#EOTHHoldMyHand
Chapter Writer: @cie_writes
Editor: @riyanejoy
Proofreader: @reallymargarett101
Sorry for the grammatical errors and misspelled words. Thank you, enjoy reading!
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REGINE.
I set aside my thoughts of what Lea and I talked about. I am not just sure if it's a good move. Is it right to keep my mouth shut and did not even defended myself and what Ariel and I have as of now, over Lea? Usually, we really argue about certain things, hindi ko rin alam kung anong meron sa mga sinabi niya at natahimik ako. Baka kasi tama nga siya. Baka nga pagkatapos ng masasayang araw na ito, maiiwan lang din rito at pagsisisihan ko lahat ng naging desisyon at mga nagawa ko kasama si Ariel. Hindi ko na rin talaga alam.
Basta ang pinanghahawakan ko sa mga oras na ito, we still have it. The love we had before. The fire that we once started na hanggang ngayon pala ay hindi pa rin namamatay at lalo pang nag-aalab. Sinful may it sounded, but this is what makes me happy, this is what makes us fufill the gap we longed for atleast some time.
Lea's words were always like an alarm clock to me, an eye opener, snapping through my senses and making me realize things that I knew I'd keep for myself. Pilit lang ata akong nagbubulag-bulagan sa mga bagay-bagay na kahit nakikinita ko na ang kahihinatnan, ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin na kahit sa huli, alam kong may masasaktan.
A selfish, self-centered, wasted woman I am.
"May problema ba?" a familiar manly voice spoke. I looked around and as I was expecting, it was him shrugging with his both hands on his pockets. "I saw you and Lea kanina. Is there any problem?"
"Uhm... w-wala, may sinabi lang siya." then I smiled. He smiled back at me so I guess, he's convinced with what I answered.
"Let's go? They're waiting for us." he smilingly uttered and paved his hand, signaling me to accept it. Malugod ko naman itong tinanggap at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay, as tight as I could.
Since Aga's already here, pinili nina Lea at Pops na humiwalay sa amin ng sasakyan. Nagbilin lang si Matteo ng magiging itinerary namin para sa araw na ito bago namin lisaning lahat ang hotel.
I sat on Ariel's passenger seat, alangan naman kasing pumwesto pa ako sa likod, dadala-dalawa na nga lang kami sa sasakyan. It'll be totally an odd-awkward moment.
He started the engine smoothly and drove away. Silence was bracing the both of us, ni walang gustong umimik. But not until he held my hand and clasped it with his. He even left small kisses on top of it. Goodness, how I missed him doing this to me.
"I love you." he muttered and again, planted a soft smooch on my hand. Agad akong napalingon sa kanya na puno ng kilig at pagtataka. I know he really loves me, at alam ko ring may nasasaktan sa mga ginagawa naming ito.
"How about Gelli? Paano mo sa--" I wasn't able to finish what I was about to say when he cut me off.
"I said I love you." he looked deeply to both my eyes. He caught my them, amused, fighting with his gazes. Really.
"I-i love you... too." were the only words I answered. He smiled and kissed me on the forehead, still holding my hand tightly, na para bang ayaw na niya itong bitawan.
Ibinaba ko ang salamin ng bintana kung saan ako nakaupo, kasabay nito ang malakas na pag-ihip ng malamig na hangin. Hinayaan ko na lamang na tangayin nito ang nakalugay kong buhok.
I closed my eyes and felt the breeze na sumasalubong sa akin. Ipinatong ko ang braso ko sa pinto ng sasakyan, ang ulo ko naman sa taas nito. Hindi rin ganoon kabilis ang takbo ng sasakyan kaya't hindi nakakahilong tingnan bawat kalsada at tanawing nadadaanan namin.
The moment was so perfect.
Nararamdaman kong unti-unting bumabagal ang paandar ng kotse at katiting na hangin na lang ang sumasalubong sa mukha ko, hanggang sa tuluyan na nga itong huminto. Agad akong lumingon sa direksyon niya, and surprisingly, he's looking at me and wearing his happiest smile. Para na ngang mapupunit ang bibig nito sa sobrang laki ng kanyang ngiti.
"W-what? I mean, why did we stopped?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya. "Naubusan ka ba ng gas?" I curiously added. He subtly laughed and caressed my face after.
"No, my love. I just... can't help myself and keep my focus on the road, nandito ka kasi eh." he answered. What does he mean?
"Y-you want me to go down? Ayaw mo ba kong kasama?" inosente kong tanong sa kanya. Lea may be right at this moment. Bakit kasi hindi ako nakinig sa kanya.
"No. Hindi. Ang ibig kong sabihin, hindi ako makapagmaneho dahil gusto lang kitang titigan sa buong biyahe."
