Bittersweet Symphony

Chapter Thirty

"That's Win. My boyfriend." pakilala ni Bright sa nasa litrato.

"Where... is he now?"

Tinuro ni Bright ang kalangitan. "One of the angels, I suppose."

"I'm.. I'm sorry, Tito."

Ngumiti si Bright, "Nahh, it's fine. It's already been years since.... I'm happy now. And I believe he is too."

Humarap si Bright kay Thyme. "What happened, Thyme? What went wrong with your relationship with him?" Bright asked.

Thyme heavily sighed. Binalik niya ang litrato kay Bright. Umiling iling si Bright. "His job... his job requires him to risk his life and I.. don't want that. The night when I saw him, lying on the hospital bed while doctors are reviving him... I just knew that I can't.." tumulo ang luha ni Thyme

"...I can't watch him fight for his life everytime.. I can't watch him save lives when he himself is at risk for losing his own life.."

"You know what Thyme, I totally get you. The fear of losing someone you love sucks big time. I know that, I've been through that. When Win told me he's got cancer, ang unang pumasok agad sa isip ko magpapagaling siya, gagaling siya. But when I actually saw him suffering, being in pain, that's when the fear of losing him crept in. That's when I realize, I will lose him. Naiintindihan ko kung san nanggagaling yung takot mo, Thyme. Dahil tulad mo doble rin ang naging takot ko.." hinawakan ni Bright ang kamay ng pamangkin.

"..pero hindi ako nagpadala sa takot, Thyme. I knew he was dying, but I chose not to leave his side. But your case with your boyfriend is different. Bakit ka natatakot sa isang bagay na hindi naman siguradong mangyayari?   Aren't you willing to take a risk for him?"

Matagal bago sumagot si Thyme. It's also his question for a while now. If he's willing to risk it all? For Kavin? But seeing how Kavin fight for his life, parang sinasaksak na ang puso niya.

"How will I know if he's worth the risk? How will I know when all I can feel is fear?" agad pinunasan ni Thyme ang luha na pumatak sakanyang mata.

"Kahit alam kong mawawala sa akin si Win, I risked it all kahit sa huli alam ko ring masasaktan ako. You know why? Because I love him so much. The question is, do you love him?"

"Of course, Tito. Mahal ko si Kavin. Mahal na mahal ko po siya. And I've never felt this to anyone else before."

"Then that answered your question.. Thyme, I want you to remember that love can't exist without fear. If the thought of losing someone you love doesn't scare you then that isn't love."

Hindi napigilan ni Thyme na yakapin ang kanyang Tito dahil sa mga sinabi nito.  Hinaplos ni Bright ang likuran ng pamangkin.

"My story with Win may be a bittersweet encounter," humiwalay si Bright sa pagkakayakap at hinawakan ang pisngi ni Thyme

"and that we didn't have our happily ever after... But in this lifetime, he is and you are each other's happily ever after, Thyme." Bright smiled.

Hinatid ni Bright ang pamangkin hanggang sa entrance ng hotel. Tinapik tapik niya ang balikat ni Thyme.

"It was really nice meeting you, Thyme."

"It's also my pleasure to meet you, Tito. Pasensiya na kung nakaistorbo pa ako sa trip niyo."

"What? Of course not! Pambawi ko sayo 'to at sa pamilya dahil sa ilang beses na hindi ko pag-attend ng family reunion."

Thyme smiled, "Thank you so much for your time, Tito. I really hope to see you again if time permits."