Dakota's POV.
"Hi mommy, good morning!" nagmulat ako, at isang gwapong anghel ang bumungad sakin.
"H-hey baby, why are you here?" nagtatakang tanong ko, while playing with his hair.
I sat down at ramdam na ramdam ko ang pananakit ng ulo ko.
Mabilis kong tiningnan ang buong kwarto, beige and white, malinis at organisado. My eyes landed to my smiling son.
"Why did Daddy brought you home last night? Are you guys together again? Is he not marrying Tita Lysa? You slept in the same room, are we gonna be a family again? Am I gonna have a younger sister?"
Tila nawala ang hilo ko dahil sa sunod-sunod na tanong sakin Ni Archer.
Kaya pala pamilyar, kaya pala, dahil nasa kwarto nya ako, sa bahay namin.
Ipinikit ko ang mata ko, trying to remember what happened yesterday.
"I think I've seen this film before, and I never liked the ending, I'm not your problem anymore, so who am I offending now?"
Nahinto ko ang pagkanta at mabilis na lumingon sa tabi ko.
Napakalapit naming dalawa pero parang mas malayo pa sya ngayon, seryoso itong nagmamaneho, I was staring at him for a couple of minutes na bago nya akong nagawang lingunin.
"Saan ba kita ihahatid, saan ka mag-i-stay?"
"Sa bahay ng asawa ko" diretsong sagot ko sa kanya, I am drunk and I wanna tease him.
"Kasal na kayo ni Leo?" diretso nyang tanong.
"Why so curious Mr. Montenegro?"
Hininto nya ang kotse sa tabi at tumitig sakin ng seryoso.
"You, drunk woman, call your husband and ask him to pick you up, responsibilidad ka nya-
"Why are you passing your responsibility to Leo? I am not married to him, I'm married to you"
Lumunok sya, napapikit sya at sa pagdilat nya, basang-basa ko ang sakit sa mga mata nya.
What have I done to you?
"Hiwalay na tayo Dakota, w-we just suddenly came to an end when you chose to leave me"
"I made a mistake, nagkamali ako, I just wanted to-
"Ayoko ng marinig, ayoko ng malaman"
"Why?!"
"Dahil baka mapaniwala mo na naman ako, baka umasa na naman ako, and I know what I did to you was also traumatizing, nasaktan kita, I lost you and hindi ko ini expect na patawarin mo agad ako, pero hindi ko in-expect na-" nahinto sya at nag iwas ng tingin. "I just didn't expect that you will hurt me back"
"Storm-
Huminga sya ng malalim.
"It's okay, I'm okay, ayos na ako"
"Ayos ka na? Why? Because you have Lysa? Because you are getting married again?! Damn you and your pride!" naiinis akong bumaba sa sasakyan nya. Nagsimula na akong maglakad at kahit hilong-hilo ako, pinangatawanan ko ang kaartehan ko.
"Dakota!" he called me. "Damn it!" naramdaman ko ang pagtakbo nya papalapit sakin kaya naman binilisan ko maglakad at kakamadali ay muntik na akong sumubsob pero mabilis nya akong nahatak. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"You, ikaw ang mali sakin"
"Ano?!"
"Mali ka sakin, masama ka para sakin, nakikita ko palang ang mga ginagawa mo, kapag narinig pa kitang magsalita, masisiraan na ko ng ulo" hinatak ko ang kamay ko sa kanya. "Go to your Lysa, magpakasal ka, mag anak kayo kahit bente pa, wala akong pake, get lost!" nagsimula na akong maglakad ulit pero hinatak nya ako sa braso kaya napaharap ulit ako sa kanya.
"Why are you acting this way?! Ikaw ang may gustong tumigil ako, ikaw ang may gustong maghiwalay tayo, you chose to leave and God knows how much I wanted to wait for you! Pinilit kong gawan ka ng dahilan, pinilit kong intindihin ka but I can't understand, why you chose to run away with Leo! Alam ko yung sagot noon pa, pero dinideny ko, pero ngayon, tanggap at alam ko na"
"What?"
"Na minahal mo ko, you loved me first and I was stupid enough to hurt you kaya-" he bit his lips. "Kaya, nawala yung pagmamahal na yun, kaya mas minahal mo na yung pinsan ko, you love him Dakota, you love Leo" a tear fell from his eyes pero mabilis nyang pinunasan iyon.
"Storm-
"Saan kita ihahatid? Ihahatid na kita"
"Ayokong umuwi, ayokong umuwing mag-isa, ayoko ng mag-isa" diretsong sagot ko.
Hanggang doon lang ang naaalala ko. Pinilit ko pang isipin pero hindi ko na alam, baka nakatulog na ako sa kotse.
"Why am I here?"
"Daddy brought you home, you are so wasted mom" tumawa pa ito. "I was awakened by your loud voice yesterday, ayaw mong bumitaw sa pagkakabuhat sayo ni Daddy, kaya dito ka nya pinatulog. Are you here to get daddy back?"
Lumapit ako sa kanya at marahan syang niyakap.
