Sakura's POV
Today, it was like an ordinary day for others, but for me and Zack, this day's priceless. It will be memorable. It is the day where he decided to finally introduce me to his parents. It's weird, kasi hinintay niya muna yung "Yes" ko bago niya 'ko ipakilala sa kanila. And for that, I ask myself, am I ready? Am I ready for this new beginning? Am I really ready to have a life, with him by my side? Am I ready to believe in the power of hope, and the magic of love once again?
I think, I am. He turned me into a whole new better person. He showed me what life has to offer. He showed me the true magic of living. He is my haven. He is my home. I am nothing without him, and I believe he's nothing without me either.
"Zack." I whispered while looking at his eyes. Hindi ko alam, pero pakiramdam ko, nalulunod ako tuwing titignan ko siya sa kanyang mga mata. Nginitian niya lang ako at ginulo ang aking buhok.
"Bakit?" Kalmado niyang sagot. Yung ngiti niya, hindi ko alam pero sa tuwing nakikita ko 'to, pakiramdam ko, ligtas ako. Pakiramdam ko, wala akong dapat ipag-alala dahil nandyan siya. Ilang taon na rin ang lumipas pero hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang lahat ng nangyari. Masyadong malalim ang sugat na iniwan nito sa akin.
"I think I'm not ready for this." Pag-aalinlangan ko. Nagbuntong-hininga siya't tinignan ang aking mga mukha. Natawa siya nang makita niya ang mannerism ko tuwing kinakabahan ko. Hindi ko kasi mapigilang kagatin ang aking labi tuwing ito ang nararamdaman ko. Hinawakan niya ako sa aking mukha at diretsong tumitig sa aking dal'wang mata.
"They're already inside there. Huwag kang kabahan. Akong bahala sa'yo." Bulong niya sa akin, pagkatapos ay mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay. Muli niya akong tinignan sa mga mata bago kami tuluyang pumasok sa loob. "Promise." Wika niya, pagkatapos ay sabay kaming pumasok sa loob.
I was startled the moment we entered the room. Punong-puno ng bulakblak ang paligid nito. Sa gitna, mayroong dalawang litrato na may katabing dalawang jar. Isang lalaki, isang babae. Sila ang mga magulang ni Zack. Napatingin ako muli sa kanya, kamukhang-kamukha niya ang nanay niya. Napangiti ako't natawa, na siya namang ikinabahala niya.
"B-Bakit?" Nate-tense niyang tanong. "Nothing, kamukha mo nanay mo, Zack." Pang-aasar 'ko. Ngumiti lang siya't naglakad. Hanggang ngayon, naninibago pa rin ako. Hindi na kasi siya yung Zero na laging nakasimangot at nasa isang tabi lang. Ngayon, lagi na siyang nakangiti't masaya.
"Ma, Pa. Gusto 'ko sanang ipakilala sa inyo si Sakura. Sakura Oriztta." Wika niya. Napatingin ako't nagulat. Dahan-dahan siyang lumuhod sa aking harapan. May dinukot sa likuran, at diretsong tumingin sa akong mga mata.
"Sakura Castaneto, will y-you marry me?" Tanong niya sa'kin. Hindi ko alam, pero bigla na lamang tumulo ang mga luha 'ko. Lumamig ang aking katawan, at tila huminto ang oras sa'king paligid. Is this really what true love feels like? Napahawak ako nang mahigpit sa aking damit, tinignan siya sa kanyang mga mata't inalalayan tumayo.
"Zero, Zack. Stand up." Wika ko. Mahahalata sa kanyang mukha ang labis na pagkalito. Hindi niya alam kung bakit 'ko siya pinatayo o ano, pero kasi, mahihirapan lang siya sa'kin. Ayokong mangyare 'yon.
"Zack, you deserve someone better. You deserve someone who'll love you as much as you love me. Zack, I'm no worthy of this love. I am just a hopeless broken girl who killed tons of lives. Zack, I'm a mess. I am nothing." I explained. Hindi ko na napigilan, pero tuloy-tuloy ang pag-patak ng aking luha sa mga mata 'ko.
