ON BENDED KNEE written by hannanusman
BTS ONE-SHOT COMPILATION
[A Park Jimin One-shot]
[FOREVER SERIES]
© 2018 CT All Rights Reserved
Fanfiction/ Teen Fiction

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Do not distribute, publish, transmit, modify, display or create derivative works from or exploit the contents of this story in any way. Please obtain permission.

Finished: February 18, 2017
Published: March 12, 2018 [Belated Happy birthday, Yoongi Samcheon! Getting old, are we?]

The first installment of Forever Series.

*

You handcuffed me for I stole your heart. You jailed me for I denied it. And now… I would love to steal even your surname.

Gulat na napatingin ako kay Jimin pagkatapos ay sa kamay kong hawak niya. His calloused big hands felt warm covering the softness of mine. My heart cheered for I fit perfectly with his. Pakiramdam ko, kaya kong mabuhay ng panghabam-buhay na hawak niya ang mga kamay ko. Now, being immortal made sense for me, the feeling of living forever.

Ito iyon, what I felt for Jimin could be something as immortal, cause I might die, I might leave this lifetime but what I felt for him would live for eternity. But seriously, I never liked fantasy.

"J-Jimin…" I uttered nervously. Just when since I hoped for this moment to come? Noon ay matitigan lang ako ng mga matang iyon ay masaya na ako, what more to be held by him like this?

I could die in both delight and joy right now.

"Well…" Lumingon siya sa kung saan. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya at nakita ko sina Taehyung at ang iba pa niyang kaibigan dito sa klase na nagtatawanan ilang metro ang layo sa amin sa may likuran. Muling lumingon sa akin si Jimin na nagkakamot ng ulo at nakangiti, ang mga mata'y nawawala.

I envied his fingers when it rummaged through his smooth pink hair. I wished to brush my fingers to those soft locks. Hindi lang sa mga panaginip ko pinangarap siya kung hindi maging sa mga gising kong pantasya. Though I didn't like fantasy, he was my favorite fantasy and dream.

"Y-You are under arrest," he said that boomed my now unsettling heart for it was beating so fast, for I was being held by the man of my dreams.

"Hey bro! We can't hear you here! Lakasan mo!" I heard Taehyung shouted from their crowd. Hindi ako nag-abala pang lingunin siya dahil masyadong nakakahipnotismo ang mga singkit na mga mata ng lalaking nasa harap ko ngayon at ipinaparamdam sa akin ang akala ko'y hanggang panaginip na lang.

Tumikhim si Jimin. "You are under arrest," mas malakas na sabi niya kasunod ay malalakas na halakhakan na naman mula sa mga kaibigan niya. They were overpowering the loudest my heart could attain.

"Come on, bro! Your time is running!" Jackson told Jimin, na katulad ni Taehyung ay may himig din ng tawa ang boses.

Nagtataka man ay nakuha kong ibuka ang bibig ko para magtanong. "A-Anong ibig mong sabihin?" I asked, stuttering.

"You are under arrest. Your crime, stealing my heart," Jimin said louder than ever that numbed me.

All I did was to stare back at him with my jaw dropped. Blanko ang isipan ko. I was torn between the idea of retrieving my fading breath and stopping my feasting heart. This wasn't the right time to be like this. This chance was like a falling star. Rare to see, rare to come and impossible to happen. And I thought that was why… I  was speechless.

Natawa na lang ako ng i-throw back sa akin ng best friend ko ang pangyayaring iyon sa buhay ko, in a perfect detailed flashback. She wasn't there but since I had taled her about it many times, she had come to memorize it already. She always reminded that every time we were teasing each other.

Labasan ng baho kumbaga, and she really had that as a teasing to me. The darkest and painful part of my high-school days. That part of my life that folded without me knowing, and I didn't mind at all. Cause yes, it might seem to be a very good memory but it was actually not. It was on top of my most embarrassing moments.

Just like I said… it was like a falling star. You would get amazed by a short moment of time but would be pissed off as hell because you wished on that star and none of it happened. Silly.

"You want me to continue?" natatawang sabi ni Wella sabay bukas ng isa pang lata ng beer.

"Reminding me of that moment won't change the fact that I've moved on, Well…" Umiling ako sa kaniya sabay tungga sa lata ng beer ko. Nakakatatlo na siya at hindi ko pa nauubos itong unang lata ng beer ko. Napakalasinggera talaga ng babaeng ito!

