𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 [Herero Series #3]

Chapter 22: Kheyos Valeria McLevis

Khey's POV

Pagkapasok ni Miss Harm sa loob, tila sumabay naman sa langit ang damdamin ko. Nagsimulang pumatak ang tubig mula dito.

Kung ang iba ay nagsipaglilim para hindi mabasa, ako naman ay naglakad papunta sa ulanan. Nagsimulang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. I went to the side of the airport kung saan tanaw ang runway.

I just stand there, hindi ko nabilang kung ilang minuto akong nakatayo. Siguro, iniisip nilang tanga ako. Hindi naman sila nagkakamali, tanga talaga ako.

Sinaktan ko s'ya. I did it intentionally for her to stop her feelings, kasi hindi ko kayang panindigan 'yong akin. I'm a coward. And now, I regret everything. Dapat una palang nagtake risk na ako.

It's so stupid of me to think na hindi s'ya aalis dahil lang pinigilan ko s'ya. Fuck! I'm so stupid! Bakit ko ba sinaktan 'yong kaisa-isang babaeng willing gawin ang lahat para sa'kin?

She saved me too many times but all I did was to push her away.. Even I, can't explain how stupid those decision was. I want to curse myself.

Napatingin ako sa harapan when one of the airplane took off. Pinanood ko lang itong tumakbo sa runway hanggang makalipad ito. Hindi ko na napigilang mapahikbi.

Tangina talaga, Khey! I want to punch myself. Tangina, tangina, tangina. I will never forgive myself for this. I hurt her, I pained her.

"Fuck this.. I'm so stupid.." bulong ko sa sarili habang nakayuko. My tears are mixing with rainwater but I can still feel it because it's warm, like her hands, her hands are always warm.. "I'm so stupid.."

"You are," Someone seconded kasabay ng pagtigil ng ulan sa tapat ko. I then realized that there's umbrella above me. And that someone, I know whose voice is that. The familiar softness of that voice. Kilalang kilala ko 'yon. "Stupid purple dinosaur." She chuckled.

I froze, not because of my soaked body but because of her. Unti-unti akong humarap and there she is. Holding the umbrella while smiling at me. The genuine smile.. she's wearing it.

"Am I d-dreaming?" I asked while my voice is a bit shaking dahil sa pag-iyak. Mas lalo s'yang napangiti sa naging sagot ko.

She slowly close the gap between us and kissed my lips. It was just a smack kiss but it means everything to me. I felt it, I felt her soft and warm lips..

"I guess you're not dreaming." She said softly. Fuck. I'm not dreaming! This is real!

Agad ko s'yang niyakap nang mahigpit. Namuo nanaman ang luha sa mata ko pero iba na ang dahilan. Tears of joy were real. It was real because of this beautiful girl on my embrace.

"You came back.. you came back.." umiiyak na wika ko. Shit lang, ang saya ko. Ang saya saya ko! Naramdaman ko ring niyakap n'ya ako gamit ang isang kamay n'ya. She caress my back.

"I hate what ifs so.." she whispered warmly. I hate them too, I hate them too so much kaya sising-sisi ako kanina. Pero bumalik na s'ya, no more what ifs.

Humiwalay muna ako sa yakap namin and hold her free hand. Tumingin ako nang diretso sa mga mata n'ya. Wala na akong pake kung harap-harapan akong umiiyak. She's the only person I'm allowing to see my vulnerable side.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry.." unang wika ko. She's just looking at me, I can see the willingness to listen to me. "Naduwag ako.. naduwag ako kasi h-hindi kita kayang abutin.. ang taas taas ng tingin ko sa'yo to the point that I can see you yet I can't claim you, I can touch you yet I can't hold you.." humihikbi ako habang nagsasalita.

Bigla n'yang binitawan ang payong kaya nabasa kami pareho ng ulan. S'ya naman ngayon ang humawak sa parehong kamay ko, she squeezed them tight and signal me to continue.