This Time, Maybe: End

Nang lumabas sa may garden area si Kenneth ay nakita na niya ang anak na si Darlene.

"Saan ka ba nagpunta?" tanong ni Kenneth sa anak.

"Sa may swing po. Akala ko po kasi nandoon si Tita Sam. Si Tito Allan lang po nakita ko doon."

"Nasa room niya si Sam. Hinanap kasi kita kaya nakita ko siya."

"Pwede po ba natin siyang puntahan?"

"I don't think so," ani Kenneth. Nalungkot siya nang maalala ang nangyari kani-kanina lang. "Umuwi na tayo, Ling."

"Pero hindi ko pa po nakikita si Tita Sam."

Parang lalong dinudurog ang puso ni Kenneth dahil sa pagpipilit ng anak. Paano ba niya sasabihin dito na hindi niya kayang makita ulit si Samantha dahil parang guguho ang mudo niya?

"Si Tita Sam!"

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ng anak. Napatalikod siya, and there was Samantha. Galing ito sa may bahay at kalalabas lamang nito sa may garden.

Pumalakpak ang mga bisita pagkakita sa kanya. Hindi tuloy malaman ni Samantha kung ano ang gagawin. Nanatili itong nakatayo lamang.

Then she caught sight of Kenneth. Lalong hindi na siya nakagalaw. Nakatingin lamang siya dito hanggang sa sumuko na si Kenneth. Ito ang unang bumitaw.

Hangggang sa dumating na rin si Allan mula sa may swing. Nakita ito ni Samantha. Saglit silang nagtitigan, wari ay naghihintay kung sino ang unang kikilos. Sa huli ay si Allan na ang kumilos. Lumapit siya kay Samantha at saka hinawakan ang kamay nito.

He saw the ring on her finger. He looked at her again, seeing the teary eyes she has. Tumigas ang anyo ng mukha niya. Lalo namang napaiyak si Samantha.

Nang humarap sa mga tao ay pinagaan ni Allan ang expression ng mukha niya. Saka na ito nagsalita.

"I wanna thank everyone for coming here tonight. Thank you for being here, on this very special moment to me and Sam. Me and my family… well, we lost our parents years ago. It's just me and my sister Gail, right there."

Itinuro nito ang kapatid. Ngumiti naman ito sa mga tao.

"Our closest relatives are not here in the Tarlac, so it's just me and Gail. But you, Sam's family and friends, made us feel like we belong. So thank you so much."

He paused for a while, partly to think of the right things to say, and partly to have the courage to say them.

"I met Sam 15 years ago. I instantly fell in love the moment I saw her. Some of you might not believe in love at first sight, but that's what happened to me."

Kinilig naman ang lahat ng naroon. Kita kasi sa mukha ni Allan ang sinseridad sa mga sinasabi nito. Napapangiti pa nga siya habang inaalala ang mga nangyari sa kanila ni Samantha noon.

"I courted her, and she was not the easiest to pursue. She really gave me a hard time."

Natawa ang mga naroon.

"But whatever I did, it was all worth it. Finally, she fell in love with me. It was the happiest day of my life."

Allan looked at Samantha. There was that love and sadness on his eyes and smile as he looked at her. Hindi na napigilan pa ni Samantha ang maiyak.

Kinilig naman ang mga taong naroon. Saka nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita si Allan.

"We were so in love, and we had the best days of our lives… but, things change… and I guess it really wasn't meant to be."

Nagulat ang lahat sa sinabi ni Allan. Maging si Samantha ay napatanga sa kanya.

"A lot has happened within those six years. It wasn't a perfect relationship. There were ups and downs… and at the end of the day, marriage is about going through those challenges together and staying in love and being happy and victorious about life after."

Allan then looked at Samantha.

"Being that person who will brave those storms of life with Sam will be the greatest thing that could ever happen to me, but after all these years I realized that I could never be that man. I guess my role in her life ends tonight."

Muling tumingin si Allan sa mga tao.

"It was a decision made by the both of us. I know you are all shocked, but until the last minute, we tried. Really, we tried. But this is the best thing that we should do. So, I apologize if we weren't able to live up to your expectations. But still, thank you. I hope you have a good night. The party is still on. It's just not the engagement party that you thought it was."

Muling tinignan ni Allan ang mga tao bago ito tumalikod at pumasok sa bahay. Sinundan siya ni Samantha.

"Allan!" Hinila ni Samantha ang kamay nito para pigilan ang tuluyan nitong paglabas ng bahay nila.

Tumigil naman si Allan. Hinarap siya nito.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I cannot do it. I could not allow you to force yourself into doing something that you don't want to do. I will not be happy if you're not totally happy. And I know I could never be that guy who could make you completely happy."

Napaiyak na si Allan.

"Don't sacrifice just because of me, Sam. You don't deserve it. You've suffered for too long. Now that you had the chance, I want you to take it. Take the chance to be happy. Think of yourself for once. I know you gave me a chance before because I was always there for you. I was always beside you. But now, listen to your heart. Go for the person that you truly love."

"I'm so sorry, Allan…"

"Don't be… Don't be sorry, Sam. It was the right thing to do. It's also the fairest thing for you to do for me. Choosing me just because you should is not fair. Letting me go is the most right thing."

