FATE 2: DESTINY'S HEART - COMPLETED 2019

XXX: I Choose You

SEEING Allysa and Alyce getting along gives Darven the sense of fulfillment and joy that no words can describe. Basta masaya siyang makitang nagkakasundo ang magkapatid at ngayon ay nagsasalo sa isang magandang musika sa itaas ng stage. Parehong may ngiti sa mukha habang buong pusong tumutugtog sa harap ng piano.

At syempre, proud siya sa sarili niya. Finally, nasa first row of seats na rin siya nakaupo. Aba'y sa hirap ng buhay ng pagiging fanboy niya na ngayon ay asawa na niya, nakaupo na rin siya sa harap – VVIP pa.

Tama nga, kapag may tiyaga, may magandang asawa. Naks!

Hawak-hawak niya ang bouquet of paper roses. Allergic kasi ang ET niya sa mga totoong bulaklak. Ayaw niya namang masira ang araw na 'yon sa pagbahing. Siya ang mag-a-adjust. Kaya gumawa siya ng sariling paper roses out of old news papers – effort kung effort ang lolo n'yo.

Natapos ang kanta at nagpalakpakan ang lahat. Tumayo si Allysa at nag-bow bago um-exit sa stage. Naiwan si Alyce. Ilang segundong nabalot ng katahimikan ang paligid. Pati siya ay kinakabahan kahit na alam niyang solo performance ang gagawin ni Alyce nang mga oras na 'yon.

"I used to hate myself for falling in love with music," simula nito. Mapait itong ngumiti. "I wish God didn't give me this talent. I wish I didn't love playing the piano. I wish I didn't have this dream of becoming a famous pianist. I wish I stopped and didn't pursue this. I hated myself for being too greedy with this dream. I hated everyone for always making me feel that I'm not good enough. I hated myself for being weak and impatient."

"Iniisip ng iba na sobrang successful ko. I almost have everything. Someone whose willing to spend the rest of his life with me despite all the lies I've kept from him. Opportunities that should have been given to someone deserving than me. I was never contented. Kapag may na achieved ako, kulang pa, gusto ko pang mas higit pa roon. Pero bakit ganoon? Hindi pa rin ako nagiging masaya? Hindi ko pa rin magawang ngumiti nang totoo? Will I be able to find that genuine happiness in me?"

"'Till I reach a point in my life where I no longer have all the strength to do what I love the most. I got diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for abusing my hands too much. I could no longer play the piano the same way as before. I never cared about my hands. I was too busy caring for something that isn't really worth my time. For always proving myself to those people who thinks that I'm not good enough. For always coping up with the expectations and opinions of other people na kailanman hindi naging totoo sa akin. And I realized that I have always been playing with my insecurities and not with my heart."

"Sabi nila, your music reflects your true self. Your music will tell everyone that story you have been keeping in your heart. And my music made you hear things I've been missing in my life. Things that I've ignored and had taken for granted. Alyce's music lacks heart and genuine emotions. That moment, I've realized, na ang mga itinuring kong mga kaibigan ay hindi pala totoo. I had no one. I was left alone in the corner; self-pitying with my poor decision making and misdoings. I was miserable and unhappy with my life."

"Then he came in my life and corrected my bad decisions and upside down perceptions. He was annoyingly nosy but very adorable." Napangiti siya nang tumingin si Alyce sa direksyon niya. "He made me realize a lot of things. Tell me stories I didn't know existed. He appears even in places I didn't expect him to camp. He was like, he's everywhere and has been looking over me. He saves me in every cliché situations I got myself in. Madalas siyang stress sa'kin pero 'di niya naman ako iniiwan."

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi sa pagpipigil ng tawa. Ramdam na niya ang pamamasa ng gilid ng mga mata niya. Damn, Alyce! You're making me cry.

"Pinapagalitan niya ako at pinagsasabihan kapag alam niyang mali ako. At higit sa lahat, itinuro niya sa'kin kung paano mahalin ulit ang sarili ko. Kung paano patawarin ang sarili ko sa lahat ng mga maling desisyon ko sa buhay. Taught me to appreciate those people who has always been true to me. I was too busy looking for stones; not realizing that I've already got a couple of diamonds in my hands."