Keeping You Forever✔

Chapter 23: Forgiven

"When the news that you broke up with her blows up, trust me pare, I wanted to kill you that moment. You never saw how broken she is. Kung pano mo sya sinaktan. Hindi mo sya pinaniwalaan at basta basta na lang iniwan. She's my friend too. She's Dina and Jelly's bestfriend. Hindi man nya sinasabi at pinapakita na nahihirapan sya dahil sa sitwasyon ninyong dalawa nung panahong yon, hindi naman kami manhid para hindi yun madama. Arah is different. She turned you into another version of yourself. You just really disappointed me Dave. Kahit na gusto kitang sugurin, I can't, dahil pinipigilan ako ng girlfriend ko para sa kapakanan ni Arah. Because she said, she wanted you to be focused. Dahil ang gusto mo maging top sa exam. You were so lucky to have her Dave. Don't you know na maraming kalalakihan ang may gusto sa kanya? Don't you know that Alexander wants to court her after knowing you two broke up?" That caught my attention.

"Alexander?" Gulat kong tanong. He nodded.

"Oo. Yung kasama mo sa basketball team. I've heard he already knew Arah way back then, but it seems like Arah doesn't know him. And when he heard na break na kayo ni Arah, gusto nyang ligawan si Arah but Arah left to study abroad. That's one of the reasons why you can't find her, she's been studying abroad to pursue her dreams." Nabigla ako sa narinig. Bakit hindi ko man lang naisip na nag ibang bansa na pala sya?

I am so stupid. Nadagdagan tuloy ang mga reasons why Arah can't be mine. Kung bakit mukhang wala na talagang pag asa para patawarin nya ako.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you anymore. Just.... if she decided to give you another chance. Maybe you should cherish it Dave. Do everything if you can. Buuin mo sya ulit. Bigyan mo ng kinang ang mga mata nya. Treat her like a princess, a queen. Trust me pare, if you hurt her one more time again, you will going to regret it for the rest of your life. You won't only loose her, you will loose me too. Hindi na kita kikilalaning kaibigan." Wika nya bago tumayo at tumingin sa aking likuran at ngumiti. I blinked my eyes bago ko sinundan ang tingin nya and my world stops.

"D-dave?" I felt my throat tightens. Nangangapa ako sa mga salitang paulit ulit kong pinag praktisan kagabi. Parang nablangko ang utak ko.

All I can see is her and her alone. She's here, standing in front of me. Mas lalo syang gumanda. Yung buhok nya na dati hanggang balikat lang, ngayon mahaba na.

I felt my heart's going to explode inside my chest as I slowly walk towards her.

"A.... Arah..." Ngumiti sya sakin. I saw tears brimming down her eyes as she engulf me on a tight warm hug.

"H-hi..." My heart just broke into pieces after hearing her hoarse voice. Niyakap ko din sya ng mas mahigpit at pinikit ang mga mata. Pinipigilan ko ang sariling umiyak sa harapan nya.

"I-I'm..... I am so sorry Bae.... I've done a lot of horrible things to you... I'm really sorry..."  Naramdaman kong hinagod nya ang likod ko dahilan para tumulo ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.

"I'm so sorry..... I'm sorry for everything..... I know I'm such a jerk and my sorry can't do anything after what happened pero....." Bumitaw ako sa pagkakayakap at tumingin sa mga mata nya.

After all these years, she's still the prettiest girl I've ever seen. That same eyes, nose and lips. It's all the same. Although may changes sa physical appearance nya, I can't help but stare at her.

"... pero gusto kong bumawi sayo, Arah. I know I can't heal the pain I've caused you that instant, but I wanted to let you feel that I regret everything and that I still love you, Bae. I love you. I love you so damn much...." Nakatitig lang sya sakin saka ako hinawakan sa mukha at ngumiti. Tulad ko ay umiiyak na din sya.

"You're forgiven. I already... forgave you Dave. Matagal na. It's just that.. I can't.... I can't let you love m-me...." Umiiyak at umiiling nyang wika. I nodded kahit masakit.

"I know Arah. Pero hihintayin kita. Whatever your reasons. I will wait for you. I will court you everyday. We will take things slowly..." Umiiling lang sya habang umiiyak.

"N-no... No... you don't understand Dave.. hindi na pwedeng maging tayo Dave..." Patuloy pa rin sya sa pag iling at iyak. Jelly and Dina came to her side at umiiyak na niyakap nila si Arah.

Naguguluhan naman akong napa tingin sa kanilang lahat.

"Wh-what? Why? What's g-going on?" Arah avoided my gaze. And in that moment, doon ko lang napag tanto ang lahat.

Tumingin ako sa damit na suot ni Arah. I felt a very painful pang on my chest.

Umalis sya sa pagkakayakap ng dalawang kaibigan at humarap sakin. She slowly removed the thing she's wearing.

Tingin ko, buglang tumigil ang paligid ko.

It's just me and her.

She smiled at me while tears still brimming her eyes.

"I'm d-dying Dave... kaya h-hindi tayo p-pwede..."

At sa mga salitang kanyang binitawan, mabilis na gumuho ang mundo ko.