"I don't want you to have me in your life. I don't want you, to be with someone who's only know in life is to destruct someone else's life. Every single time I invest my emotions to somebody, things gets broken." Nagbuntong-hininga ko't hinawakan siya sa kanyan pisngi. "And I don't want you to be involved. I don't want you to experience my hell. I am no good. My life is a dystopia." Bulong ko.
It's weird. Pero the moment na matapos niyang marinig ang mga sinabi 'ko. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at niyakap. Mahigpit ang yakap na 'to. Ramdam na ramdam 'ko ang init ng kanyang hininga sa aking taenga. Mahal ko siya, oo. Pero hindi maaari. Ayokong pumasok ng tuluyan sa buhay niya. Mahihirapan lang siya sa'kin.
"I am nothing but your cure. My love will cleanse all of your negativity, and replace it with nothing but euphoria." He whispered habang humihigpit ang kanyang yakap sa akin.
"You are my good. And I am forever thankful for God to bring you in my life. You managed to let me feel the essence of life. I am willing to accept your flaws. I am willing to accept your entirety. I am willing to accept your past." He whispered. Humiwalay siya sa akin ng yakap at hinawakan ang dalawa kong kamay.
"Hindi ba't ganun naman dapat kapag in-love ka? You wouldn't mind someone's imperfections, and just plainly accept them as what they are. Love is about giving one another acceptance and hope for new beginnings." His words, it made me dumbfounded.
"Z-Zero.." I whispered. He shushed me as he continually say his speech. Even though his tears were falling, his smile never faded. His eyes were still full of hope in spite of rejection.
"Once upon a time, there was this young lad and a beautiful young lady. They are both haunted with their bitter experiences in life. But they never gave up. They stood firm for life. They fought for others, and managed to give purpose and meanings to them. After hell, comes heaven. I believe those two are made for each other. They made "love" happen. They fixed each other and gave reasons to continue to live in this mad world."
"Sakura, kung iniisip mo na ikapapangit ng buhay ko ang makasama ka, pwes nagkakamali ka. Ikaw ang kumumpleto't nagpabago sa'kin. Ikaw ang hangin sa bawat hininga ko. Ikaw ang liwanag sa bawat bagay na nakikita ko. Ikaw ang tamis ng buhay ko."
"Believing in those pessimist thoughts of yours is pure bullshit. Sakura, kung iiwan mo 'ko ngayon, parang pinatay mo na rin ako." Wika niya. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Alam ko na mahal niya talaga ako, but I believe na all of this is for short-term lang. Lahat ng 'to magfafade-off din dahil sa mga-
"I love you, Sakura." Those three words. It managed to stop all of my worries. I'm falling, real hard, Zack. Please, catch me.
"Alam ko na hindi kasing kulay ng love story ang nakasanayan nating napapanood sa penikula't telebisyon. Love comes in all forms. At kahit na inabot pa tayo ng madugong proseso, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako rito. Dahil kung wala ang lahat ng 'to, hindi ko sana makikilala ang taong kukumpleto't magbibigay ng dahilan sa buhay ko." His words, it's full of certainty. I can't hold back anymore, slowly, I'm giving in. After years of trusting, ngayon na lang ulit ko 'to gagawin.
Muli siyang lumuhod habang suot-suot pa rin ang kanyang matamis na ngiti. He looked at me, and poped the question. "Sakura, will you be my wife?".
Things are all clear now. He is what my life means. He is my good. He is.. what love means to me.
"Yes."
BINABASA MO ANG
Class Picture 2 : Moriendo Renascor (Published under Cloak Pop Ficion)
Horror"How can we make this world better?" St Venille High just got blooder! A fresh batch of students got enrolled in the 6th class. In the bizarre world of St. Venille, are you ready to unfold its darkest mystery? Once you're in, there's no turning back...
