Save You

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Reaching Hands

Hold me tighter for the world to see that we are meant to be.

That moment, I knew that this love will never fade. Because the right love will fail but not surrender. Kahit ilang beses man akong mahulog at malunod, hindi ako susuko dahil alam kong ililigtas ako nito.

My past relationship was too shallow than this. Naisip kong sobrang babaw lamang noon kaya hindi nagtagal at nabura agad ng temptasyon.

"So, he's your ex?" Magnus asked while we are eating our lunch.

I saw Vaughn and Hera walking in the field. Siguro ay magre-review dahil marami silang dalang libro. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naitanong iyon ni Magnus.

Hinatid niya lamang ako kahapon pagkatapos ay umuwi na. Ayaw kong mag-abot pa sila ni Mama at baka kung ano pa ang mangyari. Halos ipagkanulo na din ako niyon dito kay Magnus kahit hindi niya pa naman nakikilala. She thought I had never been into a relationship even before. Hindi ko kasi ipinakilala si Vaughn dati sa kaniya dahil hindi pa maayos ang relasyon namin noon.

Tumikhim ako at binalingan siya. "Yep."

"What happened? Why did you break up?" he uttered, curiously.

I shrugged and smiled. "He cheated on me with some random girl, Ieana. Hindi din naman kami nagtagal dahil may mga bagay na hindi namin inaasahan."

He nodded and continued eating. Naalala ko pa noon kung gaano ako umiyak noong malaman ko iyon. Halos hindi ako pumasok sa mga klase. I just laugh when that thought comes into my mind. Siguro noon ay wala pa akong masyadong nalalaman sa pag-ibig. Kasi ngayon, sigurado na ako.

"Paano mo pala nalaman?" tanong ko sa kaniya nang maalalang wala naman ako nabanggit sa kaniya na gano'n.

"I heard you outside the SCO. Iyon 'yung araw na umalis ako. Nalaman ko kasing binubugbog na naman ni Tito Phil si Mama noon kaya pinuntahan ko."

That's why he looked exhausted. I can't imagine him watching how his step-dad throw punches at her Mom. It is indeed heartbreaking. He looks tough outside but I know that his inside is screaming for help.

"That day, I almost lost myself. Hindi ko kayang tignan nang gano'n si Mama, Red. She is my queen and she didn't deserve it. Ilang taon akong nangulila sa kaniya pagkatapos ay dadatnan ko lamang siyang nilalapastanganan ng ibang tao," he said while gritting his teeth.

"Even at home, I can't stand seeing Mom with bruises all over her body. I saw her pain, Red. She had enough."

He is so vulnerable right now. His soul is open to me— only me. And I am the only one who can help him. That's why today, I will not just fulfill my promise to his brother and Mom. I will save him because I love him.

I stood up and lent my hand on him. "Want to run away with me, cool stranger?"

Nagtataka man ay inabot niya ang kamay ko. He intertwined our fingers and it felt so good. Pakiramdam ko ay para sa kaniya talaga ako at akin siya.

Pupunta sana siya sa parking lot kung nasaan ang kotse niya nang pinigilan ko siya. "Maglalakad lang tayo. Malapit lang naman iyon."

Wala siyang nagawa kundi sumunod sa akin. Ilang kanto lamang mula sa campus ay narating na namin ang isang resto-bar na pag-aari ni Kuya Evan, pinsan ko na boyfriend ni Ieana.

"Hi, Kuya!" bungad ko sa kaniya.

His white long sleeves suit his firm body very well. His veins are showing, making him look more intense. The dim light highlighted his bronzed skin.

His eyes widened when he saw me. Minsan lamang kasi kaming magkita mula noong namatay si Dad.

"Red! What are you doing here? Wala ka bang pasok?"

Nilingon ko si Magnus na nasa aking likod. Nakatingin lamang ito sa akin. Masyado siyang seryoso kaya naiilang ako. Sa paraan ng pagkakatitig niya ay parang ayaw niya akong mawala sa paningin niya.

Tumikhim ako at hinatak siya. "This is Magnus, Kuya Evan," I introduced him.

Makahulugan namang tumungin sa akin si Kuya Even. His thin pink lips curved into a smirk. "Hmm. Does Tita Cha know this?" His eyes narrowed when he saw how Magnus' arms claimed my waist. My cheeks burned.

"Not yet. But she will, soon," I answered, smiling.

Tumango naman siya at iginiya kami sa isang table. Maganda ang negosyo na ito ni Kuya Evan dahil malapit sa campus. Maraming estudyante ang tumatambay dito kapag free time nila. 

The ambiance is also majestic. May mga nakasabit na maliliit na diamond chandeliers na nagpapatingkad sa lugar. The tables and chairs are themed with signature brands of luxury bags, perfumes, and shoes. The whole place looks like a hotel. Hindi mo nga mapapagkamalang resto-bar lamang iyon. Nagtaka din ako kung bakit ganito ang design pero sabi ni Kuya ay ganito daw ang gusto ni Tita Pearl. Papayagan lamang daw siyang magnegosyo kung si Tita ang masusunod sa lahat. Natawa na lamang ako.

Hindi din mawawala ang bandang tumutugtog dito. Ngayon ay wala pa sila dahil mamaya pa ang Music Night. Like me, Kuya Evan has a thing for music. Hmm. It runs in the blood, huh?

"Stay here," sabi ko kay Magnus na nagbabasa ng magazine na galing sa shelf.

Nagtataka man ay tumango siya. Umakyat ako sa stage at kinuha ang gitara. Napatingin naman sa akin ang iilang customer doon. Nahihiya man ay ngumiti ako at tumapat sa mic.

"H-hello. I'm Red. I would like to take this opportunity to dedicate this song to someone who's brave enough to stay with me and embrace my lost soul. I know that you have questions for me in your mind. I hope this song will suffice to enlighten you about how I feel," I uttered nervously, my voice shaking. I trembled when I saw him there watching me with his hypnotizing eyes.

~You know you're everything to me
And I could never see, the two of us         apart
And you know I give myself to you
And no matter what you do, I
promise you my heart.~

I stare intently at him as if I'm offering him my very soul. He looked stunned and speechless. Namungay ang kaniyang mga mata na parang hinigop ko ang kaniyang lakas.

~I've built my world around you and I
want you to know
I need you, like I've never needed    
anyone before~

Noong dumating si Magnus pakiramdam ko ay napaka-liit ng mundo at kami lamang dalawa ang nando'n. Mayroon siyang kakayahang iparamdam sa akin na balewala ang lahat. Lahat ng sakit, pagkabigo, at takot hanggang hawak namin ang isa't isa. At nababahala ako kapag dumating na 'yong oras na kailangan ko nang bitawan siya.

~I live my life for you
I want to be by your side in
everything that you do
And if there's only one thing you can 
believe is true
I live my life for you~

When the time comes that I will fail to hold your hand, don't ever let go. I will reach for you again and come back. Always.