Love, Sakura

Chapter XXIV

24.

Umalis kami ng theme park ni Sage bitbit ang dalawang plastik na naglalaman ng mga kaawa-awang alitaptap sa loob ng jars. Wala kaming ideya noong una kung saang gubat namin ito pakakawalan-- hindi naman kasi pwede sa Daintree Forest, masyadong malayo 'yon sa kinaroroonan namin ngayon. Pero sa huli, nakahanap kami ng malapit-lapit na gubat.

It was getting dark and the fireflies in the jars are gleaming faintly. But once we were deep enough in the thicket, that's when we stopped and opened the jars. Strangely, the fireflies didn't fly out.

"Come on..." I nervously spoke, looking at the opened jar in my hand.

Pumwesto si Sage sa tabi ko at blangkong tumingin sa hawak ko, "Whether they'll survive depends on their will to live. Without a will to live, they'll die soon to other danger--- even if you try to save them."

I gazed at the fireflies in the jars. Tungkol sa mga alitaptap 'yung mga sinasabi niya pero hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip ng iba.

I pursed my lips, trying to calm myself from the thoughts. Suddenly, one of the fireflies begins flapping its wings, slowly gliding upwards.

I got delighted seeing them slowly moving out from the jars. Hanggang sa lahat nang nabuksan naming jar ay naubos na't nagsilabasan na silang lahat.

Sa madilim na gubat na ito ay napuno ng liwanag ng mga alitaptap. Nakakagaan sa loob, pakiramdam ko nga ay saglit na nawala ang iniisip ko kay Sage habang nakamasid sa kanila.

More fireflies had gathered in the depths of the thicket, as if welcoming their friends home. Mukhang dito sila nanggaling bago hulihin...

Sage and I stood there, surrounded by fireflies.

I'm hoping that... this fireflies made his worries disappeared-- even for just this moment.

I looked at him gently. It was as if time has stopped and my heart fluttered like the wind-blown fabric. His hair and shirt whipping in the wind.

I small smile crept into my lips, "Because the scenery's so gorgeous, let's... come back again next year and see these lovely fireflies again?"

He didn't replied. Napalunok ako at naibaba ang tingin. Ilang sandali pa ang hinintay ko pero nanatili pa rin ang walang emosyon niyang mga mata sa masasayang alitaptap.

I looked straight at Sage, my anxiety rising through the roof.

"Will you miss me if I do leave?"

That stopped me.

"W-What?"

Lumakas lalo ang kabog sa dibdib ko. Ito na ba 'yung mga sign niya? Ito na ba 'yung mga tanungan niya na hindi ko pinansin noon?

Inalis ko ang tingin sa kan'ya at maang na napahawak ang isang kamay sa dibdib ko. "O-Of course, Sage. What the hell's with that question?" nanginginig ang boses ko.

Sage seemed to let out a breath and his mouth curved up a bit, "I see."

"You're one of the very important person to me... and I refuse to lose you." I said, breathing heavely. I looked at him, "If you're thinking about being dead, q-quit it. I don't want you to die."

Then from there, he stared back at me. His eyes were dark as night. A sense of sorrow suddenly hit me.

"What did I ever do to have someone like you, Sakura..." he uttered softly.

I was about to open my mouth and tell him my hundred reasons why I'm here and why he deserves a better life, but he soon started smiling as if nothing was wrong.