"Nasasabi mo iyan kasi hindi na ulit kayo nagkita. Guwapo ba talaga iyon?" she said in an amused tone.

I grinned because of what she asked. For a moment, my mind brought me again to that bittersweet part of my loveless life.

Nakatitig lang ako kay Jimin habang nakatitig din siya pabalik sa akin. Makapal at itim na itim ang mga pilik-mata niya which complimented very well his black small eyes. The bridge of his nose was an epitome of a perfect sculpture. Maybe God had all the efforts and time while creating him.

Bumagay sa kaniya ang bagong kulay ng buhok niya. I liked his old silver hair but he looked too soft now with his pink hair. His lips a bit pink plump but too soft in sight. Para bang ikauupos ng hininga ko oras na dumampi ang mga iyon sa mga labi ko. And they were always looked wet!

Naputol lang ang titigan naming iyon nang marinig naming muli ang sigawan at tawanan nina Taehyung. Ang pinakasalbahe sa mga kaibigan niyang si Taehyung ang may pinakamalakas na halakhak. What were they laughing for?!

They were the nosiest group here so no wonder, Taehyung was being like that again. At makakalimutan ko bang isa si Jimin sa kanila?

"Three, two, one! Times up, bro! That was hilarious! I am near to playing a melodramatic music to suit your moment a while ago!" ani Taehyung sa pang-asar na tinig na binuntutan na naman niya ng nakakabanas na tawa.

Napanganga ako nang itinaas ni Jimin ang parehong kamay niya habang unti-unting umaatras. Kasabay noon ay ang pagguhit ng malademonyong ngiti sa mga labi niya. He winked at me as he lightly tilted his head backward. Ang gwapo gwapo niya habang ginagawa niya iyon. Ni hindi na niya naisip kung anong epekto sa akin ng mga simpleng kilos niya lang.

Crush ko siya. Simula noong unang ipakilala siya sa amin as a transferee noong pasukan, nabihag na niya ang puso ko.

"Did I pass?" he asked his friends.

"Yep. You've never lost to any bet games. Ah, you are no fun, Park," ani Taehyung na tipong disappointed pero may malademonyong ngiti pa rin sa mga labi. Satisfaction mirrored his playful eyes.

Jimin coolly shrugged his shoulder. "I am not Jimin Park for nothing, dude." He scoffed arrogantly, his true self came back that I shortly forgot.

Yumuko ako dahil hindi ko na kayang pakinggan pa ang mga naririnig ko. I knew Jimin for being arrogant as hell. I knew him for being a jerk, an ultimate rascal at that.

I had known him since I started falling for him. I had to… I had to know him to stop this stupid feeling arising within me for him. Kailangan ko ng mga bagay na makakapagpagising sa akin at para tigilan ko na lahat. But damn, his flaws… I learned to love his flaws!

Tss. How did I let myself fall deeply with this jerk? Ah, because that was love. Love knows no boundary. Hindi porke't masama ang ugali niya, puwede ko ng utusan ang puso kong huwag ng mahalin siya. My heart learned how to love him limitless and boundless. My heart learned how to accept every little bad things about him. Because that wad love. And I was a stupid in love.

I thought, he just did me a favor. Turning himself off infront of me? I couldn't let my heart continue loving a man who only knew how to play with people's emotions. So without giving him a word, I walked out in front of him… no. Maybe I should say… I walked out of his life for good.

"Huy, nakakalima na ako pero stuck ka pa rin sa isang lata."

I came back to reality when Wella bumped her can of beer to mine. The memory of the past went vanishing in my mind from playing like a rolling disk, moving in a very vivid motion and inflicting same emotions to me, again and again.

"Lima? I thought, it was just three cans?" I asked, looking at the empty cans on the table.

"Hey, haven't you been listening to me?" Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata.

"O-Of course, nakikinig ako!" pagsisinungaling ko sa kaniya saka ko iniwas ang tingin ko. This was just a small amount of lie compare to the lies I had been feeding her. I had secrets that I couldn't tell her.

"Sige nga! Ano iyong mga sinasabi ko kanina, ha? Ha?!" panghahamon niya sa akin habang pumipikit-pikit ang nanlalaki niyang mga mata.

I bit my lower lip. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at ngumuso. "Sorry na…" I nudged at her lightly.

