Part Two: Not Like the Movies

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And why... why does every letter of her name spells 'love'... when mine speaks of her unhappily ever after?

"Megamind..." mahina ang boses na 'yon pero rinig na rinig ko. Napapikit ako at huminga nang malalim. Natatakot akong lumingon at magising. Natatakot ako na baka imahinasyon ko lang ang boses niya.

"Rafi! Ano ba! Bakit ka ba lumabas sa kwarto mo?" rinig kong sabi ni Zy na agad dumalo sa kanya. "Hila mo pa 'yang swero mo!"

Hindi ko pa rin siya nililingon. Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko dahil wala na akong karapatang harapin siya. Wala na akong karapatang tumingin sa kanya o ang mahalin pa siya dahil sa kalakip nitong hirap—I know make things hard for Rafaela. I make her carry my hurt. And I burden her with my love that cannot promise a happy end.

"Tunying, ano ba!" iritado niyang sabi nang hindi ako lumingon. I can imagine her eye roll as she impatiently waits for me to turn around. "Hoy! Pansinin mo ako!"

I can hear her footsteps as she comes near me. It isn't very loud but it echoed to me. Agad akong napatakip sa mga mata ko habang nanatiling tutop ang mga labi ko at hindi makapagsalita.

Napayuko ako nang huminto siya sa harap ko. Tulak ni Zy ang bakal kung saan nakasabit ang swero niya habang nakasuot siya ng puting hospital gown. At kahit hindi ko pa nakikita ang mukha niya, pansin ko sa balat niya mula sa kamay ang pagkaputla.

"Ba't ka umiiyak? Buhay nga ako!" natatawa pa niyang sabi bago siya yumuko sa harap ko at tumitig. "Uy... ano ka ba, Megamind... okay ako..." dagdag niya pa habang dahan-dahang hinahawakan ang kamay ko.

"I'm okay, babe..." she repeated in a much softer voice.

Nanginginig ang mga labi ko nang mag-angat ako ng tingin, tsaka sunud-sunod na bumagsak ang mga luha ko nang makita ko ang mukha niyang may galos pati na ang ibang parte ng katawan niya.

May kasama pang hikbi ang iyak ko na parang batang iiwan kung saan pero hindi na siya tumawa at masuyo niya lang na hinaplos ang pisngi ko.

"I'm alive, Tunying..." she assured me.

Marahan ko siyang hinila para yumakap sa kanya habang nakasubsob ang mukha ko sa balikat niya. That's when I finally felt a sense of relief. That she's real. And her heart is beating with mine.

Hinaplos niya ang likod ko habang patuloy akong umiiyak. I don't remember much of what happened after the crash. I just remember that she fell and I carried her while calling for help. It was all a blur for me.

"I t-thought that I lost—" I tried to utter as my voice shakes but I couldn't finish the thought when put in words. "I was so scared..."

"You didn't lose me, Anthony. You never will," she promised with each word. "Remember what I told you? Ipapanalo natin 'to."

"Why were you even there..."

"Shhh," she even puts her index finger in front of her lips then she playfully smiled before cupping both of my cheeks to wipe my tears. "A player never shows her hand until she's sure to win."

Inilapit niya ang labi niya sa tainga ko at bahagya akong yumuko para hindi na siya mahirapan pang tumingkayad.

"I don't play without an ace up my sleeve, Anthony," she whispered. "And my winning streak will always be with you. Araw-araw..."

"Araw-araw, Rafaela..."

"So don't ever think of running or hiding from me. I know you. Ayaw mong nasasaktan ako. Pero mas masasaktan ako kapag wala ka sa tabi ko..."

I nodded before I kissed the top of her hand. She does not fail to reassure me that it's okay to stay even when all I have to offer are the bad cards on my hand.

So I held her carefully as I hugged her once more, with a silent prayer and promise that I won't ever think of running away again. Not from her. Not from this love that sustains my heart as it beats for her.

And while Zy is gesturing punches in the air that is directed to me.

"Hindi pa tayo tapos," he mouthed. Nagtago lang ako sa balikat ni Rafaela habang binubulong ko sa kanya na pinagbabantaan ako ng best friend niya.

"Zy, tantanan mo ha," she warned him and I stuck my tongue out. "Ikaw rin tantanan mo, Megamind!"

"Sorry," Zy and I chorused.

"Uwi na 'ko kay Tunying," she even announced in front of her best friend. Iritadong bumaling si Zy bago tumango.

"Let's go home, Megamind," she said after linking her arm with mine.

She smiled at me like I have nothing to fear and from there, I found my courage to accept defeat.

That even when I can't win it all, the losing parts will still be worth it as long as she's here.

As long as I have my heart that is her, I will always know love.

That, I know now.