34

MARAMING SALAMAT SA SUPORTA.

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Mabilis kong hinila ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya. I looked at him in pure disgust. Kahit na masakit ang aking katawan ay nagpumilit akong tumayo para lamang makalayo sa kanya.

"Serise.." halos nagmamakaawa niyang tawag sa akin. Hindi ko siya hianrap at dumiretsyo ako sa bintana. I need air. I need to breathe. Isang malaking kasinungalingan ito. I am not dumb. I won't believe it.

Naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa aking balikat. Biglaan ko siyang hinarap at agad na tumama ang aking palad sa pisngi niya. Napabaling ang mukha niya sa kaliwa at namula agad ang tama ng kamay ko sa kanya.

I was breathing so hard and I can't control my temper. Hindi agad nakagalaw si Aidan-or is that even his name? Damn, but I don't know what to believe anymore.

"Ashton is dead." Deklara ko. Umiling si Aidan bago ako hinarap.

"I'm sorry Ma'am ko. Alam kong nasaktan ka noong inakala mong patay na ako."

"Patay na siya!" sigaw ko. Tinulak ko si Aidan pero hindi ito natinag. Pinagpapalo ko ang kanyang dibdib at hindi man lang niya ako pinigilan.

"He's dead. Namatay siya noong bumagsak ang eroplano niya. He's dead! Hindi na siya babalik! Wala na siya!"

"Ma'am.."

"Anong karapatan mong bumalik ha? Sinong nagsabi sayo na pwede ka bang bumalik? You lying jerk! How could you? How.." pumiyok ang boses ko at napahagulgol na ako. Aidan hissed and pulled me towards his chest. Iyak lang ako ng iyak habang niyayakap niya.

"Sorry Ma'am. Sorry hindi agad ako nakabalik sayo. Sorry kung nakalimutan kita. Serise, I'm sorry." Bulong niya. Hindi ako makapagsalita sa tuloy tuloy kong luha.

' How does a moment last forever?

How can a story never die?

It is love we must hold onto

Never easy, but we try

Sometimes our happiness is captured

Somehow, our time and place stand still

Love lives on inside our hearts and always will'

"Noong bumagsak ang eroplano, ako lang ang nakaligtas Ma'am. Phyton took me and tortured me endlessly. He made me believe that I was his son, that I am Aidan. Paulit ulit nila akong-" tumigil siyang bahagya at naramdaman ko ang panginginig niya.

"Sinaktan nila ako ng sobra sobra para magawa kong makalimutan na ako si Ashton. Iyong kwento ko tungkol sa amin ni Aidan, it was a lie that they made. Iyon ang pinaniwala nila sa akin. They changed my face, everything about me, just to become Aidan. Dinala nila ako sa China para maoperahan, I even went through a leg lengthening surgery. Kasabay noon ay pinagpatuloy nilang galawin ang isip ko para mabura si Ashton. They made me believe that I am Aidan but I'm not." He said in a rough voice. Bahagya niya akong hiniwalay sa kanya. He dried my tears before looking at me.

"Ako si bansot mo. I am your Ashton Santillan. And you are...my north star." Deklara niya. Panibagong luha ang bumuhos mula sa akin habang nagsasalita siya.

"Panandalian akong nawala sayo Ma'am. Pero tangina, kahit anong balikwas ang gawin nila, palagi akong makakabalik sayo. Palagi akong babalik sayo. Kahit na gaano pa kasakit ang gawin sa akin, babalik ako sayo."

Pinuno niya ng hangin ang kaniyang dibdib at niyakap na naman ako. I am still crying but now my tears are silent. Hindi ko pa rin sinasagot ang mga yakap niya. But I can still feel it. He is really back. My Ash is back.

"I am destined to come back to my north star." He said. Lalo akong naluha. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Pumaikot ang braso ko sa katawan niya at niyakap agad siya ng mahigpit. Ashton breathe heavily, as if he was relieved. Mas hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya para mayakap pa.

"Galit pa rin ako sayo bansot." Atungal ko. He chuckled. Hinalikan na lamang niya ang tuktok ng aking buhok bago tumango.

"Yeah."

"Seryoso ako. Galit pa rin ako."

