Epilogue

In a room full of blooming flowers, I would always choose to pluck a rose despite of the thorn it holds.

Not only because it's beautiful, but because of the pain it could give, of the blood it could suck out of me.

Because I was willing to lose a blood just so I could have it completely. I was willing to die, I was willing to accept the pain.

Nilingon ko ang babaeng pinakamamahal ko. She looked so beautiful as she smile at her readers and I envy them, I envy that they could see how warm her smile was. While I'm here, standing meters away from her, settling for admiring her from afar.

"Magpanggap kang mabait mamaya." I warned Ci when she arrived late.

Pinagmasdan niya rin si Arabelle. She tilted her head and stared at her face.

"Tsk. Hindi ako mabait."

"Kaya nga magpanggap ka." Sarkastikong sabi ko.

She rolled her eyes and puffed a smoke.

"Plano mong balikan?"

I shook my head and sighed. "I'm just going to appear so she wouldn't be shock when she sees me. Sigurado akong guguluhin siya ni Aston dahil nakalaya na 'yong gagong 'yon."

"Sabi mo, eh." She shrugged.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at naglakad na palayo. Hindi ako sigurado kung takot ba si Arabelle sa akin kaya mas mabuti nang hindi siya mabigla kung sakaling makita niya ako dahil magpapakita talaga ako sa oras na mahuli kong kasama niya si Aston.

I'm sure that bastard is plotting something.

And I was not wrong.

"Act cool. I'll handle it." Si Ci nang makitang susugod na sana ako matapos makita nga si Aston na hawak-hawak ang Arabelle ko!

"Wha—"

She shot a bullet and I pursed my lips.

"Don't act too obvious. Napaghahalataan ka." She advised before Arabelle's eyes went to me.

I acted indifferent even when I wanted so bad to run and check her state.

Nangako ako sa sarili kong hindi ko siya babalikan. Nangako akong magiging kampante ako sa pagmamasid sa kaniya sa malayo, hindi na dapat ako naghahangad pa dahil parehas lang kaming masasaktan.

In the years of being away from her, I have learned to slowly accept myself. I slowly learned to love my scar. I slowly learned to control my emotions and temper.

And I don't want to lose control anymore. We're both better off alone.

But fuck it, when I tasted her lips, I wanted to own her again. I wanted to be with her again. I wanted to be in pain again. I was willing to remove this bandage in my heart, I was willing to bleed again for her.

Kaya hindi ako makapaniwalang tinakasan niya ako! Nakatulog lang ako, tumakas na siya!

Halata namang may gusto pa 'yon sa akin. She may know how to act, but her eyes don't lie. I know her eyes well, way better than anyone alive in this earth.

Mahal niya pa ako. I was sure of that. I've read all her novels and there were scenes that narrated our love story. I was sure it was based on us!

"Panga—"

"Adam."

Nakita kong natigilan siya nang marinig ang boses ko. I squinted my eyes on her. This time, I brought my own copy of book. Iyon kasing una kong pinapirmahan sa kaniya ay bagong bili 'yon para hindi halatang akin iyon but this time, I want her to know I've read it! Kahit na ako lang ang lalake dito, wala akong pakealam, kahit pinagkakatinginan nila ako, wala ako pake!

Hindi siya nag-angat ng tingin, nakita ko pang naging malikot ang kamay niya dahil sa panginginig, iyan tuloy hindi maayos ang pirma sa akin!

"Babalik ako. Hindi maayos." Mahina kong reklamo.

I saw her gulp but she didn't say anything. Ayaw niyang mag-angat ng tingin sa akin! Hindi niya ba alam na tinulungan ko siya? I brought more than a hundred copies of it in the first day it was released and distributed it to potential readers! I even paid someone to spread the book because I know how word of mouth works well.

Ako ang unang naging tagasuporta niya.

Tapos hindi niya man lang magawang mag-angat ng tingin sa akin! Kahit sulyap lang!

"Next." Aniya

"Put your number there." I said.

Nanlaki ang mata niya and I finally got her full attention!

"Bawal!" Mahinang bulong niya.

"Puwede."

"Hin—"

"Sige, manghihingi nalang ako sa kaibigan mo." Sabi ko sabay sulyap sa babaeng kanina pa nakamasid sa amin. Palagi ko siyang nakikitang kasama si Arabelle kaya sigurado akong kaibigan niya ito.

"Ilalagay na! Tangina mo." Mahinang mura niya.