Umirap siya. "Sinasabi ko na nga ba! May iniisip ka ba? Gusto mo na ba umuwi? Sayang naman itong mga raw beefs, hindi pa natin nauubos oh…" Ngumuso rin siya at nagsalang ng ilang beef sa grill.

"Uubusin natin lahat ng ito. Aba, sayang naman!" sagot ko at tinulungan na siyang mag-grill ng mga beefs.

She ordered more cans of beer. Aniya'y minsan lang kami uminom ng ganito kaya't lulubusin na namin. I even reminded her about our early work tomorrow but she just made a face to me, disregarding the idea of tomorrow. And work. Well, we always did this to escape the tiring day at work. And we always had the whole night for it.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?"

I stopped midway as I heard that baritone voice. I wasn't so drunk dahil hindi naman marami ang nainom ko. I was more worried about Wella, I dropped her home almost unconscious. Nag-angat ako ng tingin para lang makita siyang nakahalukipkip at masama ang tingin sa akin. His pink hair in my memory got exchanged with his black hair, and he was now bulkier and taller than the one I had in my mind. And well, still very handsome…

"That's an off limits question, didn't you notice?" I mocked him as I shook away how he was fvcking looking so gorgeously handsome at this time of the night!

"I stayed up all night worrying about you and you only give me sarcasm? When will you ever grow, Hannan?!" he growled at me in a restrained anger. Kitang-kita ko ang nanlilisik niyang mga mata at ang pag-iigting ng mga panga niya dahil sa pagtatagis ng mga ngipin niya.

But we both knew what our stands in each other's life though we were both locked up in this relationship.

"I've grown. Can't you see? That was why I am like this cause I've grown, Jimin…" I smirked at the guy who showed me the worst and painful side of love.

Look where fate brought us. I were his greatest fan back then and he was my saddest memory. When it took me everything just to get away from him and yet, here we were.

Just… just how did we end up in this situation?

"WHAT?! Who said you can dictate my life?!" pasigaw kong tanong kay Papa nang aksidente kong marinig ang usapan nila ni Mama. Gulat na napatingin sila sa akin pareho. Papa looked gravely at me while Mama looked apologetically. They were plotting something that regarded my life.

"Hann, how much did you hear?" Papa asked, softly.

"I can follow your orders but not this one." Umiling ako at inignora ang tanong ni Papa. I had been a good daughter to them. There was not a time when I refused everything they asked me to do. I did my obligation as their child willingly, but what they wanted right now was beyond what I could do.

"Baby girl, this isn't for us. This is for you. We only want what's best for your future. All you have to do is trust us," malumanay na wika ni Papa na tipong nakikipag-usap sa isang paslit. Afraid that his every spit would make me refuse.

And I knew. That thing was not for them to decide. It was my future. My life. Ako ang dapat na nagdedesisyon.

Matigas akong umiling. I wouldn't let them decide for it.

"PAPA! PAPA!" Kasabay ng mabilis na linya sa monitor ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Give me 200 joules. Now!" sigaw ng doctor.

"200 joules. Charged," wika ng nurse.

The doctor revived him again, again and again. Nakasalalay sa doctor ang buhay ng Papa ko. I would loathe myself if something bad happend to him now. Hinding-hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko. I should have agreed to him in the first place. Kapakanan ko lang naman ang gusto ni Papa e.

"Vitals?" tanong ng doctor.

"He came back! His heart is going stable, Doc." Ang winikang iyon ng nurse ang nakapagpahinga sa amin ng maluwag. As long as we saw the lifeline went moving again, Mama and I both let out a sigh of relief.

I thought, we were going to lose him.

"You've grown! But you are acting like a damn kid! if you are acting like this because you don't want our set-up, then why did you fvcking agree to this?!" galit na sigaw ni Jimin. From where I was standing, I could see his closed fist and his arms flexing. I could see veins on his neck but I wouldn't back away. I didn't even dare.

W had been both a fighter in this battle, hindi ako susuko dahil lang nakikita ko siyang galit na galit.

"I didn't agree, I just ran out of choice. Mas mabuti ngang sabihin kong ito lang ang natatanging choice na mayroon ako! Cause marrying you was like drowning myself, I would have rather died." I gritted my teeth. Hinawakan ko ang bag ko at naghanda na sa paghakbang para layasan siya ngunit napahinto ako nang makita kong lumungkot ang mukha niya.

