Hopelessly Devoted (Under Revision)

CHAPTER 09

Anya's POV

Panibagong umagang hindi ko nanaman siya nakita sa aking tabi, hindi ko nga rin alam kung umuwi ba siya o hindi, maybe he took the advantage para makapag-solo sila ni Chella.

I laugh at my own thought, how did I became like this? Kailan ako nagsimulang maging ganito mag-isip?

I sighed in pain before pulling my self up to bed and take a cold shower upang magising ang buong sistema ko, I did not bother to cook breakfast since ako lang naman din ang kakain

Nang makarating sa kompanya ay dumaan muna ako saglit sa isang cafeteria, I buy some bread and eat it on my way to elevator but before I could even get in, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist

There, I saw Xavier, malikot ang mga mata nito na tila ito ang unang pagkakataon kaming dalawa nagkaharap, I sadly smile on him

"I'm sorry for what I did and what I say last night Xavier."

Sinserong saad ko dito, a small smile crept on his face too, with that, I feel reassured.

"Tara na, male-late na tayo sa working hour"

Suhestiyon ko at nagtangkang pumasok muli sa elevator ngunit muli ako nitong hinila paharap sa kaniya, naguguluhan ko namang siyang binalingan ng tingin

"M-May gusto ka ba'ng sabihin?"

Tanong ko dito

"Gusto kong um-absent ngayon"

Simula nito na nagpalito sa akin

"I-It's up to you--"

"Gusto kong samahan mo ako, Anya."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi nito

"Seryoso ka ba? Idadamay mo ako sa pag-absent mo? Ano yun? Dahil gusto mo lang?"

Umiiling ito habang may maliit na ngiting namumutawi sa kaniyang labi, lumapit ito sa akin hanggang sa ilang pulgada na lamang ang agwat namin sa isat-isat

He gently patted my head, I can feel his warm breath fanning the top of my head

"I want you to celebrate your birthday with me, Anya."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinaad nito, I immediately check the calendar on my phone and indeed, it is really my birthday!

Another birthday without him.

Bumagsak ang mga balikat ko dahil sa ibinulong ng kanilang panig ng aking isip, but then...

I slowly raised my head and meet Xavier's stare, I saw sincerity in his eyes that soften my heart.

Binalingan ko ng tingin ang elevator saka humawak sa kamay ni Xavier, agad kong nakita ang saya sa mga mata nito, we both held hand and run toward the exit

"Saan mo gustong unang pumunta?"

Excited na tanong ko ngunit natatawang napa-iling namang ito

"That should be my line since it's your birthday Anya, where do you want to go?"

Natahimik ako dito saka pinilit na mag-isip then an idea comes into my mind, I look at him with pleading eyes

"I know it might sound boring but can we pass by on rose's garden?"

I asked him, the amuse smile flash on Xavier's lips before starting the engine of his car

" That's a perfect idea, Anya."

I bit the bottom of my lip suppressing the smile to show while feeling how my heart melt inside

I immediately hop out of the car the moment it stopped, I've been longing to go here even before I get married to Drew but I always can't and now...I'm here.

Agad kong tinungo ang hilera ng mga puting rosas, I immediately lean on and sniff them, ang matamis nitong amoy ay lumukod sa buong pagkatao ko na nagdulot ng matamis na ngiti sa aking labi

"It's just like you"

Nalingunan ko si Xavier na may hawak ng isang bouquet ng pinaghalong puti at pink roses, nakangiti ito habang iniaabot sakin na siyang malugod kong tinaggap

"What do you mean by that?"

I sweetly asked him, itinuro nito ang highway na tanging ilang metro lamang ang layo sa mga bulaklak

"Those smokes are considered toxic like in your life, despite the toxicity of your husband, you still bloom like a white rose, your innocence and purity always stay in you"

Muli ko nanamang naramdaman ang mainit na haplos ng mga salita nito sa puso ko, tumingala ako saglit upang pigilan ang nagbabadyang luha sa aking mga mata saka ito muking binalingan ng nakakalokong tingin

"Ikaw ha! Anong ibig mong sabihin? Polusyon ang asawa ko?"

Saglit na nawala ang ngiti nito ngunit agad din bumalik, ginulo nito ang buhok ko saka tumango

"Parang ganun na nga."

Pabirong and nito na tinawanan ko na lamang, after stopping at the roses garden, we decided to have a road trip and just stopped nang makaramdam ng gutom, nagtake-out na lamang kami ni Xavier saka pumunta sa tabing ilog upang doon pagsaluhan ang pagkain

"I'm sorry hindi mo nayaya sila Eshell, it might be uncomfortable to you since it is just me--"

"Tinigil ka nga! Kahit sino sa inyong tatlo ang kasama ko, I won't ever be feel uncomfortable, kaibigan ko kayong lahat"

Agad itong napayuko matapos ang lintaya ko, I was about to say sorry when he suddenly look up on me with those teary eyes

"W-What can I do for you to heal, Anya?"

Tila naging double-meaning ang naging dating ng salita nito samin, either way, I also don't know how.

"Let's go and examine your heart, if you need transplant or what let us just do it immediately before we run out of time, Anya."

Tila ito pa ang mas natakot sa maaari kong kahantungan kung sakali man na wala na talagang pag-asang gumaling ako

I gently cupped his face, wipe his tears and hush him

How cruel I am to think of letting myself die not knowing how many people will be in pain for losing me, I may not become a lucky wife, but as a person, as a friend and as a daughter, I am more than blessed.

Mabilis kong niyakap si Xavier saka sunod-sunod na humikbi sa balikat nito

"I might sound unfair, b-but...please make me forget who am I just for today, Xavier. Make me genuinely happy again, I'm begging you."