(a/n) Hi! This will be the last chapter for Casper's POV (you know who is the next's POV) Thank you so much! Sana katulad ni Casper mahanap niyo ang taong magpapangiti sa inyo... ng tunay. Next will be King's POV. Let's hear on next update King's whereabouts.
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Chapter 30
Forgive but do not forget—one of the things I learned in this life. Surely there are a lot of things and moments that made us in pain. There are some people who hurt you in the past that until now you still have grudge on that person. Learn to forgive but do not forget. Learn to forgive and accept this pain. Someday, this pain will be your stepping stone to become better and stronger.
One more thing is I forgive because I know my heart will be at peace. After all, I realized that I deserved peace... we all deserve peace. I am not a prisoner of the past anymore.
With each day that is passing by, I learned to be a positive person. Being positive person doesn't only mean you always wear smile and taking things lightly. Positivity is about being strong and being aware to your emotional and mental state. After all, what matters the most is our mental and emotional state and we need to take care of these.
Lastly, I learned to let go. Not all people are capable in staying in our lives. Sometimes those persons who we value the most are the ones who will leave you behind without even explaining why. You have left with no choice, you just have to accept and let them go because it's their choice to leave. Parting ways is part of life. I lose some, and I gain some, after I gained some, I again lose some. What's the point of having relationship if in the end they just leave?—I learned from them. It gives me comfort knowing that there are still some who wants to stay in my life—and I guess, I am contented for that.
With all the heartaches, pains, tears, and breakdowns I learned to be strong and positive, now, I am not that easily to be faltered again. I also learned to value people in my life especially those I love the most. I learned to value relationship...
"Hey, lunch is ready," someone whispered on my ear and then I suddenly felt hug behind me.
I saw him smirked so I rolled my eyes. Kanina, nag-usap na ang pamilya namin para sa... kasal. Sinabi na namin agad-agad dahil si King ay hindi na makapaghintay pa. Pumunta sila ng pamilya niya rito sa bago naming bahay para mamanhikan.
"What are you thinking?" tanong niya dahil kanina pa ako tahimik. Sa totoo lang nawawalan na rin ako ng sasabihin at gusto na lang na namnamin ang bawat sayang nararamdaman ko. Noon takot na takot ako maging sobrang masaya dahil feeling ko pagkatapos nito sobra-sobrang sakit ang naghihintay sa akin pero ngayon, kahit papaano nagkaroon ako ng kasiguraduhan na magiging ayos ang lahat dahil nandito siya... Salamat, King.
"Wala naman." ngumuso ako at nakatingin lang sa mga bundok na nakikita ko sa malayo mula rito sa likod ng aming bahay.
"Ano?" he probed.
"Wala nga!" natatawa kong sabi.
"Kanina ka pa tahimik eh, simula no'ng mag-usap ang pamilya natin," aniya.
"Oh ngayon?" binalingan ko siya na natatawa. Mukha siyang naiirita at... natatakot. Huh? Bakit naman siya matatakot?
"Nagbago na ba isipan mo?" tanong niya.
"Huh?" I chuckled.
"Ayaw mo na ba akong pakasalan?" tanong niya. Nakakunot ang noo niya at halatang kinabahan. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at tinawanan na lang siya sa naisip niya. Ano? Seryoso ka ba diyan, King?
"Ano bang sinasabi mo?" hinarap ko siya pero hindi pa rin mawala sa labi ko ang ngisi. "Of course, I want to marry you and I am looking forward for that day. Kung p'wede nga lang pabilisin ang araw eh."
"I want a grand wedding," he said.
"It doesn't matter to me. I am marrying the man of my life. I couldn't ask for more," banat ko... pero seryoso ako. Hindi na ako naghahangad ng magarbong kasal, pero kung gusto niya, ayos lang sa akin. Ang pinakamahalaga sa akin papakasalan ko ang taong mahal ko.
My face heated because of what I said and of my thoughts. Since when did I become corny huh? Nahahawaan na ata ni King sa kakornihan niya!
His lips pursed like he is controlling his self not to smile.
"You know these past years, King became more matured for me," her Mom commented.
"Ma, what do you mean?" King frowned. Ngumuso ako at pinipigilan ang ngiti.
"What I mean is he became more mature when it comes to some things like in handling our business and now he has his own business. Mahirap magpatakbo ng dalawang business kahit na sabihin nating in-line naman sila," sabi ni Tita.
"I'm relieved also that he is becoming serious in his life," she added.
"Seryoso naman na ako dati pa, Ma," natatawang sabi ni King. Tumawa rin ang Daddy niya at saka si Mama. Mama seems comfortable with King's parents. I am happy for that.
"No. You're the playful type of guy, I know that." Magsasalita pa sana si King pero inunahan siya ng Mommy niya.
"You always take things lightly. Parang lahat sa iyo biro lang."
"That's his personality," his Dad commented as well.