"Kung ganoon lang sana kadali anak, kung sa isang sorry ko lang, mawawala na lahat ng sakit at kasalanang ginawa ko, but I don't expect you to understand, baby ka pa"
"Drink your medicine mom, I'll just go downstairs" sabi nito bago ako iwanang mag-isa.
I looked around, namiss ko ang bahay na ito. Ininom ko ang gamot at nagpahinga pa ng ilang minuto, when I felt better, walang paalam akong pumasok sa walk-in closet ni Storm.
Hindi man lang talaga ako pinalitan, kung anong suot ko kagabi, yun pa rin, naka gown pa rin ako!
I used to fix all of his clothes in here, kaya laking tuwa ko ng makita ko agad ang T-shirt nya. It is a navy blue v-neck shirt, na halos hanggang tuhod ko, dahil malaki si Storm sakin, naka cycling naman ako kaya, nag decide na akong bumaba.
Pababa palang ay amoy na amoy ko na ang mga mabagong niluluto kaya naman nagmadali ako.
Pababa ako ng hagdan ng mamataan ko si Storm na busy sa kusina.
When did he learned how to cook? Mukhang totoong pinag-aralan nya iyon along with baking.
Hindi ko namalayang napahinto ako at pinapanood lamang ang likod nya.
A successful CEO, a good cook, a man who can bake, sobrang gwapo, sobrang yaman, and a genes to die for.
Yan lang naman ang pinakawalan ko.
But I didn't let him go for nothing, I needed that, I was able to find myself because of that.
Naramdaman nya marahil ang pagkakatingin ko kaya naman napalingon ito sakin at tila nataranta sya ng makita ako kaya nahawakan nya yung mainit na kawali.
"Ouch, damn!"
Mabilis naman akong bumaba at dinaluhan sya, I pulled his hands, at mabilis ko iyong tinapat sa running water. Pinatagal ko ng ilang minuto iyon before pulling it closer to my eyes para mas makita ko.
"Geez, why would you touch that?" tanong ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa daliri nya.
Hindi sya nakasagot ka agad kaya tumingala ako at kumunot ang noo ko ng makita kung saan sya nakatingin.
"You pervert!" sigaw ko. "Saan-saan nakatingin yang mata mo, itong paso mo ang intindihin mo, para hindi ka saan-saan humahawak na mainit"
"I should be careful with you too" seryoso nyang sabi, his eyes met mine. "You're hot"
"I-I'm? You! Take your eyes off of my cleavage Mr. Montenegro!"
Nagkibit balikat lang sya bago hatakin yung kamay nya sakin, tila hindi iniinda ang paso nya.
"Parang hindi ko naman nakita"
"Yung ano ha?! Yung ano?!" pulang-pula na ako.
"Grabe, ganito pala kaingay ang bahay kapag kayo ang mag-asawa" Kristine, who just came in, said that.
"Sinong mag-asawa?!" sabay pa naming sabi ni Storm.
"Ay, sabay? Nag practice? Char lang, kuya nalinis ko na yung pool area, good morning ate, ang sexy naman natin" bati sakin nito bago pumasok sa sala, kung nasaan ang mga bata.
"Leave me alone, I can handle myself" pagbaling sakin ni Storm ng maiwan kaming dalawa.
"Ako na, ako ang doktor satin, di mo kaya yan"
"Nakaya ko ngang wala ka ng isang taon, I was able to bury the wound you gave me, this means nothing"
Napahinto ako ng sumeryoso ang mukha nya.
"Storm"
"Kung ayaw mo kong pabayaan mag isa, fine, dito ka na, ako na ang aalis" sabi nito, he walked out and opened the door leading to the back kung nasaan ang pool area.
I sighed. I have to talk to him now, I have to talk to him properly, ngayong sober na ako. I needed to know what happened, I need to tell him my side too and just hope that we can both forgive one another and just start a new.
Kahit anong deny ko, alam ko sa sarili ko. I want him to be my end game. I want to just go home and rest beside him after a tiring day, I want to fight with him and yet know that I'll wake up next to him.
I followed him, naglalakad sya sa pool area, malinis na malinis ito at halatang bagong palit ang tubig.
"Storm, talk to me, kausapin mo naman ako ng maayos!"
Huminto sya at humarap sakin.
"What now Dakota, we already talked"
"I talked, pero hindi lahat iyon ang gusto kong sabihin, I never got to hear your side" huminto ako dahil naramdaman ko ang bigat sa puso ko. "H-how can you face and treat me like this? How can you be so cool about seeing me? Did you already moved on? H-how-
"Isang araw, nagising na lang ako na tanggap ko na, na hindi na masakit kapag naririnig ko ang pangalan mo, na hindi ko na kinakailangang maghintay at umasa na babalik ka pa at sasabihing ayos lang ang lahat satin"
Naramdaman ko ang pagbagsak ng luha ko.
"I don't know how much I said I miss you before, maybe a hundred, a thousand times? I was wondering before, if I say it enough will you hear it?"
Hindi ko alam, pero alam ko sa sarili kong nakabuti ang pag-alis ko, pero nakalimutan ko how much damage it will give for those people I left.
