Arts of Heart (Compilation of OSS)

ART 89

THE STORY BEHIND STORY

Halos walang paglagyan ang saya na aking nararamdaman nang makita ang lugar kung saan niya ako dinala. Nakakabakla man sabihin but this is the most beautiful view i've ever seen.

"Ang ganda pala dito, Keana. Bakit dito mo napiling pumunta?" My gaze went on her.

My heart beats faster as I saw her smiling while eyes closed. I can't help but to admire her beauty and personality. Mabilis ko rin namang binawi nang bigla siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Para maiba naman. I just want to feel a peace and calm place. And besides, alam kong mas makakapag focus ako sa pagsusulat. Malayo sa lahat," she replied. "Halika na, magpahinga muna tayo." 

I followed her. She sat under the big tree where you can see the ocean. I don't know that this kind of place exists. Masyadong perpekto at napakatahimik.

I sat beside her. I was shocked when she held my hand. "Thank you, Khayne. I'm such a lucky person for having you."

I smiled of what she said. Kinuha ko ang kaniyang kamay at pinagdaop iyon. Tumingin ako sa dagat. "Ewan ko ba. Kapag dating sayo hindi ako makatanggi. Hindi ako makaangal. Nakakatanga. Basta ang alam ko lang, gusto ko ako 'yong lagi mong kasama."

"Konti na lang, Khayne. Matatapos na 'yong story ko. Matatapos ko na 'yong story nating dalawa," wika niya na mas lalong nakapagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Parang ayoko pang matapos. Gusto pa kitang makasama sa ganitong mga lugar."

"I know. Alam mo ba kung bakit kita isinasama sa mga paborito kong lugar? Sinasama kitang gawin 'yong mga bagay na hindi ko pa nagagawa? Because this is the best way para mas maging makakatotohanan ang aming mga akda. My experience is my best weapon in every  story I write."

Saglit na katahimikan ang namagitan. Sabay naming pinanood ang paglubog ng araw habang hawak ang kamay ng isa't-isa.

"Hey, Keana. Wake up. Nagprepare na ako ng food natin. Kumain kana muna." Kinusot-kusot niya ang kaniyang mata kaya napatawa ako sa kaniyang reaksyon.

"Hala sorry. Naitayo mo mag-isang 'tong tent?" She asked then I nodded. "Sorry. Gabi na pala. Kumain kana ba? Tara sabayan mo ako." Mabilis niya akong hinila palabas para kumain.

After naming kumain ay napagpasyahan muna naming manatili muna sa labas para makapag-usap.

"Khayne, let's play. I will give you 20 chances to ask me what do you want to know. Syempre, gano'n ka rin. Ano, deal?" Masayang sambit niya na agad ko namang sinang-ayunan.

One of the things I like about her is her being childish. Kung sa iba ay ayaw nila, well ako gusto ko.

"Favorite color?"

"Black. Ano ba 'yan ang easy naman ng mga tanong mo," reklamo niya na ikinatawa ko.

"Embarassing moment?"

"Nagsuka ako sa school kasi may sakit ako."

"Ewww that was gross haha. Next."

"Arte nito ah. Same question. What's your embarassing moment?"

Saglit siyang tumigil at nag-isip bago biglang tumawa. "Noong Grade 8 ako. We were playing chinese garter when I slipped on the floor. Tapos no'ng nagte-ten twenty kami, hindi ko alam na naalis 'yong hook ng palda ko kaya pagtalon ko nalaglag ang palda ko. Nakakahiya 'di ba? Ang mas nakakahiya pa kaharap ko 'yong manliligaw kong mukhang adik," natatawang kwento niya habang ako naman ay hindi matigil sa katatawa.

That night was the most memorable night for me. We talked. We laughed. We cried. We enjoyed. Nang gabing iyon ay mas lalo ko siyang minahal.

Nataranta ako nang magising na wala sa aking tabi si Keana. Mabilis akong lumabas para hanapin siya. Nabunutan naman ako ng tinik ng makita siyang muli sa ilalim ng malaking puno.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Ang aga mo magising. Excited kana bang umuwi?" Pabirong tawa ko pero nanatili siyang walang reaksyon.

"Hindi. I just want to see the sun to rise. This is the last part of my story. This is how I want to end my story." Nanghihina niyang wika.

My heart shattered. I don't know what she's talking about but i feel the pain in her.

"Let's go home, Keana. Dadalhin na kita sa hospital. We----"

I stopped when she placed her finger on my lips. Damn! She's crying.

"I'm very happy that you're here beside me. I already wrote the ending of my story. And i want us to fulfill it, Khayne. Can you do it for me?" The tears fell from my eyes seeing her like this. No, please.

"Let's watch the sunrise together," bulong niya bago sumandal sa aking balikat habang nakaharap sa dagat.

"I love you, Khayne. I will sleep now."

Kasabay nang pagsikat ng araw ay hindi na muling nagising pa si Keana.

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang luha sa aking mga mata bago isinarado ang libro matapos mabasa ang kwento.

That was the most painful story i've read.

Dala ang libro ay mabilis kong pinaharurot ang aking kotse papunta sa kaniya.

"Congratulations. You made it. Natapos mo ang kwento kasabay ng pagtatapos ng buhay mo. You didn't know how proud I am that despite of your disease you still fight just to finish it."

"But you're so unfair, Keana. You cause too much pain to me. You used me and worst I just let you to do it. It hurts knowing that I was just nothing in the whole story. It's not our story. I just play the role of the character but i will never be the character itself..." I took a deep breath then wiped my tears.

"I will never be Khayne. I will never be the person you love until your last breath," bulong ko sa tapat ng kaniyang lapida kung saan nakaukit ang kaniyang pangalan.

I am not the subject of her story. I am not Khayne. I just help her fulfill her dreams to write a story  where her and his first love are the main characters. I'm just a stranger who loves the writer unconditionally and that's the true story behind the story she wrote.