HAPPINESS

Mino's P.O.V

"The wrong one will find you in peace and leave you in pieces, but the right one will find you in pieces and lead you to peace," I remembered reading that quote somewhere.

My heart used to be inside of a raging storm yet she promised me rainbows. I saw sunlight on her smiles after the days of heavy rain.

And if it is not considered as love, I don't know what it is.

This humble heart of mine throb ever so wildly as I touch her skin and even claim her lips. I have fallen in love before but no one has ever made me feel this way.

"Mino?"

"Hmm?" I hummed gently as I let my finger travelled through her soft hair. She is lying on my lap as we both used the purple vast fabric for our little picnic.

I just can't help but feel the ecstasy and serenity as I let myself treasure her even more. Oh God! I am just so lucky.

I saw her smile while looking at me as she playfully bit her lower lip as if she is about to say something silly.

"Kung may isang prutas na ihahambing mo ako, ano 'yon?" mahinhin niyang tanong na parang hindi siya ang masungit at mataray na prinsesa na madalas kong kabangayan noon.

"You reminded me of mortal women, they tend to ask something as bizarre like that," I said as I can't help but chuckle. Ganito ba talaga ang mga babae? Bigla-bigla na lamang nagtatanong ng mga kakaibang bagay.

"What do you mean?" agad niyang tanong habang muli na naman tumataas ang kaniyang kilay.

"Certain questions like; Kung naging uod ba ako mamahalin mo pa din ako? Kung naging bulutong ba ako liligawan mo pa din ako? Kund mukha ba akong talampakan, hahalikan mo pa din ako," mabilis kung sagot habang hindi ko maiwasan na muling mapatitig sa kaniya na ngayon ay nakakunot na ang noo.

"Like seriously?" hindi niya makapaniwalang saad sabay umalis siya sa pagkakahiga sa akin at mabilis na umupo sa harapan ko.

"Yes, but I do understand that actually, women has insecurities, minsan talaga napagdududahan nila ang pag-ibig ng isang lalaki kaya naman minsan nagtatanong sila ng mga weird scenarios para masukat kung mamahalin pa din sila despite all odds," I stated.

"What about me? Kung magiging tigyawat ba ako, mamahalin mo pa din ako?" she asked innocently habang tila nagniningning ang kaniyang mga mata.

"Titirisin kita!"

"MINO!" agad niya akong sininghalan at marahas na hinampas sa balikat tsaka siya humalukipkip na parang nagtatampong bata.

"Oh baket? Titirisin kita with love," pabiro kong saad ngunit mas lalo lamang niya akong sinungitan.

"Kapag naging ibon ka Mino, titiradurin kita sa mata!" galit niyang saad sa akin ngunit hindi ko mapigilan na matawa dahil sa kaniyang pahayag.

"Kapag tinirador mo ako sa mata Vreihya, I will not be able to see your jaw dropping beauty again," I stated sincerely at agad kong nakita ang pamumula ng kaniyang pisngi.

"Sabagay, if I were to become a nasty pimple, I will be the most gorgeous pimple ever kaya maswerte ka kapag nagkaroon ka ng tigyawat na kasing ganda ko," she said proudly sabay namewang.

"Kahit naman maging utot ka Vreihya, ikaw pa din ang pinakamaganda," I remarked weirdly and she looked at me na hindi ko mawari kung kinikilig, matatawa o mandidiri.

Akma pa sana siyang magsasalita ngunit mabilis ko siyang ninakawan ng mabilis na halik na agad niyang kinabigla. Mabilis niyang sinapo ang kaniyang labi na para bang iyon ang unang beses niya na mahalikan.

"I remembered when we had our first kiss Vreihya, back when we were still nine," I started as I stare at her ever so alluring eyes. "Natakot man ako nang husto at pagkatapos noon ay na-coma ako nang matagal ngunit ang unang pumasok sa isip ko nang magising ako ay ang lasa ng Lychee."

