Nobela

/16/ ending scene

"Maryosep! Bakit naman bawal ako sa 'yong tumawag o mag-text man lang?" nakangusong tanong niya.

Natawa naman ako. "Putulin muna natin ang communication at distraction. Baka kapag araw-araw mo akong tawagan, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko at puntahan kita," paliwanag ko. "'Pag nagkita ulit tayo, saka tayo magkwentuhan nang walang hanggan."

Ngumisi siya. "Pa'no 'pag bigla akong nawala sa mundong ibabaw?"

"Eh 'di rest in peace."

Sumimangot siya bigla. Hinampas ko siya sa braso at sabay kaming tumawa. Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay.

"Pilitin mong 'wag mawala. May promise tayo 'di ba?"

"Ano 'yon? Pipilitin ko ang kamatayan na 'wag muna akong kunin?"

Bungisngis akong tumango-tango.

"Sige, para sa 'yo."

Hinagin pareho ang mga buhok namin. I smiled as I looked into his eyes.

"Aalis ka na ba?" tanong niya, ibinaling ang tingin sa kalangitan, sa dagat, at sa pagitan.

"'Pag lubog ng araw."

"Para ka namang si Cinderella niyan, may time-limit."

"Lahat ng bagay may oras, Rio."

Wala na siyang naisagot. Kita ko naman ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. Sabi niya nga, tanggap na niya na aalis ako, pero hindi niya pa rin maiiwasan ang masaktan.

Mayamaya, may naalala ako. Binuksan ko ang dala kong bag at inilabas doon ang isang maliit na kahon. Nakabalot ng gift wrapper. Iniabot ko ito sa kanya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rio sa hawak ko. Nakunot ang noo niya. "Hindi pa Pasko, ah. Ba't may regalo ka agad?"

"Maiaabot ko ba sa 'yo 'to sa Pasko?" sarkastiko kong tanong. "Buksan mo."

"Pag-uwi ko na lang. Baka maiyak pa 'ko kapag nakita ko ang laman."

"Sige na, open it."

Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. Tatawa-tawa siya habang sinisira niya ang wrapper. Sa pagbukas niya ng kahon, isang maganda at may design na papel ang bumungad. Kinuha niya 'to at binasa ang sulat-kamay ko.

There was once a princess who lived in harmony. She lived in a castle with his king, reigning their own castle. But all she had instantly vanished when she bit the poisonous apple. She drowned in her own tears, withering due to poison that slowly, but excruciatingly killing her. The princess became miserable. Exiled, unloved, and judged. Crying and regretting alone.

One day, she woke up with a kiss from an ordinary man who took her to his own little kingdom. Then the man became his knight and treated her with so much kindness, respect and love. The princess and the knight went to a far, far away town. The princess lived newly, and got down from her lonely and high tower.

The knight turned out to be a prince. They danced like Belle and the Beast. They explored the world like Jasmine and Ali. He was supposed to be just an ordinary man, but she could make the princess' heart beat for him extraordinarily.

Like what all fairy tales have, there was a conflict. No dragons, no witches, no magic. It was just that the clock struck and she needed to get back to where she used to belong, like what Ariel needed to do when she's losing her legs.

Just like Pocahontas and John Smith, they have to live in their own separate world.

Rio turned back the paper. His brows frowned when he saw nothing written at it.