This Time, I Mean It | KENTIN AU [Completed]

TTIMI 32 - Kiroh's

KIROH

"Your hand fits in mine like it's made just for me
But bear this mind, it was meant to be
And I'm joining up the dots, with the freckles on your cheeks, And it all makes sense to me"

Kumakabog ang dibdib ko habang hawak ko ang gitara at kumakanta. Nasa harap ko naman ang gulat na gulat na si Jio.

"I know you've never loved the crinkles by your eyes when you smile you've never loved your stomach or your thighs. The dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine, but I'll love them endlessly" Napangiti ako dahil nakita kong tumutulo na ang luha ni Jio. I know for sure that those were tears of joy. "Don't cry, my love." I said in between singing.

"I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth
But if I do, it's you, Oh, it's you, they add up to
I'm in love with you. And all these little things" Lumalakad na ito papalapit sa akin habang umiiyak pa rin. I'll make sure you'll always cry because of so much happiness, my Jio. "I love you, baby.." Sambit ko.

I saw him mouthing 'i love you' back. Our first I love yous.

"You can't go to bed without your coffee" Nakita ko itong natawa dahil sa pagpapalit ko ng lyrics na coffee sa tea. "And maybe that's the reason that you talk in your sleep. And all those conversations are the secrets that I keep. Though it makes no sense to me"

"You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you and you'll never treat yourself right darling, but I want you to. If I let you know, I'm here for you, maybe you'll love yourself like I love you, oh" Nakikita ko sa peripheral view ko na naglalabasan na ang mga kaibigan namin mula sa likod ng sinet-up namin na mini stage. They all stand behind Jio who's still crying his eyes out. Haha, my cutie baby.

Nagulat naman ako nang sobra itong lumapit sa akin at sa mic stand.

"And I've just let these little things slip out of my mouth" Sinabayan ako nitong kumanta. We are sharing the same mic while looking at each other.

"'Cause it's you, oh, it's you
It's you, they add up to
And I'm in love with you
And all your little things"

Saktong pagkatapos ng kanta ay pumutok ang mga fireworks. Nabaling doon ang atensyon nilang lahat pati na rin si Jio.

Samantalang ako naman ay pinapanood ang fireworks sa mga mata nito.

"Happy birthday, my love.."

Humarap ito sa akin ngunit hindi sumagot.

I got a kiss as an answer instead.

Maraming mga bagay ang nangyayari sa buhay ko na hindi ko maintindihan. Mga bagay na hindi ko naman hiniling pero ibinigay kahit na sobra akong winasak. Kaya simula noon, hindi na ako nahilig na humiling pa. Hinahayaan ko na lang na mangyari ang mga bagay-bagay. Playing safe kumbaga. But I realized na mas masarap pala sa pakiramdam 'yung mga hiniling mo na nakuha mo rin. Now this is called taking risk. Ito 'yung risk na sigurado akong hinding-hindi ko pagsisisihan kahit anong mangyari. Ito 'yung sugal na habang-buhay kong ipagpapasalamat na tinayaan ko.

"Maraming, maraming salamat, Kiroh.. hindi ko alam kung bakit mo ako pinapasaya nang ganito.. pero salamat.." Pinunasan ko ang luha nito.

"'Cause you deserve everything, baby.. I am more thankful na dumating ka sa buhay ko." Hindi ko namamalayan na tumutulo na rin pala ang luha ko. My heart wants to burst because of so much happiness.

"Happy birthday, Jiooooo!" Nagsigawan ang mga kaibigan namin at pinuntahan namin ang mga ito.

"Salamat, guys. Sobra-sobrang saya ko. A-alam n'yong lahat 'to?" Natataranta nitong tanong sa amin.

"Ask him." Itinuro ako ni Cal.

"Ikaw may pakana nito?" Ngiting-ngiting tanong sa akin ni Jio.

"No, these are team effort." Itinuro ko naman silang lahat at nagtawanan ang mga ito.

"Buti na lang you told him your fave song! Dati n'ya pa 'yan inaaral noong nagpasundo pa sa akin 'yan carrying his guitar! So kilig!" Pambubuking sa akin ni Liza.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Jio at napatingin sa akin. Natawa naman ako dahil alam kong 'yon 'yung araw na akala n'ya girlfriend ko si Liza. He's so cute, hahaha.

"And if you noticed, pasama pa nang pasama sa amin 'yan ni Liza kanina to set all this up. So he's really the mastermind." Panlalaglag din sa akin ni Park. Okay lang, palalampasin ko lahat 'yan ngayong madaling-araw.

"Sa totoo lang, nagseselos na nga 'ya-- aray!" Hindi natuloy ang sasabihin ni Sean dahil hinampas ito ni Jio. Hahaha, my jealous baby.

"And I'm sorry, Ji dahil kasabwat talaga kahit kami ni Sean. Peace!" Saad naman ni Cali.

"Pinagkaisahan n'yo pala 'ko ah! Pero ayos lang kung ganito naman pala ang kalalabasan." Nagtawanan kaming lahat dahil sa sinabi ni Jio. "Sobrang thank you sa inyong lahat!" Bumaling ito nang tingin sa akin. "Lalo na sa 'yo." I kissed his cheek.

"Pasalamat ka, birthday mo, 'di ko kokontrahin 'yan kahit masakit sa mata." Sean never failed to make us laugh.

"Come, let's eat everyone!" Pag-aya ko sa kanila.

"And let's partyyy!" Sigaw ni Cal.

Nag-set up din kasi kami ng long table para rito kami kumain. S'yempre hindi mawawala ang drinks. Naghanda rin kami ng bonfire sa gilid.

After eating, pumalibot kaming anim sa bonfire habang umiinom ng beer, nagkukwentuhan, at nagkakantahan.

"So, what are your plans pala after graduation? Ako, lilipad abroad." Panimula ni Liza. Napatingin pa ito kay Parker dahil ito ang naging dahilan ng away nila noon at paghihiwalay nila eventually.

But Parker seems okay now. I guess he really matured and that became his eye-opener. He's smiling to Liza.

"Balak naming sizmars eversince na makapag-open talaga ng studio." Sean speaks for their group. Cali and Jio agreed.

"Ako, I really don't know yet. Magpapahinga muna siguro ako para makapag-isip isip na rin." Sagot ni Parker.

Nabaling naman ang mga tingin nila sa akin.

"I really want to open a bar. Pero siguro malayo pa 'yon, kapag nakapag-ipon na lang siguro ako. I might just pursue what we have studied and be a director or anything connected to our field instead." I answered.

"I might want to invest in your bar." Saad ni Parker.

Nagsigawan naman ang mga 'to. I guess dahil sa saya at excitement.

My phone vibrated. Someone's calling again.

Napansin ni Jio na pinatay ko ang tawag.

"Love, everything okay? Ba't hindi mo sagutin?"

"Not important, love. Don't worry."

Siguro nga bago ako maka-move on, I really need to deal with the past.

I need to end this now.