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Chapter 52 (part two)

"Nikko bakit ngayon ka lang." Agad na bungad sa akin ni Anikka, saktong papalabas sila ng apartment at nagmamadali na sumakay sa kotse. Anong nangyayari?

"Eris is leaving today so come on!"

Aalis si Eris? Teka bakit siya aalis? Everything is fine now. Napatingin ako sa tulips na hawak ko. Hindi ko siya hahayaan na makalayo pa sa akin. Malaya na ako. We may freely continue our live story. Wala nang makakahadlang pa sa amin.

Natauhan ako sa sigaw ni Anikka.

"Come on Nikko let's go! Hindi natin mapipigilan si Eris kung tatayo ka lang diyan."

Mabilis akong sumakay sa sasakyan. I drive as fast as I can. Kailangan kong mahabol si Eris. I can't lose her, I'll do everything just to make her back.

Nanlumo ako nang makaalis na ang flight papuntang New York. Gusto kong sabihin sa sarili ko na baka hindi siya umalis. I waited there foe hours, but there is no sign of her. Talagang pinili niyang iwanan lahat dito. Gusto-gusto kong magalit sa kanya, Why is she so selfish, hindi lang naman siya ang nahihirapan dito. I am always there for her to fix everything, kahit gaano pa kahirap.

But then as I heard Anikka's confession about our child. She gone through a lot of things. She endure it alone. Nagawa ko pang magalit sa kanya, noong iniwan niya ko. Yet I was in danger that time, she have no choice, we both in danger. She suffered her happiness, she suffer a lot of things. She is selfless, she can give everything. Now it will be the time for her to replenish. Tama si Anikka, mahirap mahalin ang pusong hindi handang magmahal. Sige hihintayin ko siya hanggang sa bumalik siya sa akin. Handa akong maghintay

I am always looking at her from afar. I am always tempted to go after her, but I can't, tila may pumipigil sa akin. I am just happy to see Eris do well, sapat na iyon.

I actually bought one of her paintings from a friend, sinubukan kong bilhin ang main piece, but she didn't it is seems so special to her. I remember, the man looking at the stars is me. Sino ba naman ang hindi matutuwa. That gave me an instant hope, more reasons para hindi ko siya pakawalan.

One day I received and email from Amaya, they are asking to be a model for them. I want to turn down the offer, but I saw that Taylor personally sent it to me. I just agreed. It is hard for my schedule, kahit halos araw-araw na akong walang pahinga. That is ok, atleast I have Eris with me. She's my home, my life, my love.

"Are you sure about that?" Nagulat ako nang magsalita sa Shira sa likuran ko, ni hindi man lang natinag sa pagkakayuko at binabasa ang nasa email.

"Fuck Shira! Get out of here." She arched her brow at lumapit sa akin.

"Ikaw naman, parang wala tayong pinagsamahan a?"

Umiling na lang ako at umupo sa upuan. "Don't mind other business, you are out of her."

"Sira! Isa ako sa stakeholders ng Amaya no. So may kinalaman ako diyan. Batukan kita e." Singhal niya.

"Ok what you need." Shira will just appraoch me, whenever she needs something. Kinakabahan ako kung ano man iyon. Shira tends to be unusual all the time.

"Nikko I need you." Singhal sa akin ni Shira. Sabi ko na nga ba.

"I just need you to pretend to be my boyfriend?" Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

"No" I firmly said.

Tumingin siya sa bandang kanan at bumungad may isang lalaki doon na nakagrey na polo habang may kausap. Ito yata yung nameet niya somewhere in the province. Tinignan ko siya ng masama. Huwag niya akong idamay sa kalokohan niya and I can't stand that situation. She's a sister to me, most of all I have my Eris.

"I'm out of here." Walang gana kong sabi at tumayo para umalis. If I stay, kukulitin at kukulitin sa gusto niya.

"Nikko naman." She pleaded.