"Someone might hear you, Beauty." I teased.

She glared at me but her neck and cheeks were flushing, I smirked.

"I'll call you later." I said when she gave me back my book.

Tinaboy niya ako gamit ang kamay. Hindi pa rin siya sumusulyap sa akin kaya napabuntong-hininga ako.

"Kapag hindi mo ako sinagot—"

"Oo! Sasagutin ko!" Iritadong sabi niya.

"Bakit ang tagal." Narinig kong reklamo ng babae sa likod ko.

"Kapag tumaka—"

"Hindi! Hindi!"

Wala na akong nagawa nang tuluyan na akong mapagtabuyan.

I sighed and sat on a chair where I could see her clearly, where she can see me clearly watching her. Dati, sa likod ako umuupo pero ngayon gusto kong malaman niyang minamanmanan ko siya. She glanced at me as she welcome another reader, I smirked at her.

Kailan ko pa siya masosolo?

"Adam!" Reklamo niya nang hinuli ko siya kaagad bago pa siya makatakbo at makasakay ng taxi.

Gabi na at tapos na ang book signing niya. Umihi lang ako saglit tapos mahuhuli ko siyang tumatakbo palabas para makapagpara ng taxi! 

"Bakit mo ako iiwan?" Seryoso kong tanong.

Her eyes widened as she shook her head. She's fucking beautiful. It's been years since I observed her face this close and she aged beautifully.

"Wala kang sinabing mag-aantay ka!"

"I waited, Arabelle."

She blinked at that. Hindi siya nakapagsalita kaya hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa pulsuhan niya.

"Ayaw mo sa akin?" Hindi ko napigilang tanong.

My insecurity is suddenly kicking in. Maybe she doesn't find me attractive now that I'm not wearing my mask!

I removed this mask . . . hoping she would like it! She told me how much she loves my scar so I gathered all my courage to bare my vulnerabilities to everyone just so she would be proud of me.

Pero mukang hindi niya gusto.

"H-Hindi totoo 'yan!"

"Bakit gusto mo akong takasan?"

"Bakit ayaw mong takasan kita? Gusto mo na ako ulit?" Biglaang hamon niya.

"Hindi." I said honestly.

Her lips parted as her eyes widened. Something in her eyes shook and I could see anger flashing through her pupils.

"Iyon naman pala, eh!" Iritado niyang sigaw.

"Hindi kita gusto ulit. Mahal pa rin kita. Hindi naman nawala 'yon, eh." Mahinahon kong sabi bago niya pa ako mabalibag.

"H-Huh?" She asked dumbfoundedly.

"Hindi pa ba halata?"

"N-Na ano?"

"Na mahal pa rin kita."

"B-Bakit?" Parang hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

"Dahil mahal pa rin kita." That was a simple explanation.

"Hindi ka galit?" Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin, she looked guilty.

"Bakit ako magagalit?" I tilted my head.

"Dahil muntik kitang pinatay!" Iritado niyang sigaw.

"Handa naman akong mamatay para sa 'yo kaya ayos lang."

Her cheeks flushed as she glared at me. I confusingly looked at her. Bakit siya galit? Totoo naman ang sinasabi ko.

"I-I almost killed you, Adam! Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka gawin ko ulit?" Tanong niya na parang ang bobo-bobo ko.

"Hindi."

"Bakit?!"

"Kasi mahal kita?" Iyon lang ang sagot na naisip ko.

"Bahala ka! Kapag namatay ka, hindi ko kasalanan!" She glared at me again but everything else in her were covered with red.

"Okay." Sabi ko.

Hindi siya nakapagsalita, nanatili naman ang kamay ko sa pulsuhan niya, ayaw siyang pakawalan.

"Uwi na tayo." Putol ko sa katahimikan.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa akin. "May sarili akong bahay!"

"Eh, 'di doon ako uuwi." Hindi naman ako mahirap kausap.

"Ano tayo? Mag-asawa?"

"Sige. Pakasalan mo ako." Sabi ko sabay kapa sa bulsa ko.

Nanlaki ang mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko. Amba niyang babawiin ang kamay pero nakuha ko na ang singsing sa bulsa ko gamit ang isang kamay. I held her hand and put the ring on her ring finger.

"A-Ano 'to!" Nagpa-panic niyang sigaw.

"Singsing." Obvious naman.

"Adam!" Iritado niyang sigaw. Palagi namang galit. Ganito ba siya kapag naging asawa ko na?