The hint of anger was all gone. Tanging kalungkutan lang ang naaninag ko sa mga magaganda niyang mata.

It was not a waste. His eyes held different emotions if only you would dig deeper, and I didn't have plan in going further. Minsan ko nang sinubukan, and I came back wounded. He was just someone that was too much for me. He was someone that could bruise me and wound me with every little thing he did, that was why I was always straying.

That was why I felt like dying when I found out that he was the man I was going to marry. It was like my most painful downfall was coming to hunt me again and with an accomplice. Pakiramdam ko pinagkaisahan ako ng lahat noon. I felt like I couldn't run away from him anymore even if it tried so many times to dig my memories with him deep down the solid ground.

"You didn't even choose the words you were saying." He laughed sarcastically.

"Why would I?" lito kong tanong. Lito dahil sa biglaan niyang pagbabago ng mood at sa sinabi niya.

"You used to be so soft-spoken. You've never raised a voice at me. You used to be very shy to me. And I miss that sweetness from you. Where is my old sweet Hannan?" Punong-puno ng pagsusumamo ang tinig niya.

"Old sweet Hannan? Maybe you mean, old stupid Hannan?" I told him, sarcasm never leaving my tone. Ang makita siyang naghihirap ng ganito ay nagpapasakit sa puso ko pero kailangan kong masanay, dahil lahat ng bagay na gagawin niya ay nagpapasakit rin sa akin. I didn't want to fight this battle alone. Kung masasaktan ako, puwes, siya rin.

"Please, Hannan. Stop. Just stop what you are doing…" He almost begged.

Matalim ko siyang tinitigan. "You have all the chances to avoid me, Jimin. I just ran out of choice, but you? You had the freedom to refuse, pero bakit mas pinili mo pa ring pahirapan ako? Bakit mas pinili mo pa rin ang bumalik sa buhay ko? Now, let's suffer together."

Bagsak ang panga ni Wella nang makita akong dumating sa office sakay ng isang itim na Ford Ranger habang ako naman ay hindi na maalis ang pagkakabusangot. Naiintindihan ko ang reaksyon niya dahil kagulat-gulat naman talagang ihatid ako ni Jimin gayong madalas ko nga siyang isnabin sa araw-araw na magkasama kami.

No! Hindi ko ginustong makasabay ang bastusing lalaking iyon! It was him who blackmailed me so I was left with no other choice!

Nagniningning ang mga matang nilapitan ako ni Wella pagkasara ko pa lamang ng pinto. "Hoy, asawa mo ba iyong nasa loob? Hala, let me see him!" Wella urged me endlessly.

Umirap ako sa tinted na salamin ng kotse dahil alam kong nakatitig sa akin si Jimin sa loob. Hinila ko na si Wella papasok ng building.

"Sandali, bakit ganoon? Bakit parang… parang hindi kayo in good terms noong aswang-este asawa mo?" she asked, confused.

"Please Wella, he ruined my day so stop mentioning him," pagmamakaawa ko sa best friend kong hindi man lang ata maramdaman na ayaw kong pag-usapan ang lalaking iyon.

"Ay quarrel," she muttered, stressing to me how she left the word 'love' out.

Wella knew about my husband. She knew too about my fixed marriage. She was my best friend, she should know that, but I felt sorry for limiting her to know who I married. She didn't know Jimin. Wella came to my life during my college days, when I was starting removing Jimin to my life. I chose the university away from his. I chose the life away from him. Kaya't hindi kilala ni Wella si Jimin in person.

To her, he was just someone who broke my high school life, and he stayed in that part of my life.

Nahihiya ako. Alam niyang kinamumuhian ko ng lubos si Jimin, or as she knew as my hateful high school days ruiner. At panigurado, aawayin niya ako oras na malaman niya kung sino ang asawa ko.

Buong araw ay walang ginawa si Wella kung hindi ang kulitin ako tungkol sa asawa ko. Kinulit din niya ako tungkol sa high school days ruiner ng buhay ko. Sometimes, I was regretting giving Wella the privilege to know some things about me.

What if she found out that my husband and my high school life ruined was just the same person? Panigurado, sasakalin niya ako.

"Will you please stop asking me about them! Maging concern ka naman sa akin!" inis na sabi ko habang nagla-lunch kami ni Wella dahil sa kakabigkas niya kay Jimin.

