STELLA
"Okay ka lang, love?" tanong ni Bong. Tumango ako at hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. "You looked so worried."
Sa totoo lang, hindi talaga ako okay. Inaalala ko yung nakakita saamin kagabi. Alam ko kanina, nandoon na naman siya.
Sandro already knew about us.
Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, ang panganay niyang anak iyon.
"Bong, are you really ready to face everyone if they will know about us?" I asked him. I know he's very ready but I want to hear it again from him.
"Love, you don't need to ask about it because I am ready. Ikaw nga lang ang inaalala ko. Sabi ko naman sayo, handa kong iwan at kaya kong mawala saakin ang lahat basta makasama kita. Yung malaya tayo, yung tayong dalawa lang."
Napangiti ako. Ngayon, sigurado akong hindi ako maiiwan kung sakali man na malaman ng lahat ang tungkol saamin. Handa rin naman ako, handang-handa na akong ipaglaban siya.
"I love you, Bong." He gave me such a very sweet smile and kissed my hand.
"I love you more, Clarey."
I love you so much, so damn much. I can't imagine a life without him.
Nakarating naman na kami sa paliparan kung nasaan ang presidential plane niya. As usual, pribado ito at tanging ang mga PSG niya lamang ang nandito.
"Let's go, baby?" malambing niyang tanong at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Hindi naman ako gumalaw dahil nagdadalawang isip ako.
"I can't be with you in presidential plane. Bawal yon, diba?" mahinang tanong ko.
Tumingin siya saakin at natawa.
"Why not? You are my first lady, Stella Clarey. Sooner or later, you will be my wife."
Wife...
Iniharap niya ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ko.
"May singsing na... basbas na lang ng simbahan yung kulang." aniya habang nakatingin sa engagement ring na suot ko.
Hinawakan ko rin ang dalawang kamay niya. Napatitig pa ako sa mga daliri niya dahil wala ang masikip na singsing na palagi niyang suot.
"I'm just wearing that ring when I was with her... well, when I was with the family." He knows what I am looking.
I smiled at him. "Thank you for everything, Bong." I whispered, holding back my tears.
"All for you, love. Sayo lang ako, tandaan mo yon. Sayo lang, Clarey. Ikaw ang mahal ko, ikaw ang uuwian ko."
Napaka sarap pakinggan ng mga salitang iyon. Sinasabi niya na saakin lamang siya, na saakin siya uuwi. Hindi katanggap-tanggap kung anong meron kami pero para bang walang mali para sa kanya. Handang gawin tama ang mali kung tutuusin.
Hawak-kamay naman kaming pumasok sa eroplano.
Naupo naman ako sa may bintana kung sana tumabi siya saakin.
"I love you." he said and kissed my forehead.
I just sweetly smiled and turned my eyes on the window.
Sa sinabi niya kanina na basbas na lamang ng simbahan ang kulang. Napapaisip ako kung makakaya bang basbasan ng simbahan ang pagmamahal na meron kami? Hindi katanggap-tanggap sa mata ng tao ang relasyon namin, sa Diyos pa kaya?
But, I am not thinking if God's forbid us for what we have or for loving this man. I don't care if God will punish me for committing this scene of loving a married man because I am ready to the consequences. If loving him was pushing me to hell, then be it.
All I know is loving him was right. I only care about us.
When I though of that. I looked at him on my side.
His eyes were close while his earpods was on.
Tumitig ako sa kanya, nakapikit siya ngayon.
"Let's runaway, Mr. President." I told him as I placed my head on his shoulder.
I felt that he opened his eyes and caressed my hand.
"Love..." His voice was surprised and shocked.
"I'm ready to runaway with you. Let's start our life together far from everything." I said to him, leaving him in teary eyes.