I felt the blood running fast to my cheeks. I'm blushing real hard, ramdam na ramdam ko. Kasabay noon ang parang mga kiti-kiti sa likot nitong kung ano sa tiyan ko. I can't remember when was the last time I felt this way.
"You're cute. Don't hide the kilig na. Baka sumabog ka sa sobrang pula." he teased. I face palmed and hide my laughters and the pinch--no, erase that, a full blast of kilig. Bumalik sya sa pagpapaikot ng manibela ng sasakyan.
Sa gitna ng lahat ng nararamdaman ko ngayon, pilit ko mang iwasan pero sumasagi pa rin sa isip ko na sa bawat kilig, bawat tawa, bawat tinginan naming dalawa, meron kaming mga taong nasasaktan. Hindi man nila nakikita, pero binabagabag ako ng konsensya ko.
Inalis ko ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak ko sa kamay nya at bakas sa kanya ang pagtataka kung bakit ko ginawa iyon. I pinned a thin smile when he confusingly glanced at me. Ngunit sa huli, ipinagpatuloy na lamang nya ang pagmamaneho at itinuon ang atensyon sa daan.
Napuno ng katahimikan ang buong biyahe. Awkwardness embraced us both and none of us had that courage to speak up. Para ba kaming mga pipe na nagpapakiramdaman na lang kung sino ang unang magsasalita. Nagkailangan kaming pareho dahil sa ginawa ko.
A loud phone tone rang and I assume it's mine. Agad ko itong sinagot nang hindi na naman tinitingnan kung sino ang tumatawag.
"Hello?" panimula ko.
"Looks like you're really enjoying your stay there in Subic. In fact you haven't reported any emails to us yet." I looked at the caller id and I was right. It was Cacai.
"K-kaks, just give me my remaining spare time here. Let me savor this trip. I'll send you an email later. Alam ko naman yung dues ko Cai, don't have to remind me from time to time. Besides, this trip will end real soon. Just... don't worry about the work. I can handle this." mariin kong pagpapaliwanag sa kanya. Baka ako lang ang hinihintay nilang magsend since we don't have proper communication mula noong wedding day.
"Fine. Ikaw at yung trabaho mo lang naman ang iniisip ko. Baka kasi pagbalik mo rito, you might think that we're rushing you. At isa pa, pabalik-balik tong si Piolo dito sa opisina."
"Huh? What for? Alam naman nyang nandito pa ako sa Subic, e." nagtataka kong tanong.
"I don't really know. Pero ilang araw ko na syang nakikitang nandito sa building. Hindi ko alam kung anong pinupunta."
"Ok, I'll hang up. See you next week. Thank you." and from there, I ended the call.
Seryoso pa rin sa pagmamaneho si Ariel at nakatingin lamang ng tuwid sa daan.
"May problema ba? Sino yung tumawag?" mahinahon nyang tanong at nilingon ako ng sandali. Hindi ko na sinuklian ang mga titig nya dahil baka magsimula na naman akong magpantasya.
"Cacai. Work matters." matipid kong sagot saka naglabas ng isang buntong hininga.
"Ang lalim naman ng buntong hininga na yun. Don't worry, matatapos din yan. Let's just enjoy our days. We all know na babalik na tayo sa realidad mula dito sa isang linggong pahinga. I hope you had fun."
"I did. Thank you." I uttered and had the courage to look at him.
"Salamat para saan?" nagtataka nitong tanong ngunit bakas mo sa kanyang mga masasayang ngiti ang kilig na nararamdaman niya.
"Sa lahat...? Mula noong magkausap tayo, hanggang ngayon. Maraming salamat for taking me back from the place where we somehow, started. I appreciated it so much na para bang ayoko nang umalis. Sabi nga nila diba, babalik at babalik ka pa rin sa mga bagay na minahal, minamahal at mamahalin mo, kahit pa paulit-ulit ka nang nasasaktan." I sincerely emitted, my eyes forming a huge rain. "And I am very much willing to experience that kind of pain again, kahit paulit-ulit pa. As long as I'll come back to you, your embraces, your kisses... buong puso akong babalik... sayo." mula roon ay nagsimula nang umagos ang luha mula sa aking mga mata. Sakto naman ang paghinto ng sasakyan.
He looked at me, cupped my face and kissed my forehead. Inaro nito ang kanyang kamay at nagsesenyas para bumaba. And so we did. We hopped outside and the breathtaking view from up here made my jaw dropped.
We are on a cliff-like platform where we got engaged. This is the exact spot where he proposed to marry me.
The next thing he did was to hug me from behind, his face's on top of my shoulder, our hands were clasped together with this deep, exhilarating nature's view. How lovely.
"Hold my hand tightly, and I will never let you go. Never again." he whispered.
I will remain holding your hand, dahil sa una pa lang, I never let it go.
