42

Kumalabog ang puso ko ng mabilis sa loob ng aking ribcage. Pinisil ko ang sariling palad kung panaginip lang ba ito. Hindi ko alam kung ang mga bagay na ito ay totoo. Itong liblib na kagubatan ay kung saan dinala ako ni John noong ilang taon na ang lumipas. Parang hindi na iyon mukhang gubat, mukha na iyong harden na may mga disenyo.

We're surrounded by a lot of trees with warm white LED Christmas lights in its twigs and branches to make the leaves more aesthetical with lights. There's a table in the center of boulevard.

Tumingin ako kay John na may malalaking mata. "Is.. is this.."

"Yes." He answered me instantly without finishing my question but I know he knew what it is.

"Why are you doing this?" Biglang tanong ko.

He held my eyes. He just stared at it and I can see the longing in his eyes. I averted my gaze but he just put his hand on my cheek to make me look at him again.

"I just want you to know where you really belong to."

"What?" I didn't get what je was trying to say. What does he mean by that?

"This is the place where you helped me how to help myself. I was glad because I had finally overcome my fear and my trauma—my depression. You made me believe that time that I was the only one who can only help myself from my depression. Yes, this is the place where my mom and dad murdered but I had buried that memories in my mind and that was because of you, you were the only one, Emy. I thought of you as someone special to me. And this place.. where you and I kissed. This place is mine, it belongs to me so probably, you belong to me." He pulled me closer to him. Idinikit nya ang noo nya sa noo ko at bumulong, "you're mine."

"J-john..." Wala akong masabi. Umiwas nalang ako ng tingin ngunit hinabol iyon ng mga mata ni John.

"Don't you dare avoid me, baby. I want your respond." Biglang naging matigas ang tono ng kan'yang boses.

"Wala naman akong g-ginawa." Yumuko ako.

"Anong wala?"

"I mean, nakaraan na iyon. Kalimutan mo na iyon. Tinulungan lang kita noon dahil gusto kong maayos ka kasi naramdaman ko noong may tinatago kang hindi namin alam at alam ko noong ayaw mong ipaalam sa iba." Paliwanag ko.

"Emy, hindi ko makakalimutan ang ginawa mo noon. I always be thankful for being there for me. Lahat ng mga ginawa mo, your movements are still right here in my mind. Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga ngiti mo ng dahil sa 'kin. Mas lalo akong nahuhulog noon kahit hindi mo alam."