Tumawa na siya. "Alam ko. Ang sakit ng dibdib ko kakahampas mo Ma'am kong pinakasexy sa lahat." Aniya. Ngumuso lamang ako at niyakap siya.

"Welcome back." Bulong ko dito. Tumango lamang siya. Humiwalay ako rito at tinitigan siya. Ashton's eyes surveyed my whole face. He touched me tenderly before shaking his head.

"Noong nakita kitang hinulog sa lawa ni Phyton, para akong sinakal Ma'am. Akala ko mawawala ka sa akin.'

"You saved me?" nagtataka kong tanong. Tumango siya.

'Minutes turn to hours, days to years and gone

But when all else has been forgotten

Still our song lives on'

"Hindi na kayo masasaktan ni Phyton Serise. Sinisiguro ko sayo yan." Pangako niya. I just smiled and pulled his neck downwards. Our lips met in a heated rush, his mouth covered mine as we kiss our hearts out. Kumapit ako sa braso niya habang siya ay pinaikot na ang braso sa aking beywang.

I'm home. He is my north star too. He loved me eventhough I am unlovable. He saw through my mask. He loved my bruised seld. Tinanggap niya ang buong pagkatao ko at binigay ang pagmamahal niya bilang kapalit.

Ashton is my home. He is my rule. He is my everything.

"I love you." Sabi ko sa kanya noong matapos ang halikan naming dalawa. Nanlaki ang mata niya bago iyon namula. It then occurred to me that it is actually the first time that I told him that I love him.

Bigla siyang napangiti na para bang nanalo siya ng lotto. He bit his lip before kissing me again.

"And putangina my heart, but I love you too Ma'am na bubuntisin ko na mamaya." Tuloy tuloy niyang sabi. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakakaeskandalong sinabi niya.

"Ashton!"

Tumawa lamang siya bago ako binuhat at binalik sa kama. Pinahiga niya akong muli at kinumutan.

'Maybe some moments weren't so perfect

Maybe some memories not so sweet

But we have to know some bad times

Or are lives are incomplete

Then when the shadows overtake us

Just when we feel all hope is gone

We'll hear our song and know once more

Our love lives on'

Noong makahiga ako ay tumabi siya sa akin. He sat at my bed before taking my hand. Hawak hawak niya ang isa kong kamay habang may hinuhugot siya mula sa kanyang bulsa. Noong makuha niya iyon ay agad niya akong hinarap.

"I love you Serise Montreal. With everything that I am and with everything that I will be, I love you." Anunsyo niya. Nangilid ang panibagong luha sa mata ko, this time a fresh set of tears that show how happy I am right now.

"And no matter what happens, no matter how many bullshits you're going to throw, no matter how painful your words will be, and even if they are directed at me, no matter how bitchy you will be, I would forever remain in love with you."

"Ashton.." tawag ko na rito. Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang singsing. A silver ring with little curls on the center. In the middle is a small dark blue sapphire. Sa bawat gilid ng batong iyon ay may maliliit na white diamonds na nakapalibot.

"You would make me the happiest man alive if you would give me the honor of having you as my wife. Serise Victoria Montreal, will you marry me?" kinakabahan niyang tanong. Pumatak ang luha ko bago napatango na lamang. Ni hindi na ako makapagsalita sa sobrang saya ko.

"Yes?" paninigurado pa niya.

"Yes, yes I will marry you." Sagot ko. Nanlaki ang mata niya bago isinuot sa akin ang singsing.

"Putangina, I will make you pregnant the moment you leave this hospital." Pangako niya.

Tumawa na lamang ako ng malakas at hinalikan siya.

'Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone

But when all else has been forgotten

Still our song lives on

That's how a moment lasts forever:

When our song lives on'

Once there was a beautiful beast who felt that she is not meant to be loved, thus she forced everybody to hate her and fear her. But then she met a lost soul who needs love too. Their paths crossed and here they found what they were missing for their whole life.

She found someone who would accept her imperfections.

He found someone who would love him purely.

And their happily ever after started the moment their lips touched for the first time.

Their first kiss.

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Song Used:

How Does A Moment Last Forever - Celine Dion