Agad na nangunot ang kaniyang noo na tanda na hindi niya naiintindihan ang gusto kong puntuhin. Mabilis akong ngumiti habang ramdam ko na gusto pa niyang makinig.

"It has a sweet and aromatic taste, it taste like a grape with a hint of rose with tart and tropical flavor, and I always crave for that ever since I tasted your lips."

I saw how her lips parted as she listens to what I am talking about. "And every time I got the chance of claiming your lips again, I realize that the sweetness of that pair of lips has no exact fruit to be compared with," I started then I got closer to her and trail my thumb on her lower lip.

"And this, will be the sweetest fruit that I have ever so lucky enough to have the chance to taste."

"Smooth talker!" agad niyang saad sabay pinanlakihan ako ng mata na tila ba isang pambobola lamang ang sinabi ko sa kaniya.

"Hey! I poured my heart with those statements tapos hindi ka lang maniniwala?" agad kong pagtatampo sa kaniya ngunit binelatan niya lamang ako. Silly! Haha!

Akma ko na sana siyang hahalikan na muli ngunit agad niyang kinuha ang gitara na nasa likuran niya. Bahagya itong nakasandal sa basket na naglalaman ng pagkain na kanina pa namin pinagsasaluhan.

Agad niyang hinawakan ang gitara at ipinuwesto na para bang alam niya itong tugtugin. She placed her finger on the multiple strings forming a C chord.

I can tell na hindi pa siya masyadong sanay dahil hindi ganoon kakomportable ang pagkakahawak niya sa gitara but I don't want to ruin her moment.

She begun to strum and her fingers formed G, Am, C, G chords and I saw how she looked at me uncomfortably na para bang nag-aalangan siya kung tama ba ang kaniyang ginagawa but I can't help but to smile sweetly when I recognize the tone.

She strum the intro once again nang mabagal ko siyang tinanguhan bilang tanda na tama ang ginagawa niya. She became more confident as to why she held the guitar more comfortable this time.

She gently close her eyes and feel the music that the guitar is making with her every strum.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

And at that moment, I realized something, ang dami ko pa palang hindi alam patungkol sa knaiya. I didn't know na marunong siya gumamit ng gitara at maging ang tunog ng kaniyang tinig kapag umaawit.

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?

I can't help but to feel goosebumps and look at the way how she peacefully sing and strum the guitar na tila ba dinadama niya nang husto ang kaniyang inaawit. Hindi ko maiwasan na makaramdam ng kakaiba habang naririnig ko ang kaniyang malumanay na tinig.

Oh God! She's amazing!

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Moira Dela Torre! Yes exactly! Her voice is like Moira's but Vreihya has a much more softer vocal na para bang hindi siya makabasag pinggan. Bahagya siyang napakunot noo nang may namali siyang strum. Nag-aalangan siyang tumingin sa akin na para bang nasira niya ang kanta ngunit sinalubong ko siya ng ngiti.

"You're doing just great," I whispered at her and a smile crept on her lips and she continued to smile.

Take my hand

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

I saw how her hand trembled na tila ba may bumabagabag sa kaniya na kung ano, maging ang kaniyang ekspresyon ay nawalan ng kapayapaan habang dinadama niya ang pagkanta.

And with that, I opened my mouth and sing with her.

Take my hand

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you

For I can't help falling in love with you

Mabilis niyang sinalubong ang aking mga mata nang sabay naming tapusin ang awitin. I just felt that this song became extra special for me kahit na hindi ko naman ito pinagtutuunan ng pansin noon.

It's too cheesy for my preference but with her, nothing is cringe-worthy. She just make things spectacular on her own way.

I just hope that just like our voice, we are perfectly match too.

"What's bothering you?" nag-aalala kong tanong nang marahan niyang alisin ang gitara upang bigyan ako ng espasyo upang lumapit sa kaniya. I can feel that something is wrong, something is bothering her.

