His Sanctuary By Lunabaaabe

Drawn Into Oblivion Special Chapter

Tremor Gyne David

"Tremor, I told you to fix your life. Hinayaan kitang umalis at mag-stay sa Vegas dahil akala ko titino ka na!" halos marindi ako sa boses ni dad. Naiirita na rin ako sa kaniya.

He's been pacing back and forth in front of me. Napakamot pa ako sa kilay dahil hindi ko alam kung ilang oras pa ba ang itatagal bago siya tumigil sa panenermon sa akin.

"I told you to study, pero anong nalaman ko? You've been ditching classes at mas inuuna mo ang mag-bar, at mag-outing with your friends! Kailan ka ba magkakaroon ng pangarap? Wala na nga sana akong balak na ipasa sa 'yo ang pag m-manage ng mga business natin! I just want you to study and finish you degree in college!" I groaned. Gusto ko na siyang patapusin at sagutin pero hindi ko na lang ginawa at tinungo na lang ang ulo. Inaantok ako. Umeepekto na rin kasi ang tama ng alak na nainom ko.

It's not that I don't have a dream. I'm really the only type of person who doesn't worry about the future. I was more focused on what is now, enjoying life at my young age because we will only be children once. I am not ready for big responsibilities and I am not ready for things yet. All I want is fun. So I surrounded myself with people like me. Carefree, adventurous, and independent.

"I'll try, dad. Can I sleep now?" napapantastikuhang tiningnan niya ako at walang sabi-sabing umalis. I saw how disappointed his eyes were before he left, pero wala akong magagawa. Dalawa lang kaming anak niya, my younger sister, who's now in Vegas too, pursuing her college course.

Not until I met her. Dimaria Rushwood, or should I call her Dimaria Martinez?

I saw her marry a man named Hunter Martinez. I witnessed their wedding. But I don't think she's happy with it. In her beautiful eyes, I saw fear, pain, and other emotions I couldn't name. At sa mga oras na nakita ko 'yon, pakiramdam ko'y gusto ko na lang siyang alagaan at pasayahin. I never felt this way before. I never cared about a girl. I never cared about other people. Pero noong araw na unang beses na makita ko siya, I feel like I can spend my life taking care of her.

Fate must really have played us well. Pinagtagpo niyang muli ang landas namin ni Dimaria, at sa pagkakataong iyon, hindi na lang ako ang nakakakilala sa kaniya. We became friends, ako ang naging takbuhan niya sa loob ng tatlong taon. And I was always open to her. A one-call-away friend, pwera sa kapatid kong si Kimmy. And I was content with that kind of set up.

"He might be right when he said that this marriage is a prison, Tremor." nakita ko ang pagkislap ng mga mata niya. I move closer to her and wrap my arm around her shoulder without any motive but to comfort her, because that's the only thing I can do for her.

"Maybe it's time to separate from him and spread your own wings, Dimmy? Hunter's a jerk. Hindi ka na dapat nananatili pa sa tabi niya."

"May atraso si Kuya Dame sa kaniya, at ako ang nagbabayad noon, hindi ako makakawala,"napabuntong hininga ako sa sinabi niya. Alam ko rin naman na hindi niya makakayang hiwalayan si Hunter. I knew deep inside her hate, was a woman who was in love with her husband, and a woman who couldn't let go.

Naghintay ako. Kahit matagal ko nang tinanggap na hanggang pagkakaibigan lang ang maaaring mamagitan sa amin, naghintay ako sa kaniya. Naghintay ako sa isang pagkakataon na mahalin niya, na piliin niya, na ako naman ang pakasalan niya kahit suntok sa buwan ang pangarap na 'yon. Because of Dimaria, natuto akong mangarap ng buhay para sa hinaharap. I took so many responsibilities, even in managing our businesses. At habang hinihintay ko siya binubuo ko ang mundong maaari naming tirahang dalawa.

But just when I thought it was completely hopeless, gumising na lang ako isang umaga, she's already my wife. Sa t'wing binabalikan ko ang mga panahon na nakontento lamang akong unan niya, pansamantalang shed na pwede siyang magpahinga, ngayon ako na ang tahanan niya.

Dimaria married me.

Sa unang pagkakataon naranasan kong piliin.

The happiest day of my life was when we said our "I dos" in front of God. And for the first time in my life, I smiled at him.

He gave me new hope. He taught me lessons. He made her mine.

Most of us are preoccupied with falling in love and using that feeling to determine the length of a relationship. Falling in love is simple, almost effortless, but losing that loving feeling is also simple. Feelings, on the other hand, can be fleeting. No one seems to want to talk about how those loving feelings can fade, how it takes work to keep the love alive, and how the decision to stay in love is one we must all make. Love is a decision, not a feeling. Because who would have thought that Dimaria will love me? Alam ko kung gaano niya kamahal si Hunter. Mahal na mahal niya ito. Nakita ko, nasaksihan ko kung gaano siya nasaktan, umiyak at nahirapang alisin si Hunter sa puso niya.

So, being with someone I loved and who loved me back was a novel experience for me. I was used to chasing after people I couldn't have, people who didn't want me. I was used to one-night stands, no texts back, feeling unwanted and lonely. It was the most wonderful feeling I had ever felt when she admitted that she, too, loved me. It's like my favourite song playing on the radio at the perfect time. On a beautiful summer day, the windows are down. It's the first energizing sip of coffee in the morning. It exudes comfort, security, and assurance. It's being able to be myself without reservation in their company.

Her attention was both refreshing and surreal.

It felt as if she could choose to abandon me, to drive away down those twisting roads without looking back.

But then it didn't any longer.

I grew confident that she desired me unconditionally and continuously, just as I desired her. This wasn't just a passing fancy. She was still there as the leaves changed. She was still there as the snow fell.

She's my sanctuary as much as she's my war zone. My home. No one else can replace her. I will always love her until my very last breath.