Arts of Heart (Compilation of OSS)

ART 103 (II)

BACK IN HIS ARMS

(Part two of the story "ANG DATI KONG PAHINGA AY HAWAK NA NG IBA")

Three years have passed since Nathan and I broke up. I cut all the connection we have and started a new life without him. I pursue studying again and luckily I graduated with the course I really wanted. I am now an architect.

I was so lost and messed that time. I couldn't think straight and all I wanted was to end my life. Sino ba naman ang hindi mababaliw kung ibinigay mo nang lahat sa taong lolokohin ka lang pala sa huli? But I'm just glad for having Lea beside me. She helped me to move on.

"Here's our another project. We will have a meeting later with the engineer. I give you this one, Ash. Malaking proyekto ito kaya ikaw ang ini-assign ko. I know you can do it," my boss said that made me smile.

"No problem, Ma'am. Thank you for your trust," I replied before she went out of my office.

Pinag-aralan ko ang ibinigay sa akin ni ma'am hanggang sa tawagan na ako papunta sa meeting hall. I made a quick retouched before I proceed to the hall.

Tanging boss pa lamang namin ang nandoon kaya nakangiti akong sumalubong sa kaniya bago naupo. I felt that my phone vibrated so I picked it up immediately.

I almost fell from my sit when I saw Lea's message. Kasabay nang pagbukas ng pinto ay siyang panlalambot ko.

Nathan was the engineer that my boss was talking about!

While we were on the meeting, he kept on glancing at me. Masyado akong nadidistract dahil doon kaya wala akong maintindihan.

"Are you free tomorrow, Miss Ashthaine?" Napabalik ako sa reyalidad at napalingon kay Nathan. My heart was pounding too fast.

"Why?" He chuckled and it annoyed me.

"I said, we will visit the house tomorrow so we can take a look on what we need to add or change. Are you free tomorrow?" Napapahiya akong napatango.

"Y-yeah."

Hindi ako pinatulog nang pagtatagpo naming iyon. I know, I still have feelings for him. Even how much I wanted to hate him, my heart just couldn't. Sobrang rupok ko pa rin pagdating sa kaniya.

Sinundo niya ako sa aking bahay at kamalas-malasan naman na natraffic kami pero pinanindigan ko na hindi siya kausapin. This cheater is messing my whole system again.

Hapon na nang makarating kami roon at halos mamangha ako dahil sa ganda ng lugar. My jaw dropped as I saw the house--no, the mansion. It was so big!

"Meron pa bang aayusin dito? Niloloko ata tayo ng kliyente natin," I uttered. I actually don't know who's the client. My boss wants his profile confidential.

I heard him laugh. I glared at him. Akala ata ng manlolokong ito ay madadala niya ako sa pagtawa niya. I looked away and went inside the house. Well, konti lang 'no.

Halos malula ako nang pumasok sa bahay. Lahat nang bagay na naroroon ay bago. Umakyat ako hanggang sa third floor ng bahay. Damn! The place was so perfect. I went to the veranda at napanganga ako dahil kitang kita doon ang paglubog ng araw.

I froze when I felt Nathan's arms wrapped around my stomach. My knees became weak and tears started to form at the corner of my eyes.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry for cheating," mahinang bulong niya pero nawalan na ata ako ng dila kaya sa halip na magsalita ay nasampal ko siya.

"You almost ruined my life, Nathan. Do you think your sorry can fix everything that have been done? I love you so much and gave you my everything pero nagawa mo pa ring magloko!" I shouted at him.

He gently held my hands but I don't have strength to remove those so I let him.

"I'm sorry for doing that. I-I just did that because I know what you're doing just to support my needs and I hate seeing you in that situation. I'm so mad at myself for letting my girl suffered while I was doing nothing. Alam ko ang mga trabaho mo noon. Alam ko lahat, Ash at nasasaktan ako. Ayokong sabihin na kulang ang ipinapadala mo kasi baka kung ano pang mas malalang trabaho ang pasukin mo para lang sa 'kin. K-kaya pumayag ako sa gusto ni Jessica." Titig lang ako sa kaniya habang hindi matanggap ng utak ko ang sinabi niya.

"Pumayag ako na maging kami kapalit noon ay tutustusan niya ang pag-aaral ko. And she knows that you're not my sister. Naging miserable rin ako noon nang iwan mo ako. Pinili kong hayaan kang umalis, hindi dahil ayoko na kun'di ayokong maubos ka nang tuluyan dahil sa pagmamahal mo sa akin. Kaya pinangako ko sa sarili ko na kapag may ipagmamalaki na ako, babalikan kita. I love you so much, Ash. Until now..."

Naitakip ko ang sariling bibig habang tuloy-tuloy ang pag-agos ng luha sa mata.

"Pinagsikapan kong matapos itong bahay kasi alam kong pangarap mo ito. Ang magkaroon ng sariling bahay kasama ako at ang magiging anak natin. Mahal na mahal kita at ang muli kang mawala sa akin ay hindi ko na kakayanin pa."

Napatingala ako sa langit nang makita ang mga fireworks doon. I never imagined that this will going to happen. Mula sa mga fireworks ay nabuo ang salitang 'WILL YOU GIVE ME A SECOND CHANCE?"

Bumaling ako kay Nathan pero nakaluhod na ito habang hawak ang isang box na naglalaman ng singsing.

"I know I've hurt you and my sorry will not be enough but I want to take this opportunity to be with you again. This time I will not let you go. This time I will be the one who will do everything for you. Will you g-give me a second chance and m-marry me, baby?" his voice cracked and I saw the tears fell from his eyes.

Binigyan ko siya nang sunod-sunod na tango. His trembling hand slides the ring on my finger. He cupped my face and gave me a kiss on my forehead.

"I love you so much, Nathan."

"I love you more than anything, baby," he said before giving me a hug, proving that he's all mine now.

He once made a mistake. Hindi man maiitama ang isang pagkakamali pero maraming bagay na maaring gawin para makabawi.

Everyone deserves a second chance. It just depends on what a person must do to make that chance worthy.

And I'm glad that Nathan made his second chance to be with me. With his warm hugs and soft kisses, I feel the peace in my heart, again.