"Titigil lang ako kapag nakilala ko na sila pareho! Aba, hindi mo kababaliwan iyong si Jimin noon kung hindi iyon gwapo at saka ang mean mo kay husband ah!" patay-malisya niyang sabi.

"Wella." I warned her as I glared at her. Sumimangot siya at nagpatuloy na lang sa pagkain.

I don't want you to know about him, Well, cause he's not permanent. I don't intend to let him stay in my life for long. I'm working on pushing myself away from him. So it's better for you not to know him.

Nagyayang muli si Wella na mag-dinner kami sa paborito naming grilling house. Pumayag ako dahil kung uuwi ako ngayon, aabutan ko lang sa bahay si Jimin and we both knew how we both loathed each other's presence.

"Isa pa pong beer!" sigaw ko nang maubos na ang beer namin pareho ni Wella.

"Don't you dare give her another one."

Halos mahulog ako sa pagkakaupo nang pumuno sa loob ng maliit na grilling house ang baritonong tinig na iyon. My eyes then landed on the door only to see a very gorgeous man standing gloriously while his eyes directed to me dangerously. Napahawak ako sa mesa habang lumulunok.

Anong ginagawa rito ng lalaking iyan?!

"OMG, ang guwapo!" Narinig kong mahinang ngunit may kiliting bulong ni Wella. Sumama ang tingin ko kay Jimin, pinapantayan ang intensidad ng masama niyang tingin.

Just who the hell is he!? Iinom ako kahit ilang beer pa ang gusto ko!

"ISA PA PONG BEER, MANANG!" malakas na sigaw ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya na tipong nanghahamon.

Try me, Jimin. I won't get down on my knees just for you.

Mas lalong sumama ang tingin niya sa akin bago siya tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng grilling house.

"Hala, hala! Palapit siya! Nabihag ata siya ng kagandahan ko!" kinikilig na sabi ni Wella.

"Tumahimik ka, Wella! Hindi mo alam ang mga pwedeng mangyari oras na makalapit na siya rito!" mariin kong bulong sa talanding babaeng nangangarap ng gising.

Asawa ko kaya iyang pinapantasya niya!

Nang malapit na siya sa pwesto namin ay mabilis akong tumayo at lumayo sa mesa, palayo sa kaniya.

"Huwag kang lalapit!" sigaw ko sa kaniya. Nakita ko pa sa gilid ng mga mata ko kung paanong nag-angat ng tingin sa amin si Wella, at kahit hindi ko nakikita, I could bet she was staring at us confusedly.

"Uuwi na tayo, Hannan," matigas na wika ni Jimin.

"No. Leave me alone…" Inirapan ko siya. Ang buong akala ko ay makikipagmatigasan pa siya sa akin katulad nang madalas na mangyari sa tuwing nag-aaway kami pero hindi… para akong nakatitig sa Jimin na nagpagulat sa akin kahapon.

His sad eyes dug deeper again my heart could tell. At sa tuwing ganyan siya, hindi ko mapigilang panghinaan ng tuhod. How could he stay my weakness after all these years?!

"Hannan, we're going home. Please," banayad niyang sabi sabay lahad ng kamay niya sa akin, nanatiling malungkot na nakatingin sa akin ang mga mata niya.

"Just leave, Jimin! Uuwi rin ako!" Hindi ko napigilang sumigaw para pagtakpan ang paglambot ng puso ko sa kaniya.

This couldn't be! This couldn't be happening after all those years I had suffered! Sinaktan ako ng lalaking ito! Sinira niya ang sana ay magandang high school life ko! Kaya hindi puwedeng lumalambot na naman ako para sa kaniya!

"Omg, Jimin?! Si Jimin?! Uuwi kayo… siya iyong asawa mo?!" gulat na sabat ni Wella pero hindi namin siya pinansin.

"Leave. Mamaya pa ako uuwi—what are you doing?!" gulat kong tanong habang unti-unting nanlalaki ang mga mata ko nang pinanood ko siyang unti-unting lumuluhod.

What was he doing?!

"I'm on my knees, Hannan. I'm on my knees to ask for my wife's forgiveness that is long over due. Matagal na tayong nagsasama at sawang-sawa na akong kasama ka sa iisang bahay pero hindi man lang kita mahawakan—"

"Oh please, someone stop him…" Tumingala ako dahil sa kahihiyang ginagawa niya. I could hear people inside the grilling house giggling and screaming at us.

