Chapter 17: What is Love?

I walked past him and went outside. He was still combing his hair even though he looked so stunning already. Medyo mataas na rin ang buhok niya at halos matakpan na ang kaniyang mga mata. Pero bagay na bagay sa kaniya ang haircut na 'yon.

The sky was clear as well as my mind. I felt a little happy because somehow, Prince agrees that I will be looking for an apartment so that we can't live on the same roof. Little by little, my adversity has decreased because I have someone to share my problems with. Sometimes, I admit that Prince really fits to be the prince in my eyes.

He was silently driving while we were going to Golden Tower kung saan doon namin napag-usapan ni Merlina na magkita. Nangako kasi ako na magkikita kami pagkatapos ng isang buwan.

I cleared the lump in my throat and looked at Prince. "May kikitain ka ngayon? Ang gwapo mong tingnan, eh."

Deep inside, kahit araw-araw pang nakabusangot si Prince, gwapo pa rin siya sa aking paningin. The way he treats me, it seems that I am his wife.

"Am I really handsome today?"I am pretty sure he heard me but he has the guts to ask me. Sinabi ko na sa kaniya, eh.

I let out a sigh. "Sinabi ko na. Gusto mo bawiin ko?"

He shook his head. "No, no!"

It is just a simple conversation but it really matters to me. I know that someday, if I was not the person whom the fate reserve for him, I will be happy because we had a conversation like this. I would be the very happy person in the world if this person beside me will be the person in my next life. Yes, kahit sa kabilang buhay na lang magkaroon ng salitang kami.

"Do you know why I wanted to be with you in this Golden Tower?" His left hand is on the window, while his right is on the handlebar. He looked at me after he asked me that.

I shook my head. Sa pagkakaalam ko, that place is beautiful because every sunrise and sunset, it is really visible to those who were in that place. Marami ang dumadayo ro'n dahil magkatabi lang sila ng Flora's City. Ang kaibahan lang nila, Flora's City filled with flowers and trees while Golden Tower has see-saw, ferris wheel, and many more where kids are playing, with their unmeasurable smile.

"Maganda ro'n, Sky. Magco-confess nga ako ngayon," he said and increase the speed of his car. "The weather is good. Kaya perfect timing talaga 'to."

I rolled my eyes to him. He seems enjoyed this day while I was still worried about my life. Ang dami ko pang dapat harapin sa buhay. Pero siya? Ang saya niya. I wish I will have a life like him. 'Yong hindi na mahihirapang lumaban dahil kaya niya naman especially financial. I wanted to have a ease life where I can feel no other than happiness.

"I won't really stop loving you, Sky. You always made me shine," he said and blinked his eyes multiple times. He wear his smile that I always admired.

Ano kaya ang nakain niya at ako pa talaga ang hinintay? Ilang taon na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin siya nag-asawa at hinintay ako. Ang swerte ko sa parteng ito. Pero kung pamilya ang pag-uusapan, pass na ako diyan!

"Sa totoo lang, puwede ka na namang mag-asawa, eh. I will be happy if that will happen." I smiled at him.

His smile faded. "Even the dark will challenge me just to own you, I will fight. I am willing to reach up the sky if that could only be the way just to have you. No one can replace you from my heart."

My smile has shown up. Through his words, he gave me reason to fight and hold on. I was sailing, not yet on the halfway but Prince always made me feel that I can do it!

I fonly I can snapped my fingers to teleport my future, sana kanina ko pa ginawa. I badly want to see what my future looks like or what I will become in the future?

"You know...malayo pa ang lalakbayin ko, mataas ang bundok na lalakbayin ko para maabot ko 'yong pangarap ko," I said, seriously.

He took a glimpse of me and smiled. "I wish I was one of your dreams."

"Of course..."

"Of course what?"

"Of course hindi ko binalak na sagutin kita. Hindi ko pinangarap 'yon," I said and let out a fake smile. "Kasi wala namang mapapala 'yang salitang 'mahal kita' kung kaya ko namang mapatunayan."

I heard him giggled. "Ikaw naman. Of course, hihintayin kita. Mahal kita, eh." 

Mabagal lang ang takbo ng sasakyan kaya hindi ko alam kung anong oras kami makararating. Pero ang usapan namin, napunta na sa future. Kahit sa sandaling ito, nasabi ko kay Bruce na may pag-asang maging kami.

"Hindi ka ba nag-sawang hintayin ako, Prince Dale? Dahil iniisip ko pa lang at inilagay ang sarili sa kalagayan mo, maiinip ako, eh," I franked.

He let out a sigh. "It's just your thoughts, okay?"

The sun rays pierced through the window and tapped Prince's face. It kisses him.

"Sana naging araw na lang din ako." I looked at him. "Alam mo kung bakit?"

His brows creased. "No, why?"

"Hindi ko na lang sasabihin. Hindi mo pala alam." I let out a laugh. "Kailangan mong alamin kung bakit."

"Para mahalikan mo ako?" he asked. " You already the sun of my life, Sky. You shine upon to me and lightened my way. I know that some people say that you are hiding at night so that there was no light. But the truth is...you are just trying upur best to light those who needs light like me, right?"

Simula nang sabihin niya 'yon, parang ang sarap mabuhay sa mundo. May nakakaintindi pa rin sa 'kin. Even other people hurt me like Tito Valir and to my parents, I am always trying my best to prove them that I am the ability to fight.

"If you can't wait me while I am sailing beyond the sea, just please don't wait me. Marry the person whom you love and build a family," I said and clenched my fists. I know that sometimes, when the person they admire moved away, their hopes loses. Bagay lang na sinabi ko 'yon sa kaniya. "In case I have a long...long journey, don't bother to wait for me."

"'The Bible says...love can wait. If you can't wait then it is not love," he said confidently. I don't know if he can barely wait for me if I wanted to build my own house, buy my own lot and feed my family.

I can say only that he is one of the bravest man I've met. He waited for me for many years and now...we are riding on the same way but I don't think so if we are on the same path.

"Addition, love endures all pain. If you can't endure, it is not love. Love never end. People may die but love wouldn't," I said and smiled at him. I can feel easiness while sharing him such topic.

He smiled and nodded. "Thanks for the lesson, Mommy." Kumindat siya sa akin.

The heaven knows how kind Prince to me. He always gave me reason to live well. Ayaw ko na nga'ng malayo sa kaniya. Pero I need to teach myself how to live without him. Kasi hindi ako manatiling matatag sa labanan kung sasanayin ko ang sarili kong nakadikit sa kaniya.

I must've learned how to fight alone. In case no one would stay beside me because I know how playful fate is, I will be able to endure and bare the pain I felt.