"Every night I have to ask, are we just another set of failed love story?"
Just exactly what happened to you? What have I done to you? How hurt can you be?
Storm's POV.
Sobrang saya ko habang nakatingin sa singsing na hawak ko. It is beautiful and unique, it is a huge pink diamond, with small pink diamond around it. The engagement ring I asked to be designed specifically for Dakota.
"Le diamant de cette bague est le plus rare, je suis sûr que votre future mariée sera ravie de le recevoir." the manager said smiling at me as he packs what I came here for.
Translation: The diamond in this ring is the rarest, I am sure your soon to be bride will be delighted to receive this.
"Elle est déjà ma femme mais je souhaite lui proposer correctement. Elle ne mérite que le meilleur. Je l'aime tellement."
Translation: She is already my wife but I wish to propose to her properly. She deserves nothing but the best. I just love her so much.
"Uuwi na agad tayo?! Yun lang bang singsing ni Dakota yung pinunta natin dito sa France?" Brent asked me.
"Yes" diretso kong sagot sa kanya.
"Ayoko ng mainlove, nakakatakot, kung ako yan, nagpagawa na lang ako sa Quiapo, ikaw, para sa engagement ring?! Sa Paris, France pa?!"
"My wife deserves it"
"Ako din, pagawan mo ko, tapos sabihin mo, my bestfriend deserves it, kahit gold ring lang"
"Shut up man" pangtataboy ko dito.
"Ang ganda ng singsing mo, ang tanong, tatanggapin nya ba proposal mo" sabi pa nito bago tumawa kaya naman sinamaan ko sya ng tingin.
"Sometimes I hate your jokes, you're like Tito Josh with the mouth of Tita Sanya"
"Hoy, mas maingay si mommy sakin!"
"Okay" sabi ko na lang bago naunang pumasok sa sasakyan na papuntang airport.
I wanna go home as soon as possible dahil saktong anniversary namin ni Dakota pag lapag ng eroplano ko sa pinas.
Naalala nya kaya?
Some part of me hoped that she remembers it pero may nagsasabi din saking sana nakalimutan nya para ma surprise ko sya.
Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang tanong sakin ni Brent.
What if she says NO?
Well, I will just keep pursuing her, kahit ilang beses pa akong lumuhod at mag propose sa kanya, hanggang taggapin nya.
I smiled at that thought. I am really crazy for her now. I just can't wait to be with her and fix everything. I will love her with no restrictions, I will love her with all the love I can give.
Mamahalin ko sya hanggang sa makalimutan nya kung ano man ang nararamdaman nya para sa iba, lalong lalo na sa pinsan kong si Leo.
He is still my cousin, I somehow hoped, he will respect that pero I can never blame him, he already gave me a chance, he is a nice man kaya natatakot akong baka sya ang piliin at ako ang iwanan.
I just have to be positive. I will do this right. I will ask her to marry me again.
"Anak" nilingon ko si mommy habang hawak ang glass ng wine. She is almost crying, which just added to the heaviness on my chest. "Anak, hindi na sya darating"
"Mom"
"Storm, hindi na darating si Dakota" my dad stood beside mom and said that.
Mabilis na inikot ng paningin ko ang buong venue kung nasaan, nandoon ang magulang ko, magulang nya at mga importanteng tao samin. They all looked at me with pain and pity.
I hate that. Hindi ko kailangang makita yan, ang kailangan ko, makita ko sya, ang kailangan ko, dumating sya dito ngayon.
Tinalikuran ko ang parents ko and walked closely to the edge ot this building.
We are on a roof top of one of our prestige hotel, the whole area is full of her favorite stargazer lilies. May table for two, nagluto ako ng paborito nyang carbonara and paired it with her favorite brand of white wine.
All of our parents, relatives, and friends will be hiding until she gives an answer to my proposal, so that she will be surprised.
Pero tila ako ang nasu surprise.
Kanina pa sya dapat nandito, nakailang akyat-panaob na ang hotel manager namin na sasalubong dapat sa kanya sa baba para piringan sya at ihatid rito.
Kinuha ko muli ang cellphone ko at tinawagan muli ang numero nya.
"Love, please" I was saying that na para bang maririnig nya ako.
Kahit ma late pa sya, kahit ilang oras, kahit pa mag uwian na silang lahat at ako na lang ang matira, basta magsabi syang pupunta sya, maghihintay ako.
I am praying na sana test lang ito, na para maiparamdam sakin, how she felt, na kapag naramdaman ko na, darating na sya.
Her line just kept ringing and ringing hanggang maputol ang tawag.
Huminga ako ng malalim, pero hindi ko napigilan ang luha ko ng mapatingin ako sa kahang pula na nasa kamay ko, kung nasaan ang engagement ring na dapat ibibigay ko sa kanya.
I felt my shoulder shaking because I was trying to stop myself from crying when the fireworks in the sky started booming.
She did not came that night.
She is not coming back
She left me.
I lost Dakota Montenegro that night.
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To be continued.
Aww there's more POV of him.
Are you ready?
- Noona.