeks after hearing those words from him. After all this time, it was him. Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa sa kanya. I knew it was him. A smile was formed on my lips. It was him.

Irvin was now standing in front of me. His eyes were now red because of the tears he shed. Suddenly, my hands moved and wiped those tears away. A soft chuckle went out of his lips. His smile was similar with the sunset. It was majestic.

I was about to wipe my tears but, I felt Irvin's around me. His warm body enveloped me, which caused me to hug him back. I buried my head on his chest, feeling the moment. I thought my heart would palpitate even more but, it became relaxed. My knees stopped shaking. Everything felt like home. Irvin felt like home.

"So," I heard Irvin's voice. "Can I court you?"

While hugging him, I looked at him before letting out a soft chuckle. "Of course."

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip na pumayag sa sinabi niya. I'm not that kind of person who would waste such an opportunity.

I couldn't help but to study his face once again. His beautiful eyes. His chiselled jaw. His mesmerizing smile. Hindi ko pa rin talaga kayang hindian ang lalaking 'to.

I caressed his face with my bare hands. Those trails of tears were quite full of sadness and love. I dried his tears before brushing my lips against his.

His body stiffened. Naramdaman ko na lang na tumigas ang kilos niya. Seconds had passed until his senses came back. His lips moved, sending a sensation inside me body. I felt his hands at my nape, assuring that I won't let go easily.

While kissing him, I felt a lone tear escaped my eye. The sensation radiated a pure and innocent aura between us, enveloping my body with much joy and gratefulness.

"Wala akong magagawa. Marupok ako 'eh." I chuckled. He held my face before he smiled genuinely.

"So, tayo na?" I couldn't help but to chuckle because of his accent.

"Ulol, manligaw ka muna."

Again, I felt his lips touched mine. I closed my eyes to feel the moment, to feel the love and joy.

The sound of the waves echoed as love enveloped the two of us. Who would have thought that after a long time, love would conquer our territories.