Buti nalang nakokontrol ko na ang sarili ko kaya ayos lang na palagi siyang magalit sa akin. Hahabaan ko ang pasensya ko para sa kaniya at sa mga anak namin.

"Hindi ka pa nga nanliligaw, pakasal kaagad?!" Reklamo niya.

I bit my lower lip to stifle a smile. Gano'n pala siya? Gusto niya ng ligawan?

"Sige, liligawan muna kita pagtapos papakasalan na kita."

She gasped as if she cannot take me anymore.

"Arabelle, pwede bang manligaw?" Seryoso kong tanong.

Natawa siya dahil doon. Akala ko ba gusto niya na ligawan ko muna siya?

"Sige na nga!" She rolled her eyes at me.

A smile formed into my lips and I could see how her pupils dilated as she stare at my smile.

"Talaga?" I asked, trying to confirm it.

"Oo nga!" She tried her best to stifle her smile.

"Ibig-sabihin puwede na kitang pakasalan bukas?"

Napawi ang ngisi niya dahil doon.

"Ano?!" Gulat niyang tanong.

"'Di ba sabi ko liligawan muna kita pagkatapos papakasalan kita? Naligawan na kita kaya papakasalan na kita bukas." Iyon naman talaga dapat ang mangyayari!

Natawa siya at napailing. I tilted my head as I stare at her. What's so funny about it?

"Atat na atat kang mapakasalan ako?" Natatawa niyang tanong.

Tumango ako kaya nawala ang tawa niya.

Kung alam niya lang kung ilang beses kong pinigilan ang sariling kidnapin siya.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo! Uuwi ako sa bahay ko!" Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin.

"Sige. Umuwi na tayo. Saan ba?" Tanong ko sabay kuha sa kamay niya para mapagsiklop ang kamay namin.

Napatingin siya sa kamay naming nakasiklop. Her fingers were small against my big rough hand. Halos kayang takpan ng mga daliri ko ang maliit niyang kamay and I find it so cute.

"Bakit ka sasama? May sarili kang bahay!"

"Ang bahay ko ay bahay mo. Ang bahay mo ay bahay ko."

She rolled her eyes at me. Palagi nalang siyang ganyan pero gusto ko rin kapag nagsusungit siya. Ang sarap niyang asarin.

"Anong hinihintay natin?" Tanong ko nang mag-ilang minuto kaming nakatayo sa gilid ng kalsada.

"Taxi, malamang!"

"May sasakyan naman ako."

Binalingan niya ako sa nanlalaking mga mata.

"Ba't hindi mo sinabi!"

"Hindi ka nagtanong."

"Ano bang nagawa sa 'yo ng limang taon? Bakit parang nabobo ka?" Hindi niya na napigilang tanong.

"Na-inlove lang." Ngisi ko kaya sinimangutan niya ako. I pinched her red cheeks and pulled her out there.

Alam ko kung saan siya nakatira pero ayaw kong magduda siya sa akin kaya nagpanggap ako na hindi ko alam kahit na alam kong may hinala siyang alam ko kung saan.

Nauna akong lumabas sa sasakyan para mapagbuksan siya. She flushed and went out. I followed her but she stopped me when we reached her gate.

"Diyan ka lang! Bukas na tayo magkita!" Banta niya.

"Bakit?"

"Anong bakit? Hindi pa kita sinasagot!"

"Sabi mo kanina oo?"

"Adam!"

I sighed, defeated. Mukhang walang epekto ang pag-aakto kong inosente.

"Okay. See you tomorrow, Beauty." But before that, I stole a quick kiss on her lips. Her eyes widened at that, a slow victorious smirk rose into my lips.

Damn beautiful.

"Hoy! Ang landi!" That must be her friend.

"Sweet dreams, Beauty." I turned my back on her and started walking away.

That was just the beginning.

And I'm sure it will end with her being my wife.

Because I will make everything happen for both of us. I will make her fall inlove with me everyday until our kids will be born, until our hair will turn gray, until our last breath. I will make every single scene in this lifetime with her memorable. Because she's my oxygen, and I can't live without her. She's my sunlight, and without her, I will wither.

She's the rose I chose and plucked, and I will happily shower her with love everyday.

She will always be my rose, meant to embrace the thorns of her stem, to adore and be accepted, to be happy and be loved by her beast.

I would happily bleed for her. And I would happily die for her.

______________________

End 🥀