NEW BORN: FFYL 2 (COMPLETED)

SC : 3

ARCHER

The time that I stepped my foot on the grass inside the hospital's garden, my heart starts to beat faster, I became nervous for who knows what the reason is.

I can also feel goosebump all over my body.

Lumapit kami kina Zia at hindi ko magawang makisali sa kwentuhan nila dahil hindi ako komportable sa paligid.

When Queen arrived they talked for a while and my eyes is searching our surroundings. And my eyes landed on someone.

Pakiramdam ko ay naestatwa ako nang makita ang isang babae na may tulak-tulak na wheel chair at may nakasakay na matandang lalaki roon na sobrang pamilyar sa akin.

I chuckled when I saw the woman's face clearly.

At base sa kasama nitong matandang lalaki, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.

3 years has passed, and she's still the same. Her face, smile, the way she walk. Maybe that's the reason why my heart is beating so fast, it's not because of nervousness but because the girl that I love is here.

"I don't think we need candle and flowers anymore. We should stop visiting Jelly's grave," I said while my eyes remain to the girl who is only a few steps away from me.

I heard them gasped, maybe they notice already.

"Is this for real?" I heard Jay whispered.

Without a second thought, I took one step forward hanggang sa naging sunod-sunod at bumilis.

I stopped right infront of her and I saw how shock she is.
She is looking at me with disbelief. Palipat-lipat ang mata nito, sa akin at sa mga taong nasa likod ko.

When tears pooled in her eyes, I immediately embrace her, and said the words that I never had a chance to tell her before.

"I like you."

The first words that came out from my mouth.
Parang nang maisatinig ko iyon ay gumaan nang sobra ang dibdib ko.

Every stress, pain, and sadness go away instantly.

"I love you," I said again and closed my eyes.

Akala ko ay kahit kailan hindi ko na masasabi ang mga katagang iyon.

Akala ko wala nang next life kagaya nang ipinangako ko sa kanya noon.

Hindi ko inakala na pwede pa rin pala. May chance pa.

I hugged her tight when she started sobing. I can feel her hands tightening her grip on my shirt.

"I love you... I love you."

I repeatedly said, afraid that I might be dreaming. Afraid that this was just part of my imagination. After that this isn't real.

Finally... I already confess my real feelings to her. Finally.

"B-Buhay ka."

Hindi ko kinalas ang pagkakayakap kay Jelly kahit narinig ko ang boses ni Queen sa aking likuran.

I don't have the strength to let her go again. I'm scared I'll lost her again.

And yes, Jelly is alive. She's real because I can touch her, smell her. And I can hear her loud heart beat.

"J-Jelly!" boses ni Zia.

I felt someone pulling me away. Ayoko sanang bumitaw kay Jelly pero alam kong hindi lang ako nakamiss sa kanya.

"J-Jelly! Jelly!" paulit-ulit na tawag ni Zia.

Umiiyak na tumawa si Jelly at niyakap si Queen at Zia.

The three of them hug and then Jay joined them.

I looked beside me and there's Rhio and Niall smiling at me.

"Don't let the chance slip away," saad ni Niall at tinapik ang aking balikat.

I nodded and smile. I'll surely won't let the chance slip away

Hindi na talaga. This time, I will hold this last chance tightly, even if my hands bleed.

After a an hour of crying and hugging they finally calmed down. They. Hindi ako kasama, that's because my heart is still beating so fast. My heart's still not calmed. I want to talk to her. Gusto ko siyang solohin. But I can't.

I want to hug her again and never let her go.

"Bakit hindi mo kami kinontak!" si Zia na nakapameywang sa harap ni Jelly.

"Wala akong cellphone. At hindi pa maayos ang signal dito. Sinubukan kong makipag-usap sa ibang sundalo pero hindi sila naniniwala sa akin."

I closed my eyes, "Tell me their names."

"Okay lang, ang importante nagkita-kita na tayo ngayon."

"Alam mo bang pinagawan ka pa namin ng puntod sa Canada. Araw-araw ka naming ipinagtitirik ng kandila," saad ni Zia at ngumuso.

Tumawa si Jelly and then here goes my heart again. Beating so fast.

"Kaya pala amoy kandila bahay namin."

Ibinaba ko ang aking tingin sa kamay niyang nakapatong sa kanyang hita. Hawak-hawak niya ang kamay ni Jay at nilalaro iyon.

Binalingan ko si Jay at nakita kong nakatingin siya sa akin... nakangisi at tila ba nang-aasar.

"Ano bang nangyari? Bakit hindi nakita nung mga sundalo ang katawan niyo kung buhay naman pala kayo?" tanong ni Queen habang inaayos ang buhok ni Jelly.

"Tsaka bakit kasama mo tatay ni Archer?"

Ngumiti si Jelly at pinunasan ang laway na tumutulo sa bibig ng aking ama.

Nakangiwi ito at paikot-ikot ang mata.

"Malakas kasi ang alon no'n, siguro nung sumabog ang barko tumalsik kami at agad na tinangay ng alon sa ibang lugar. Okay naman ako, nung nagising ako nasa pangpang ako ng isang isla. Galos lang ang meron ako, pero yung tatay ni Archer malala ang sugat sa ulo. Isang taon rin kaming namalagi sa isla noon at wala akong ibang magamit na pang-gamot sa tatay ni Archer kundi halaman. Pero ayan nga, nung tinulungan kami ng ibang sundalo nung nagising siya ganyan na siya. Hindi na siya nakakakilos nang maayos, hindi na siya nakakapagsalita."

Tiningnan ko ang aking ama at hindi ko alam kung ano bang dapat kong maramdaman.

"Bakit hindi mo siya isinuko sa mga sundalo?" tanong ko.

Tumingin sa akin si Jelly at binigyan ako ng ekspresyon na para bang hindi ito makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

"Bakit naman? He can't move, he can't even speak. Kung alam ko na ganyan ang kalagayan niya, hindi ko masisikmurang hayaan siyang makulong sa ganyang kalagayan."

Kinapos ako nang hininga nang hawakan ni Jelly ang kamay ng aking ama at matamis na ngumiti rito.

"G—Ga—nd—a," mabagal at utal na saad ng aking ama.

"Oo, ganda ako 'di ba?" masayang turan ni Jelly at naiiwas ko ang aking tingin nang dampian niya ng halik ang ulo ng aking ama.

After all what he did to her... she still forgive my dad and even took care of him for 3 years.

Now I know why it's never wrong loving her.

"Dad, kilala mo pa ako?" tanong ng kapatid kong si Agatha sa ama namin.

I sighed when the old man nod.

I guess this ends everything here.

Nagtama ang mata namin ni Jelly and when she smiled at me, I also smile. The sweetest smile that I didn't know that I can do.

— senseigan