"Mag-asawa tayo pero sa ibang kuwarto ka natutulog—"

"Oh shit, stop! Are you seriously saying that in this public place?!" I ridiculously asked him. He didn't bulge, he remained staring up at me. Eyes were full of confidence and unstoppable courage.

"I've never kissed you other than the smack we had during our wedding, I want to kiss you, to hug you, to cuddle—"

"Jimin! Stop! Stop it! What the hell are you saying?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kaniya dahil hindi ko lubos-maisip na iniisip pala niya ang mga bagay na iyon! Hinuli niya ang mga kamay ko na kahit sinubukan ko na itong ilayo sa kaniya ay naabot niya pa rin.

"Nakaluhod ako sa harap mo para pormal na hingin ang kapatawaran mo, Hannan. Tapusin na natin itong away na meron tayo. Please, let's just live happily and love each other—"

Nanginig ang mga labi ko sa mga sinabi niya. Napadausdos ako pababa at napa-upo. My face levelling on his broad chest, his sweet manly scent immediately soothed my nose. Yumuko ako at tahimik na humikbi.

"H-Hannan…" he uttered, shocked.

"A-Ang daling sabihin, 'no? Kasi hindi naman ikaw iyong nasaktan noon e…" Suminok ako bago magpatuloy. "Ang d-daling sabihin kasi hindi naman ikaw iyong pinaglaruan e. Alam mo ba kung gaano kasaya ang tanga kong puso noong mga panahong iyon, Jimin?" Nag-angat ako ng tingin, at kahit namamasa ang mga mata ko ay sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya. "Sobrang s-saya kasi pangarap kita noon. T-Tapos… tapos malalaman ko lang na laro lang pala ang lahat ng iyon sayo? Ang salbahe m-mo…" Humikbi ako.

"At alam mo rin ba kung gaano kahirap na pilitin ang s-sarili kong kamuhian ka? Na kahit na natuwa ako noong malaman kong sa'yo ako ik-ikakasal, mas nangibabaw iyong galit ko sa'yo? Alam mo ba kung ilang taon ang s-sinayang ko para lang…" Napahinto ako nang ikulong niya ang pisngi ko sa mga palad niya ngunit nagpatuloy pa rin ako. "P-Para lang paniwalain ang sarili kong galit ako sa'yo at hinding-hindi kita mapapatawad? Hindi mo a-alam kasi salbahe k-ka…" Nanginig muli ang mga labi ko para sa panibagong hikbi at mga luha.

"Salbahe ka, salbahe ka…" tanging nasambit ko na lang habang humihikbi.

"Salbahe ka rin naman e," aniya na nagpahinto sa akin. I hiccupped as I stared up at his sad eyes. "Salbahe ka rin kasi nasa iyo na pala ang puso ko pero deny ka parin ng deny, hinuli kita, pinikot kita para umamin ka na pero ayaw mo pa rin. Salbahe ka kasi ibinigay ko na nga sa'yo pati apelyido ko pero ayaw mo pa rin. Ngayon, nakaluhod na ako sa harap mo, kasi hindi ko na kaya. Gusto na kitang mayakap, mahalikan, makasiping—"

Hinampas ko siya para mahinto siya. "Bastos!"

"Asawa kita, Hannan. Natural lang—"

"Stop! Stop! Oo na. Itigil na natin itong away na ito, tumigil ka lang!" Kumapit ako sa damit niya habang nakapikit bago ko isinubsob sa dibdib niya ang mukha ko dahil sa kahihiyan sa mga sinasabi niya. I felt both of his arms snake around me as he pulled me tighter, locking me in his embrace, for the first time since we made a vow.

"Talaga? Hindi ka na galit?" he asked. Umiling-iling ako bilang tugon. "It's fine, Hannan. You can stay mad at me for as long as you want, just don't slip away from me. Hindi kita pinikot para lang pakawalan. Hindi kita mahal noon at pagkakamali ko iyon, pero kaya kong pagbayaran ng paulit-ulit ang pagkakamaling iyon. I love you now and that's what matters," malambing niyang litanya malapit sa tainga ko habang dinig na dinig ko ang malakas na tibok ng puso niya.

And it was my mistake that I let my anger reign during the years of our marriage when we could have been very happy, locking each other's with our love. But then, we have forever for that.

The End.
*
Property of Hannan Usman
All Rights Reserved 2018.