"Alright" umorder sila ng pagkain at ilang sandali pa ay kumain na. "Do you like the food?"
"Oo, lasang rich!" Natawa naman si Vhal sa sinabi ni Natalie, oh how he wanted for her to stay like this.
Siya lang ang nakakapagpatawa sa kanya ng ganito.
"Ang dami nating inorder, mauubos ba natin ito?" Tanong ni Natalie.
"Ikaw ang nagorder ng mga iyan, eh" sambit naman ni Vhal. "At sa tingin ko naman, mauubos mo"
"Huy, kumain ka! Ang dami nito" sambit ni Natalie at nilagyan ang pinggan niya ng mga pagkain. "Baka isipin mo, ang takaw ko".
Napangiti si Vhal ulit, hindi naman niya iisipin iyon but what he loves most was that she did it again.
Lumalabas ang totoong Natalie, ang Natalie na minahal niya noon. Yung maalaga at maasikaso, yung palangiti at makulit.
Pagkatapos nilang kumain ay tsaka sila umorder ng maiinom. Natalie just order a Shirley Temple, hindi niya feel uminom ng hard drinks while he order a scotch.
"Thank you" ani Natalie. "I really had a great time, Vhal. S-salamat" pagkuwa'y sinimsim ang inumin.
Then the music changed at parang pinaglalaruan sila ng pagkakataon.
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
Nagkatitigan silang sandali sa mga mata, hindi na kailangan ng salita dahil nagkakaunawaan na ito.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
and just forget the world?
"I missed you" he murmured. "I missed us" he leaned forward and hold her hand.
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
"Huwag mo ng ituloy, Natalie" Napakunot ang noo ni Natalie, anong ibig sabihin niya?
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's
bursting into life
"Huwag mo na akong iwan" he sincerely said.
"Vhal.."
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
"Huwag mo ng ituloy ang laban, it's dangerous out there--"
"What?" Putol niya rito. "What are you talking about?"
"Natalie, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kung may mangyari sayo--"
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's
bursting into life
"No" inalis niya ang mga kamay. "You don't know what you're asking, Vhal!"
"I know, Natalie. Alam ko ang buhay sa loob ng karera at alam kong delikado!"
"I have nothing to lose!" Sagot niya pabalik. " I have nothing to lose, Vhal. This is important for me"
"But I do. If I lost you, I'll lose everything.." he murmured,napasinghap na lamang si Natalie sa narinig at tumayo niya. "Natalie!" Habol sa kanya ni Vhal.
"Natalie!" Hinablot nito ang kamay niya.
"You already lost me, Vhal" she murmured. "You have nothing to lose because you already did"
"But I can't lose you again.."
"I'm not yours to gain" bago pa siya makatalikod ay sinakop na ni Vhal ang mga labi niya and with his kisses, her defenses were starting to break again.
"Vhal.." ngunit tila traydor talaga ang sariling katawan. Bakit kapag si Vhal ay ang hirap niyang tumanggi? Bakit kapag si Vhal ay wala na siyang magawa dahil kahit sariling isip ay ito ang kinikilalang halikan? So, they ended up checking in and there she surrendered herself, again, with him.
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes,
they're all I can see
Chapter XXI
Magsimula sa umpisa
