Four Forever [Completed]

76 - Air - Chosen

(POV Shinichi)

A year ago, I woke inside a body of a college student named Shinichi Chiba. Isang half Filipino, half Japanese dito sa Okinawa, Japan. Just like Mizuki Hideki, I was reincarnated into a different body, to someone else.

I don't know why I was reincarnated as Shinichi Chiba, but I know that the Creator has a reason that I cannot comprehend right now.

As a student, limited ang resources ko, pero madali ko natunton si Blaze Azevedo. He is making news in and out of the Philippines. I was able to get in touch with him and explained that I am now residing inside this body.

The thing is, Shinichi Chiba is a good friend of a Japanese girl named Mizuki Hideki. The same name used by Aliya when she was pretending as a school girl.

I know that Mizuki Hideki is my only link to Aliya, but the Mizuki that I met seems to be an entirely different person. Walang bahid na siya ang dating goddess of air. She was also in love with another student named Ryouta Akiyama.

For weeks, Blaze tried to helped me locate Aliya, but we are unsuccessful. He advised me to wait for Aliya, but months passed and there are no signs that Aliya was reincarnated. Umabot ng isang taon ang paghihintay ko pero mukhang hindi na babalik si Aliya mula sa Paradiso.

Isang umaga, pinuntahan ko si Mizuki sa kanilang bahay para sunduin. Kahit hindi ako boyfriend niya, ako ang nagsisilbing taga hatid at sundo niya. Umaasa pa rin ako na sa katawan niya babalik si Aliya.

Pagbukas ni Mizuki ng pinto, napansin ko na isang confused na Mizuki ang kaharap ko. It is like she does not have any idea who the fuck I am. I looked in her eyes and I knew it at that exact moment that I am looking in the eyes of Aliya, my Amore.

All I want is to hug her and to own her lips, but I was crippled by my fear and insecurity. Hindi na ako si Shawn Castelo, isang heartthrob sa university. Isa na akong nerd ngayon sa katauhan ni Shinichi Chiba.

Paano kung ma-disappoint siya? Paano kung hindi niya ako magustuhan ? Paano kung magbago ang pagtingin niya sa akin dahil sa bagong hitsura ko?

I have plenty of questions running on my mind and I end up pretending as Shinichi Chiba, ang best friend ni Mizuki Hideki. Tulad ko, hinanap din ni Aliya si Shawn Castelo at ang una niyang nilapitan ay ang dating god of fire na si Arthos.

Bago kami bumalik ni Aliya sa Pilipinas, I already asked Blaze to hide my identity. I don't want Aliya to like Shinichi because I am the real Shawn Castelo.

I want her to love me for being me.

Lumipas ang buwan at nanatili akong kaibigan ni Mizuki Hideki. I always see to it that she will feel special. I want her to know that my time and my attention is only for hers alone. Hindi ko kailangan sabihin na mahal ko siya, sa kilos ko pa lang, sigurado ako na malalaman niya.

"Alam mo sa anime ko lang ito napapanood," sabi ni Mizuki habang kumakain kami ng shaved ice dessert sa roof top.

Ngayon ang last day ng classes at sa pagtatapos ng klase, nagkaroon ng bonfire sa gitna ng field kung saan nagsasayaw ang mga estudyante na parang isang prom night.

"Nanonood ka ng anime?" tanong ko sa kanya sabay punas ng ice sa ilong niya.

"Ang tagal ko ng goddess of air, ang dami ko na nabasa na libro at napanood ng palabas. Pati anime ay pinatos ko na din."

"Gusto mo ba muling maging si Aliya, ang dyosa ng hangin?"

"Nope, okay na ako bilang Mizuki Hideki. Masaya na ko sa buhay ko ngayon basta kasama kita," bulong niya na bigla kong kinagulat.

Simula nang bumalik si Aliya, hindi pa rin niya tinitigilan ang paghahanap kay Shawn Castelo. Paulit ulit niyang sinasabi sa akin kung gaano niya kamahal ito. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ko dahil loyal siya kay Shawn or maiinis ako na parang karibal ko ang sarili ko.

"Masaya ka na kasama ang best friend mo?" dagdag na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Bestfriend lang ba ang turing ni Shinichi Chiba kay Mizuki Hideki? Bakit feeling ko more than friend?" sagot niya sa akin pero nanatiling nakatingin sa bonfire sa soccer field.

Hindi ko masagot si Mizuki. Tila kasabay ng pagkabuhay ko bilang Shinichi Chiba ay naging isang torpe at insecure akong lalaki. Wala na ang overconfident at mahangin na Shawn Castelo. Wala na ang lalaking hinahabol ng mga kababaihan. Isang simpleng nerd na lang ako ngayon.

"Nakakalasing ba ang shaved ice? Mukhang may alcohol content ang flavor ng dessert mo---"

Ibinaba ni Mizuki ang kanyang hawak na dessert at sa loob ng ilang hakbang ay nasa harapan ko na siya. Walang paalam na hinawakan niya ang ang aking pisngi at hinagkan ang aking mga labi. The same sensational kiss from the goddess of air. The same kiss that can turn my life upside down.

I found myself kissing her back. I was filled with so much emotions right now. Pain and happiness combined. Pain for waiting too long for this moment to come. Overflowing happiness as I am kissing the love of my life right now. Hindi ko na namalayan na unti unting tumutulo ang luha ko habang hinahagkan ako ni Mizuki.

"I chose you when you were Azura, the god of air. I chose you again when you became Shawn Castelo. And I will always choose you, even if you were reincarnated as Shinichi Chiba," sabi ni Mizuki habang pinapahiran ang mga luha ko.

"Mizuki..."

"I love fell in love with your soul. Even if you are now living in a different body, my soul will always find you, my soul will always love you."

Niyakap ko lang si Mizuki nang mahigpit. I am not only crying right now, I am sobbing. She doesn't know how much I want to hug her for the longest time.

"How did you know?" bulong ko sa kanya sabay halik sa noo niya.

"Your sports car."

"Are you telling me na hindi ko afford ang isang sports car?"

"Arthos is fond of giving sports car to us, to his friends. I bet he is the one who gave you that expensive piece."

"Dahil lang doon?"

"You love me, Shinichi Chiba. I felt your love. The same kind of love I felt from Azura and Shawn Castelo. I can't deny the fact that the other half of my soul is residing in you," she said as she put her arms around my neck.

"Aliya, sa loob ng ilang buwan, nagpapanggap ka na walang alam? You just pretended that you don't know the real me?"

"I guess we are both great pretenders. How about dropping all the pretensions now and kiss me until the morning sun comes up, Mr. Chiba?"

"Just kiss you? Come on, Ms. Hideki. I am not just going to kiss you, I am going to---"

"Fuck you? Ang bastos mo, Shinichi. Fuck agad? Tandaan mo, students tayo."

"I am about to say that I am going to marry you tomorrow, but your suggestion is more enticing," natatawa na sagot ko sabay yakap sa kanya.

"Saan mo balak pumunta, Shinichi? Walang malapit na ilog dito, sa dagat na lang!" sabi ni Mizuki at napuno ng tawanan namin ang buong roof deck.

I guess hindi lang si Blaze Azevedo at Camilla Villarosa ang may happy ending bilang tao sa mundong ito. Mukhang nakatakda din si Mizuki Hideki at Shinichi Chiba para sa isa't isa. A love story written thousand years ago and is meant to last for eternity.

I may not understand the Creator's plan at first, but I believed and trusted that love never fails.

The Creator led me straight back to my Amore, my forever.

---The End---