Unlabeled [Baguio Series #1]

Finale

"What do you think you deserve then?" he asked, even more frustrated as he sighed. "You want me to go lower than what I am before? Tell me, Mary. If you think that you deserve someone lower than me, then I'll willingly stoop down low just to be the one deserving for you."

"N-No..." I sobbed. "That's not what I mean."

"Then what?" he asked again. I didn't answer. "Answer me, I am going nuts now!"

Napabuntonghininga ako nang malalim bago nag-angat ng tingin. Nakita ko ang pamumula ng mga mata niya ngayon.

"Y-You're too much for me. I-I don't think I can handle you back then..." I sniffed as hot tears fell from my eyes. "I think that... that you deserved better—"

"I told you that I finally have the best, Mary! And it was you!" he shouted, making me close my eyes tightly. "Ikaw at ikaw lang ang paulit-ulit kong ginugusto noon, Mary. Ikaw lang!"

Napayuko ako, at umiyak na lang nang umiyak.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'm too...too insecure of the things that others have. I can't be someone na...b-bagay sa 'yo. There are pretty girls—"

"Just stop talking because fuck, Mary, your words are hurting me!" he sighed. "Why do you think so low of yourself when I think so highly of you? Huh? I don't understand..." he sighed.

Umiling ako at muling pinunasan ang walang tigil na pagtulo ng mga luha.

"Travis... it's okay. Just... just go back to someone y-you found while we were apart. I'm okay now," I sobbed. "I understand that you finally found someone to spend your whole life with. I understand if that wasn't me."

Hindi siya sumagot. Nanatili lang akong umiiyak sa harap niya. Ilang sandali pa ay tumingin ako sa kan'ya at nakita ko siyang nakatitig sa akin, kagat ang ilalim na labi.

"Mary," he sighed. "Saan mo naman napulot ang balitang nakahanap ako ng iba?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya at sa maikling segundo ay pakiramdam ko, tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko, at ang luha ko sa pagtulo.

"H-Huh?"

"Bakit naisip mo 'yan?"

"Uhm..." I looked away. "It's been three years... m-more than three years, actually. I... I thought that it was only...t-two years..." I looked at him and I saw him slightly smiling. "W-Why?"

He sighed as he took my hand, holding it tightly, intertwining our fingers.

"Baka kasi kulang pa ang dalawang taon sa iyo, kaya dinagdagan ko na. Kasi pinapangako ko, Mary, na kapag bumalik ako, hinding-hindi mo na ako basta mapapaalis."

Muli ay nag-init ang sulok ng mga mata ko matapos niyang sabihin iyon.

"I... I thought..." sobs went out of my mouth. "I thought it wasn't me any—"

I was cut-off from talking when he quickly leaned forward, claiming my lips, sucking it so hard like he was so hungry for it. I felt his right arm snaking my waist while I felt his left arm, leaning on the railings.

I kissed back...because I know I missed him too.

I missed everything about him. I missed his warm hand, soft lips... I missed him... everything about him.

Ilang sandali lang ay naramdaman ko ang pagbitiw ng kanang braso niya sa baywang ko, ngunit pinananatili ang labi sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang kamay niyang humawak sa akin, at kinapa ang mga daliri ko, hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang isang bagay na sumuot sa isang daliri ko.

Napalayo ako sa kan'ya at napatingin doon. Tumingin ako sa kan'ya at nakita kong nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin, nakahawak na ngayon sa dalawang baywang ko.