"Yeah. Akala ko nga hindi na ito magseseryoso sa buhay eh. Nagulat na lang ako isang araw kinakausap niya kami ng Daddy niya at gusto niya raw na magpatayo ng sarili niyang business at gusto niya rin na magpatayo ng mas malalaking gusali. I thought at first that he doesn't want to handle our business anymore but then he talked to us and that's the time I realized that he just wanted to prove something, and so we just let him do whatever he wants."
I looked at King and he is just silent. He is looking at his plate. I held his hand and I caught his attention. I smiled to him.
"But look at him now. Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang but you know, balae, I am proud of my son King. Well, I am always proud of my two sons," she said.
Mas humigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay niya. See? I told you, King. Kita mo hindi lang ako ang proud sa iyo.
"You raised them so well," Mama commented.
"Thank you, and you too, look at Casper as well. I am thankful for her because of her King changed..." she said. That... uhh... I think King is still the same. Iyong pangarap at gusto niyang marating at mangyari sa buhay niya nakamit niya iyon dahil sa sarili niyang sikap.
"King became more determined in life. Parang ibang King ang nakita ko, kakaibang King at sobrang saya ko makita ang anak ko na determinado siya sa buhay. Sobrang saya. Alam ko at alam ni King na si Casper ang isa sa mga nagtulak sa kanya para makamit kung ano man ang meron siya ngayon. "
"Saan tayo pupunta?" kaninang pagkatapos naming kumain inaya niya akong lumabas sa bahay. Akala ko magpapalamig lang ulit kami sa likod ng bahay pero dinala niya ako sa sasakyan niya at may pupuntahan daw kami.
"Basta makikita mo." sumulyap siya sa akin saka ngumisi. Kumunot ang noo ko, ang dami talagang alam ni King. Umiling na lang ako saka itinuon ang tingin sa daliri kung nasaan ang singsing. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti habang pinagmamasdan ito.
A sudden thought came to my mind.
"On my wedding day, should I invite them?" I am pertaining to Papa and his family. He looked at me with wide eyes.
"He's my father... so... you know." I shrugged.
"Gusto mo ba?" he gently asked. Unti-unti akong tumango at itinuon ang tingin sa labas. After all, he's still my father so... why not, right? Iyon ay kung okay lang sa kanya at... uhh... sa pamilya niya, lalo na kay Celine. Pero tingin ko hindi ayos. Kung hindi ayos, okay lang sa akin. Hindi naman ako naghahangad na pumunta siya.
"I'll talk to him," he said. My eyes widened while looking at him.
"For you," he added.
Lumawak ang ngisi ko at saka tumango.
"Thank you, babe!"
Tuimigil kami sa isang bakanteng lote malapit lang sa village namin. I looked around and saw not so many houses. It's a secluded subdivision. Tumingin ako kay King na pinapanood ako sa mga galaw ko. Kumunot ako saka ngumiti.
"Nasaan tayo?" tanong ko.
Lumapit siya sa akin saka ako niyakap sa likod. Nakaharap na kami ngayon sa malawak na bakanteng lote.
"This place is where we will build our own home," he whispered.
My lips parted so I covered it using my palm. Hindi ko makapaniwalang binalingan si King.
"I bought this place years ago after we broke up." I saw pain in his eyes. "I was too broken but I have always faith on you... and on us... so I said to myself that all I need is to wait for you to be okay and while waiting, I am already planning for our future. Iniisip ko kasi na kapag dumating ang araw na magbabalikan na tayo naka-plano na ang lahat, na ayos na ang lahat. Kaya eto... bumili na ako ng lupa para sa atin... para sa bubuuin nating pamilya. Wala pang bahay kasi gusto ko kasama ka sa magde-desisyon nito. Gusto ko tayong dalawa ang magde-desinyo sa ating magiging bahay."
"K-king..." my voice cracked because of too much emotion. Hindi ako makapagsalita at hinayaan ang luhang lumandas sa pisngi ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nagpa-plano na siya para sa amin. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng mga ginagawa niya para sa akin.
"Sigurado na ako sa iyo. Siguradong-sigurado."
"When you smiled at me I know you are the one. When you smiled at me, that's the time I told to myself that I am so sure with you. Hearing you laugh is like a heaven for me. Seeing you smile was like an achievement for me. To be with you right now and for the rest of my life is a dream come true."
Tears kept falling from my eyes. What did I do to have a man like him? I always pray to God to give me a person that will always understands me and will always be here with me. Seeing King right now, and realising all the things he did for me, I will always be thankful to God. King is my greatest blessing. God gave King to me because He knew that King will help me to grow.
King always reminding me that failure isn't the end of me. King always reminding me that let's take things lightly, but that doesn't mean that we take it for granted. It's just means that I shouldn't put too much pressure on myself. I should not get too hard on myself. After all, there's still tomorrow to forward to. Now, I am looking forward to my future with him.
With all the prayers I prayed for, King is my answered prayer. I will forever be grateful to God with this beautiful blessing.
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Happy Holidays!