"If you want someone, go for it Shira. Huwag kang pauto sa mga ganitong set-up matalino ka pa naman." Shira arched her brow and grin.

"Bakit di mo ginawa sa kanya." Natigilan ako sa paglakad nang sinabi niya iyon. I have reasons why I did not run after her, may mga laban kasi na kailangan munang sukuan para maipanalo. Then, when we met wala man lang ako ginawa.I was not able to do anything. I am just staring her, I can't speak a word, I am too overwhelmed that she is infront of me, at ito makakasama ko na ulit siya sa wakas.

I let out a sigh. "Kaya nga, huwag mo nang gayahin."

"Nikko kanina pa kita hinahanap." Eris pushed me away when she heard Shira. Saglit akong napatingin sa kanya, Suddenly I can see pain in her teary eyes. Please Eris don't think that way. I was about to run after her but Shira does not let me, nakahawak siya sa pulsuhan ko. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Shira, nandoon na e. We are about to kiss at napurnada dahil sa babaeng to.

Sabi sayo e, huwag mo kong isama sa kalokohan mo.

"She's mad, do you think she'll listen? Pahupain mo muna galit niya, then ako mismo ang magsasabi sa kanya ng totoo."

Then at the club. She confessed that she still loves me. I almost wanted to jump when I heard it from her lips. I am still on a process what she says. She still loves me, pwede pa kami.

"I love you so much Eris, I don't want to lose you." She was not able to hear it dahil natumba siya sa pagkakatayo.

I was about to approach her, pero naunahan ako ni Taylor at agad nang inilayo sa akin.

Umawat sa akin si Mitch nang akmang susunod ako sa kanya. Bakit ba lagi nila akong pinipigilan. I just wanted to be with her. Ang tagal kong nagtiis, just to have a moment with her. Hindi na ako nagpaawat. Hindi na nila ako mapipigilan. I'll run after her whatever it takes, I won't be tired chasing her until she will be mine again.

Agad akong sumunod kay Eris. I hate seeing her hurt, lalo at hindi naman totoo ang mga sinasabi niya. Hindi kami ni Shira and will never be.

Gusto ko na ako mismo ang magpapakalma sa kanya.I was late, nakaalis na sila ni Taylor.

After the fashion show, I saw her in the rooftop. My instinct always indicates she'll be there, she like the view of the stars and lights kaya gustong-gusto niya rito. I remember our first meeting in the rooftop, the first time she noticed me. She was about to jump on the building, mabuti at napigilan ko. What if I was not able to save her that time.

Umiling ako, you save Eris. Niligtas mo ang babaeng mahal mo. No what if's. Hindi na ko nagdalawang isip na lapitan siya. It is now or never.

We made love that night. Sabi ko sa sarili ko ito na yun. Hindi ko na siya pupwedeng pakawalan pa. I finally able to say that I love her, and it is always be her. I am happy that she accept me again. Hindi siya magsisi, babawi kami sa isa't isa. If I can make her pregnant, I will, para hindi na siya makatakas.

She is the only one I see spending the rest of my life. Siya Lang.

If I know na mawawala rin siya kaagad, I would not let myself sleep then. Inuwi ko na lang sana siya sa bahay.I am in my melancholy when I realized she left me again. I thought she finally have me back, I guess I am in a illusion again.

Pinunasan ko Ang tumutulong luha sa pisngi ko. Why do keep hurting me Eris. Bakit lagi siyang nawawala, bakit ang hirap mong habulin Eris.

Nanghihina akong napaupo sa railings habang nakadukdok. I let out my tears na tila naglalabas ng sama ng loob.

Oo masama Ang loob ko, galit ako sa sarili ko dahil hindi ko man lang siya napigilan.

"Bakla ka siguro Nikko, You should follow your own words too. Go for Eris." Aniya at inabot sa akin ang ticket.

"Nahiya ako sayo, pinagbook na kita." Aniya at padabog na nilapag ang ticket sa harap ko.

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Epilogue will be posted soon