Hinagkan ni Allan ang noo ni Samantha.

"Don't worry. I know we'll both be happy. Anyway, somebody told me that I'm like Prince Charming so I will easily find someone who'll like me."

Bahagya silang natawa sa sinabi nito.

"Goodbye, Sam…"

Kinailangan niyang umalis na dahil kapag hindi ay baka hindi na niya makayanan pang talikuran iyon. Sinundan siya ni Gail. Pero ang hindi niya inasahan ay maging si Darlene ay sumunod sa kanya.

"Tito Allan!"

Lumuhod si Allan sa harapan ni Darlene.

"Your wish has been granted."

Niyakap ng umiiyak na si Darlene si Allan.

"Be a good daughter, ha, Darlene? Be a good daughter to your new mom."

"Opo," sagot ni Darlene sabay tango.

Allan smiled. "Bye…"

At umalis na nga sina Allan at Gail. Nilapitan naman ni Kenneth ang anak. Nang makita si Kenneth ay kaagad itong niyakap ni Darlene. Niyakap din ito ni Kenneth.

"Thank you," Kenneth whispered, not knowing if it's for Allan, or Darlene, or both.

***************************************

Ilang inuto lang mula nang mangyari ang confrontation ay umalis na ang mga bisita. Si Samantha naman ay pumunta sa may swing at doon ipinagpatuloy ang pag-iyak at pag-iisip tungkol sa mga pangyayari. Hindi na rin siya ginambala pa ng mga bisita. Maging ang pamilya niya ay iniwan na lamang siya at hinayaang mag-isa.

Sina Kenneth at Darlene na lamang ang naiwang mga bisita. Nang masigurong nahimasmasan na ng kaunti si Samantha ay saka siya pinuntahan ni Kenneth.

"May I?" tanong nito saka tinuro ang swing.

Tumango si Samantha. Kenneth moved and sat beside Samantha on the swing. Ilang minuto din silang nanahimik bago nagsalita si Kenneth.

"I'm sorry…"

"It's not your fault…"

"Sabi ni Darlene, nag-wish daw siya kay Allan. Sana daw ikaw na lang ang bago niyang mommy."

Napatingin si Samantha kay Kenneth. Tumango ang lalaki.

"Allan made her wish come true. That's why I'm apologizing."

Umiling si Samantha.

"Doon pa lang sa Subic, may something na. Walang kinalaman si Darlene doon."

"Eh ako, meron ba?"

Hindi nakasagot si Samantha.

"Siguro nga, duwag ako," ani Kenneth. "Natakot ako na ipaglaban ka kasi akala ko, hinding-hindi pwedeng maging tayo. Noon, tungkol sa antas ng buhay natin ang dahilan. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na pantay na ang estado ng buhay natin ngayon kasi, you will always be Samantha de Vera. Pero masasabi ko na mas may lakas ng loob na akong ipaglaban ka ngayon. Iyon nga lang, ayokong sumira ng isang relasyon dahil nirerespeto ko ang kung anumang meron kayo ni Allan."

Samantha smiled. "You will always be the righteous Kenneth Oliveros."

"I just imagine that happening to me. Hindi ko rin gusto ang ganoon."

Tumango si Samantha. "I understand… You know what? I actually thank God because what He gave me is someone like Allan. He knows that I don't love him enough for us to get married. And even if it was hard, he still let me go."

"Tama ka doon. And I could never be like him. I could never be that brave to do that. But I can try to be brave enough to love you, to fight for you, to be with you. I just hope it's not yet too late, Sam."

Samantha looked at him.

"I could never love Allan enough to marry him, because I already gave my heart to someone a very long time ago and until now, I wasn't able to take it back."

Parang nakahinga ng maluwag si Kenneth sa narinig. He smiled and said, "I hope you're not taking it back now because, Sam, I will not give it back that easily."

"Napaka-selfish!" biro ni Samantha.

"No, I'm not," ani Kenneth. "I won't give it back because I'm giving mine instead."

Samantha smiled. "Ganoon?"

Suddenly, Kenneth felt unsure. "Oo, if you like."

Natawa si Samantha sa reaksiyon ito.

"Bakit parang naging uncertain ka bigla? Nasaan na iyong magiging matapang ka na sinabi mo kanina?"

Parang batang nasukol sa kasalanan si Kenneth. "Eh baka kasi mag-iba pa iyong isip mo."

Umiling si Samantha. "I won't change my mind. Someone so great sacrificed just for us to happen. I won't let that go to waste."

"Make that two great people."

Naintindihan naman ni Samantha ang gustong sabihin ni Kenneth.

"Oo nga."

Kumilos si Kenneth at inakbayan si Samantha. Sumandal naman si Samantha sa dibdib nito.

"Kenneth, I don't know if I'll be a good wife like Kristine."

"You don't have to be like her. You just need to be my wife, that's all."

"I don't know if I'll be a good mother to Darlene."

"I will help you in every way I can, my love."

My love… Napapikit na lamang si Samantha pagkarinig sa sinabi ni Kenneth. Ang sarap mapakinggan na mahal ka rin ng taong mahal mo.

"I love you," she said with a smiled.

"I love you, too," Kenneth said, then kissed her on the head to seal it.