The Beginning

"Huy, love! Ano, iniwanan mo na ko rito. What a great boyfriend, huh?" I hissed in annoyance.

Ikaw ba naman magkaroon ng boyfriend na bigla ka nalang iiwan habang naglalakad eh, sinong 'di maiinis? Ano, nakalimutang may jowa siyang kasama? Unbelievable.

"I was just teasing you, love." He giggled. "Tara nga," He acknowledged, grabbing my hand and interlaced it together. "Liit mo kasi love, eh. I thought you're still at the cottage, naiwan," He snapped and giggled a bit while swinging our intertwined hands.

"Okay? Humanap ka ng bagong jowa, ha?" I unclasped my hand from him and started to walk as fast as I can.

Naramdaman kong hinabol niya ako, kaya binagalan ko ang lakad ko. kawawa naman, eh, baka sabihin ayaw ko na sa kaniya. Kailangan ko lang naman magpa-bebe minsan, at baka sabihan akong padalos-dalos. Mahirap na. Dalagang pilipina kaya 'to, dzuh?

Nahagip niya ang kamay ko at nagmadali siyang pumunta sa harap ko para maharangan ang daan ko.

He laughed. "Love naman, ayaw mo no'n? Kaya ka nga nagkasya sa puso ko eh. Your size fits PERFECTLY inside my heart." He said, emphasizing the word 'perfectly', then he placed his hand above his chest, pointing his heart.

Ano 'to? Nasabihan ng pandak sa nakakakilig na paraan?

"Ayos ka rin mambola, love, eh no?" I shake my head while laughing.

Natawa nalang rin ako sa sugary words neto minsan, eh. May halong pangungutya.

"Come here." He then claimed my hand, gently pulling me towards him, making me cornered inside his warmest hugs.

Niyakap ko naman siya pabalik and God knows kung gaano ako kakilig ngayon. Nakakita ka na ng namumulang patatas? Ako 'yon.

Sabay naming inalis ang yakap namin sa isa't-isa at in-enjoy ang view ng resort na pinuntahan namin. It was called, Paradise Island.

Habang naglalakad kami sa tabing dagat, inilibot ko ang tingin ko sa palibot ng beach. Isang malaking island. May malalakaran ka na hile-hilerang pine trees sa gilid ng daan. Napapalibutan rin ng LED lights 'yung mga puno. Para tuloy Christmas Season parin dito kahit February palang. Oh baka naman nakalimutan lang nilang tanggalin last 2 months? Err, nevermind.

Anyways, balik sa island. Sa pagitan ng mga puno, may wooden benches and guess what? May LED lights rin dito. Sa likuran naman ng hilerang pine trees ay ang mataas na barrier, at sa tuktok no'n ay ang iba't ibang klase ng kubo. Wouldn't be called as Paradise Island for nothing, huh? Napaka aesthetically-pleasing ba naman ng lugar na'to.

Love rented the white house cottage para daw mas maenjoy namin ang stay sa island and to have our bonding time with privacy. Kapag kasi inupahan mo 'yung mga kubo, kitang kita 'yung mga nasa loob. Paano nalang kapag kailangan nang magbihis, diba? But then, it's up to what they can afford naman.

"Love, look at the horizon." Itinuro niya ang dulo ng dagat, which is the moon's reflection over the blue sea.

"Grabe love, ang ganda naman dito," I stated.

Para tuloy kaming nasa loob ng fairytale land. Dumagdag pa 'yung kumikislap na bitwin sa langit. You can even describe the whole island as perfection dahil sa astronomical bodies. Tamang tama para sa'min ni love dahil mahilig kami sa astronomy. Minsan pa nga ay nagpunta lamang kami sa Siargao para mag star gazing.

"You liked it here, love?" He then asked whilst he guided our way towards the wooden benches to sit.

"Of course, love. Thank you for bringing me here," I said, staring straight at him.

He then gave me a warm smile that can even melt the glaciers of Antarctica. Biro lang. Pero, why not?

"No problem. Ang lakas mo kaya sakin," He replied. "Alam mo namang sinulat ko lahat ng gusto at ayaw mo, eh."

"Ay wow, ano 'yon, love? Journal?"

"Nah, all of those were written here—" He pointed his temples. "—And here." He grabbed my hand and placed on top of his right chest.

Now I can feel his heartbeat, and I can say that they were beating loud, like drumming. I can almost hear them.

I pouted.

"T-that's so sweet of you, love." I stuttered because of total exhilaration.

Kinikilig ako, but I don't want to show him that much. I don't want him to take advantage of all my fondness in him, that's why.

"Please stay with me as always, Aria," He stated.

He then pulled me gently towards him, and put his hand across my shoulders. Sumandal naman ako sa kaniya. 

I can feel sincerity with all his acts. We've been together for 2 years, pero ilag parin ako sa pagpapakita ng sobra-sobrang emosyon pagdating sa kaniya.

Natatakot akong maiwan...

Seeing others being dump already made me feel anxious and wants to stay away from whom I love. Kaya as much as possible, ayaw kong ipakita. But then, nawawala lahat ng mga doubts ko kapag nagpapakita na siya ng sweetness. In short, marupok.

"I will, love. We'll stay together as long as we can. Mahal kita, sobra. Alam mo 'yan," I said.

"Mahal na mahal rin kita, Aria. I really do," He replied.

He arched a bit and gave me a dab of kiss on my forehead. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya at pinikit ang mga mata ko. A tear from my right eye then slipped.

The moment I opened my eyes, I woke up and screamed in pain.