When Love Stays Forever (Book 3 of WL Trilogy) (ML, #3)

Kabanata 31

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"Where will I find you?" sabi niya. Ngumiti siya sa akin. Hinawakan ang pisngi ko. "Here...of course." I felt his thumb moving against my cheek. His touch...this calmness. I always wish he'll stay.

"I miss you..." My lips tremble. Kinagat ko tuloy ito para lang tumigil. "So much."

"I always miss you, Scar. Always." Benj's deep and beautiful eyes are staring at my face. My face blushed but I am still looking at his face. I wish I could just stare at his face and do nothing. Pero naalala ko 'yong nangyari kanina.

Mama begged to me. I didn't do anything.

"Mali ba 'yong ginawa ko? Mali ba 'yon? If they hate me for what I did, you know, I don't care. But Mama...I can't..." Napapunas ako ng luhang hindi ko inaasahang tumulo sa aking mata. Ang bigat-bigat. Sobrang bigat. "I know she loves him. But me, I don't know, if I am still able to love him. Naubos na, Benj. Sobrang ubos na. I trusted him so much. I trusted him." I bit my lip and look away. "Kapag hindi ko ginawa 'yon...kami 'yong magdudusa...kami. Ayoko. Na. Ayoko na. Tao rin naman ako. Napapagod din naman ako sa sakit. Sa hirap." I sigh. I breathe. "Mahal na mahal ko ang pamilya 'ko. Ayokong nagdudusa sila. Lalo na si Mama na sobra 'yong hirap sa amin." I cried my heart out. Ilang punas ang ginawa ko ngunit patuloy pa rin ang luha ko. I felt Benjamin's soft hands on my cheeks.

"It's okay. You did what's right. Tama lang 'yon. If I were in your position, ganon din ang gagawin ko." Benj said, convincing me. Ilang beses akong tumango sa kanya. Pinunasan niya ang luha ko. "Give them some time to think. Maiintindihan ka nila. Okay?" Tumango muli ako sa kanya. "But can I ask you?" aniya sabay tingin sa kwintas na binigay niya sa akin. "I want to light this up. You need to relax," anito na parang nahihiya.

"Ano 'yon?" tanong ko.

"What if we didn't meet Scar in the same bar...what if—" I stopped him.

"Stop it. You're making me nervous. Stop it." Tinignan ko siya ng masama. I roll my eyes. "Hindi ko sasagutin 'yan." Inalis ko ang kamay niya sa akin. Pinunasan ang pisngi ko ng kamay ko at iniwasan siya.

"Patapusin mo muna..." aniya.

"Go. Hindi ko naman sasagutin. Blah...blah. What if we didn't meet? What if kayo ni AJ? Ganon 'yong mga tanong mo. Stop it."

Benj laughs at my reaction. Bahala siya. Kinakabahan ako e. Ayoko ng ganito. Ayoko ng ganito mga tanungin. Nagngingitngit tuloy ako sa inis ngayon. Relax-relax pa. Duh. Masasapak ko siya kahit ganito.

"Come on, don't be jealous. Masaya na 'yon dinadamay mo pa," natatawa niyang sabi.

I scowl silently. Me? Jealous?

"Jealous? Wow, ha?" I roll my eyes.

Tumawa muli si Benj.

"Stop laughing," irita ko.

Benj zips his mouth, kiddingly. Hinawi ko ang mukha niya sa inis. Ngunit tumawa muli siya.

"But, seriously, what if we didn't meet in the bar. I never met AJ. You never met Sebastian. You didn't know about Lorenzo and his family. You're living happy. I never met Benedict. Both of our family is not going through hell. We both happy kids in our profession. You in your paintings. I, in my photographs. What if we're both happy and contented? And we never knew each other in that time." My heart skips a beat. Napaawang ako ng bibig habang tinitignan siya habang siya hinahawakan na ang necklace na binigay niya. "Where do you think is the place we could meet? Saan kaya tayo dadalhin nito?"

Umiling ako sa kanya. Paano kaya kung ganon? Paano kung iba 'yong ikot ng tadhana namin? Paano kung hindi ganito kakumplikado?

"Sagutin mo na." Ngiti niya sa akin.

"Uhm...somewhere in QC." I joked.

Sumimangot si Benj sa akin. Natawa ako.

"Museum. Of course museum. Because I know we're both into arts. Siguro doon tayo pagtatagpuin?" I shrugged my shoulders.

Napaisip si Benj. "'Yan din naiisip ko."

"Gaya-gaya ka lang," sagot ko habang tumatawa.

Sumimangot muli si Benjamin sa sinabi ko. Kumunot ang noo niya at nagsalita, "I wish I met you there. I wish we never have this. I mean these problems. I wish we're both happy adults, looking for something...looking more for happiness...looking for each other. I wish I met you in the said museum that fate organized. So I can't see how much hurt you have right now. I wish I could take away the pain...right now, my darling. Kahit sa akin na lang 'yan. Kahit ako na lang."

I cling to Benj. Niyakap ko siya ng sobrang higpit.

"I love you..." I whispered to him.

"I love you." He whispered on my neck.

Both of our body is clinging to each other like we're both desperate to meet each other in same different place. That we never have this. That everything is too easy.