Damsel in Disguise

~~~ Chapter 45 ~~~

Dumating ang araw at bumalik na kami sa University. I tried hard to act normal even when my friends are strangely quiet, too. We are all affected in here. Probably, they are also thinking of what may happen. But I believe that they don't really care anymore. Syempre, bakit hindi nila kami hinanap? Artista rin sila sa South Korea. Bakit hindi kami nagtagpo? Kasi umiiwas sila? Tss, sick life.

We are greeted by many students. Ang iba ay nagpakuha pa ng litrato. Naglakad kami palapit sa bulletin board at sabay-sabay na napatigil.

"Saw it," Bulong ni Flynn. Tumulo ang luha nito sa kanyang pisngi dahil sa ginawang paggaya. Memories started to flash back into my mind. However, somebody caught our attention.

"Trinna Taylor, bago lang kayo dito?" Tanong ng isang pamilyar na boses. What's going on? Is this really happening? Nagkatinginan kami at napako ang mga paa sa pare-parehong pwesto. "Or should I say... Kim... Presley Flynn?" My breathing hitched. Agad akong napalingon sa likod at nanlaki ang mga mata sa nakita.

My heart stopped beating. Wala akong ibang naramdaman kundi ang hangin na biglaang naging malamig para sa akin at ang pagsikip ng dibdib ko.

Iba-ibang emosyon ang naramdaman ko. Kaba, takot, saya, lungkot, gulat, sakit... Lahat na ata. Parang kanina lang nagtatanong ako kung anong mangyayari o kung mangyayari pa ba. Pero ngayon... Ito na. Nakuha ko na ang sagot.

"Unnies!" Phoebe, with her friends, came running to us. She immediately grabbed us to welcome us with a hug. Humihikbi ito samantalang ang mga mata ko ay nanatiling nakapako sa isang tao.

"They knew," Pigil-hiningang bulong ko. Tumangu-tango si Phoebe at humigit ng malalim hininga. Humiwalay ito at tinignan kami, hindi makapaniwala.

Humakbang naman palapit ang apat na lalaki. "I got angry... Dahil sa biglaan niyong pag-alis. Dahil hindi niyo sinabi ang totoo," Chris' eyes were bloodshot. Are all of these  happening? "But hindi man lang ako nagalit ng sobra... Because my feelings never changed," Sambit nito. Agad na tumakbo si Flynn sa kanya at niyakap ito ng mahigpit. They were both crying into each other's arms.

Now a man in front of me is frowning, "Aren't you going to hug me? I'm so mad!" Utas nito at ngumuso. I chuckled at unti-unting lumapit sa kanya ngunit biglaang may tumugtog na pamilyar na nota sa paligid. Alex seemed to be impatient kaya agad nitong kinain ang pagitan na'min at hinalikan ako. Nandilat ang mga mata ko ngunit hindi ako lumayo.

My heart feels alive.

"You can't just hug me," He said when our lips parted. "I missed you so much. I am mad. I am mad that I am not by your side. Na hindi kita nakikita, natutulungan, at magkasama. If missing was dreadful, I bet I died earlier." Utas niya at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

"I love you," Sambit ko. Those were the words I am confused with, before. Pero nung nagkahiwalay kaming lahat, I found out that love of a friendship was for Kent and love for eternity was for Alex.

Bumitaw ito sa pagkakayakap at pinagdikit ang mga noo na'min. I almost didn't notice the song 'The Man Who Can't Be Moved'... It was the song Trix sang before we left.

"Say it again," He begged. I smiled.

"Is this true?" Sa halip ay tanong ko. He snorted.

"I love you too," He gave another quick peck into my lips before we started swaying. "So, these are your true eyes?" Tanong niya. Tumango ako.

"I've seen it many times, and it was ethereal." Komento niya. I chuckled. I never felt this way before. "You've got me afraid," Seryosong sambit niya.

"I'm sorry," Tanging sabi ko. Ngayon ko lamang napansin ang mga tarpaulin na hawak ng mga estudyante. It was our photos being nerd and the real us.

"I thought you'll never come back," Muli niyang bulong saka sinabayan ang kanta. I don't want this to end. Being with him, in his arms, looking at his pair of orbs, makes me feel I'm at home. He's the one my heart wanted for so long.

My friends were also hugging their partners. I knew it. Kahit hindi nila sabihin.

Matapos ang kanta ay humiwalay sa'kin si Alex. I felt sad and afraid at the same time. I'm so paranoid ngunit ayoko ng malayo sa kanya muli. Lahat ng iniisip ko ay naputol nang lumuhod ito sa harapan ko, gano'n rin ang ginawa ng kanyang mga kaibigan.

Loud cheers filled my ears. Muli ring nanumbalik ang mga luha ko nang may kinuha itong maliit na kahon sa kanyang bulsa. Tinitigan niya ako diretso sa aking mga mata at saka ito binuksan. It's a ring with a small diamond in the middle. It was the prettiest I've ever seen.

"Will you marry me?" Sabay-sabay nilang tanong. Trix chuckled.

"Everything happened too fast," Komento nito at umiling. Ngunit nagkatinginan kami at sabay-sabay ring lumapit sa kanila upang ilahad ang kamay.

Umiiling-iling si Alex habang sinusuot ito sa'king ring finger. Niyakap ako nito at nagpaikot-ikot kami.

"My dream is happening," Aniya at tumawa. "I'm going crazy!" Sambit niya at binuhat ako. I just chuckled.

This is also my dream. And I've been crazy, too. But this is what love is. Hindi ko masabi kung paano nangyari, kung anong nangyari, ang alam ko lang biglaan ang lahat at mahal ko siya.

"You are my wife now," Utas niya na iki-natawa ko.

"We aren't married yet," Wika ko at tumawa muli. He just frowned.

"My wife, still." Aniya. Bumitaw kami at saka ko lamang nakita sina Kent na magkakasama. They looked happy for us. Kumaway ito sa'kin at kumaway rin ako subalit agad na hinapit ni Alex ang bewang ko.

Everyone's happy now.

My past seems surreal already. I already never felt sad to remember it. I was actually... Happy.

Ngayon ay alam ko na ang gagawin ko. I'm fully decided.