Kabanata 39
(NPR)
Linus was driving, pagkatapos ng aming pag-uusap at pagsasabi ng balita ko sa kanya ay naibsan lahat ng aking kalungkutan dahil sa kanyang reaksyon na kailanman ay hindi ko inasahan.
I was actually thinking that he might not ready for this, tatanggapin ko naman kung magiging ganoon ang kanyang reaksyon dahil alam kong marami pa kaming kailangang ayusin bago ang magkapamilyang hindi namin inaasahan.
He held my hand, he filled the gaps between our fingers and put it on his cheek. Mula sa labas ng bintana at pagtanaw sa aming magandang nadaraanan ay nilipat ko ang tingin sa kanya.
His other hand was on the steering wheel, nakatuko ang kanyang tingin sa aming daanan. Slowly, he kissed the back of my palm and inhaled there. A slow smile crept on his lips mindlessly, ngumuso ako habang pinapanuod lamang siya.
"Ang saya ko talaga, tangina." pabulong niyang sinabi na tila para sa sarili habang hinahalikan parin ang aking kamay.
Malapad na napangiti ako. My heart melted like butter in too much warm. He was still this shock and surprise, nakakatuwa.
"Talaga?" naaaliw kong tanong.
He gasped deeply and glanced at me with nothing but pure happiness in his dark tamed eyes. His lips protruded, hindi siya nagsalita at binalik sa kalsada ang tingin.
"You know what," he sighed.
Huminga ako ng malalim habang nakikinig, nakangiti lamang ako dahil sa nararamdamang kasiyahan para sa kanya. Para sa amin.
"I'm happy with only you, Italia... and this news... got me so fucking beyond happy! I don't know now," napailing siya. "Just damn you. You're making me completely perfect!"
Suminghap ako, pigil ang aking emosyon. He looked so seriously happy. Parang hindi alam kung ano ang sasabihing mga salita. Ayaw kong umiyak ulit dahil namumugto na ang mga mata ko sa kakaiyak.
I smiled sweetly.
"And you completed me, Linus. I'm so happy, too. I feel lucky to have you here and anywhere. Thank you for giving me this-"
"Fuck it, baby. I don't even know how to express my feelings for you. Please, don't thank me. I've been an ass, I disappointed you in many ways but you still choose to be with me. Your existence is what I should be thankful for. Very much." he said vocally.
Para akong lumilipad sa bawat salita niya. Alam mo iyon, kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa narinig sa iba na nagpapasalamat sila sa aking existence. Ang sarap lang marinig mula sa isang taong mahal mo, lalo na kay Linus.
"I love you," I whispered softly with all my heart. "I love you, basta, salamat..."
I just want to tell him how thankful I am to have him, thank him for accepting me and for existing in my life. Kahit hindi maganda ang aming naging simula ay pagmamahal pa rin ang nabuo sa huli.
Isang malaki at mataas na gate ang kusang nagbukas nang nasa harapan na ang sasakyan ni Linus, kunot ang noo at madilim ang mga mata niya nang bitiwan ang aking kamay at pinasok na ang sasakyan sa loob.
Huminga ako ng napakalalim at tinanggal ang seatbealt para maghanda sa pagbaba. The garage was very wide and has sports cars parked, nasa lima iyong tahimik roon at nagsusumigaw ng kaangasan.
