Virtue of Love in Mendiola (Manila Series #1)

Epilogue

"No, wala." I said. "I'm actually looking for Doctor Falcon."

"I heard someone mentioned my surname." someone behind me said. "What's the matter, Attorney?"

"Hey." I said then I smiled stupidly without knowing why. "Can we talk?"

"We're already talking, Attorney." he said.

"Whatever. I'm leaving." I said at akma akong maglalakad palayo nang hawakan niya ako sa palapulsuhan ko.

"Hey!" Jazen called the attention of a nurse. "If someone's looking for me, tell them I'm on a date." he said then he winked.

"Yes, doc." the nurse answered.

"Where are we going, lady?" asked Jazen.

"Sa dulo ng walang hanggan." I said. Sinama ko siya sa parking kung saan ko ipinark ang kotse ko tsaka ko siya pinasakay sa kotse ko. Nagtaka pa siya nang magdrive ako.

"So, saan nga tayo pupunta, Madam?" he asked dahil nagtataka pa rin siya.

"You said you want me to date you again." I said. "Let's date then."

Nanatili kaming tahimik hanggang sa makarating kami sa lugar kung saan ko siya gustong dalhin. Nakita ko pa ang gulat niyang reaksiyon nang makita niya kung nasaan kami.

"What are we doing here?" he asked. "Ililibing mo na ba 'ko ng buhay? Yun ba ibig sabihin ng dulo ng walang hanggan mo? Kaya tayo nandito sa sementeryo?" sunod sunod niyang tanong. I laughed.

"We're here." I said nang makapagpark na ako. "Baba na. Di kita ililibing, trust me."

"Ara.." gulat na sabi ni Jazen. "Bakit 'di mo sinabi?"

"I'm sorry. We kept it private. I told my mom to keep it private." I said.

"Alam ba 'to nila Ali?" he asked and I nodded. "How about Allen and Kio?" he asked at umiling ako.

"The truth is, we weren't able to leave the country." I said. "Kaya eto, abogado ako ngayon."

"What happened?" asked Jazen.

"Dad was sick. Hindi niya na piniling lumaban." I said. "He chose to rest."

"I'm sorry, Ara." he said. "I'm sorry I wasn't by your side during those painful days of yours."

"It's fine." sabi ko. "I chose to be alone that's why I asked Mom to keep it private."

"I'm sorry.." Jazen said.

"Don't be, Jazen." I said. "Ang mahalaga, kasama kita ngayon."

"Ara.." he called my name pero hindi ko siya nilingon dahil umupo ako sa damuhan para sindihan ang kandila ng Daddy.

"Hi, Daddy!" nakangiti kong sabi habang nilalapag ko ang dala kong bulaklak. "I know you've already met Jazen, but I want you to meet him again now pero as a doctor. Dad, this man standing next to me, this is the man I wanna marry."

"Ara.." I heard Jazen called my name again kaya tumayo na ako tsaka ko pinagpag ang tuhod ko.

"Yep, you've heard it right." I said.  "I know, I know. I should be over all these butterflies, but i'm still into you." Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko dahilan upang humarap ako sa kanya.

"If I were asked who I want to be with forever, my answer will always be you." he said and I couldn't help but to cry. "Ilang taon man ang lumipas, wala pa ring magbabago. Ikaw pa rin ang gusto ko."

"Jazen.." ang tangi kong nasabi kasabay ng pagpatak ng luha  mula sa mga mata ko.

"We can never tell where destiny will take us, but if we ended up again, being not together, the spot here in my heart will remain yours, forever." he said. I remained standing as I listened to his words. "I love you, Ara, always and forever."

"The words, Jazen, you took them away from me." I said. "There's nothing more I could say than I love you too, and I always do. I'm still that lady scorpion who shouts your name the loudest during your games. And I will always be your lady scorpion."

"Will you be mine again, Ara?" Jazen asked and that made me cry again.

"No will never be an answer, Mon Amour." I said then he hugged me.

"I would always want to spend eternity with you." ani Jazen. Muli kong naramdaman yung pakiramdam na matagal ko nang hinihintay nang maramdaman ko ang labi niya sa labi ko. This moment tastes like forever. I wouldn't trade this moment for anything.

I will never get tired of taking the path going back to this man. This story was filled with love and tears. They said that 'there's always a rainbow after the rain,' but for me, choose to love again after the pain. Chances does not exist just to be a word. Chances exist to be given even a million times. I realized that life will lead us to the right person at the wrong moment, but everything will fall in place in His time.

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The virtue of love I once found in Mendiola, now can be seen in the eyes of my king scorpion.

Always,

Atty. Arabella Courtney Gonzales & Dr. Jazen Clyde Falcon

END.