"Mi-Mino we need to go back," agad niyang saad at mabilis akong napaiwas ng tingin. Masama ba na maging makasarili ako at piliin na manatili na lang sa lugar na ito kahit panaginip lamang ang lahat?

Simula pa lamang nang maangkin ko siya nang lubusan ay buo na ang desisyon ko na ayaw ko ng tapusin kung ano man ang namamagitan sa amin sa panaginip na ito.

"Bakit gugustuhin pa nating bumalik sa katotohanan Vreihya? We're here already, dito kita malayang nahahahawakan at nakakapiling, dito walang gulo at panganib," mabilis kong pagtutol sa sinasabi niya ngunit agad akong nakaramdam ng kirot nang marahas siyang umiling.

No baby! I can't go back there! Hindi ko kayang bumalik kung saan walang kasiguraduhan kung naroroon siya, kung makakasama ko siya. I just want us to be here!

"We can't stay here forever Mino, kahit kailan ay hindi tayo makakatakas sa katotohanan. What about my world, my kingdom, my family and even Kypper?" agad niyang saad sa akin pabalik habang marahan niyang inilapat ang kaniyang palad sa aking pisngi.

"You can't blame me to be this selfish Vreihya."

"We have a reality to face Mino, staying in this dream will endanger both of us," she replied ngunit tila gusto ko na lamang maging bingi nang tuluyan.

"So what? As long as we're happy and together wala na akong pakialam sa ibang bagay Vreihya. Dito lamang ako nagkaroon ng kapanatagan na wala akong iniisip na problemang dapat harapin kapag bumalik ako sa mundong iyon. Dito kita malayang nakakasama na walang nagsasabi sa akin ng kung ano-ano."

"I am just a consciousness Mino, I don't even have a real body here. Akala ko ba gusto mong protektahan ang mga taong mahahalaga sa akin Mino. What about Kypper? You knew very well na tayong dalawa na lamang ang mayroon siya," she said as her eyes begun to dwell tears.

Bahagya akong lumayo sa kaniya dahil tila hindi kami magkakasundo.

"You made me sound so heartless about them Vreihya, gusto ko lamang sumaya na kasama ka."

"But this happiness is stolen Mino, this happiness is just for the both of us and it is far away from reality."

"So what? Kung sa panaginip na ito kasama kita at dito tayo masaya!" agad kong sagot sa kaniya habang pinipilit ko na hindi ko siya masigawan nang husto.

"But I will never be happy, hindi ako magiging lubusang masaya kung sa likod ng lahat ng ito ay ang katotohanan na nasa panganib ang mga mahal ko sa buhay. I am still in danger Mino remember? Silvia has my body, the other kingdom is plotting their evil schemes, Kypper-"

"Please stop!" mabilis akong marahas na napatayo mula sa aking kinauupuan habang tuluyan nang nagbatis ang kaniyang mga mata.

No! No! I can't give up this dream! Masama ba kung piliin ko na lamang na manatili kaysa harapin ang gulo ng totoong mga mundo namin. I also have issues with my parents at wala akong maisip na ibang bagay kundi ang takbuhan ang mga iyon.

I want my peace! I want my serenity right here when I can be with her.

"The bitter reality will catch up on to you kahit na tumakas ka!" makahulugan niyang saad habang pinipilit ko na hindi salubungin ang mga lumuluha niyang mga mata.

Kanina lamang ay masaya pa kaming dalawa, kanina lamang ay halos walang mapaglagyan ang tuwang nararamdaman ko but it was all gone in a snap.

"Vreihya I am-"

Hindi ko na nagawa pang tapusin ang aking sasabihin at marahas ko siyang tinalikuran.

Forgive me Vreihya, kahit ngayon lang, gusto ko munang sumaya.

I don't want to go back on that chaotic world where I need to risk and thrive just to be with you. I am here already with you at wala na akong nais na mabago pa.