Arts of Heart (Compilation of OSS)

ART 108

100 LANGUAGES I LOVE YOU NECKLACE

"What are we doing here?" takang tanong ko nang tumigil kami sa harap ng simbahan. Alam kong hindi kami nagpunta rito para magsimba dahil hindi naman siya katoliko. Yes, we have different religions and he's an Iglesia ni Cristo.

He just smiled at me. Lumabas siya ng kotse bago ako pinagbuksan. Mabilis niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko bago marahang hinila.

"I jusy want to give you something, Feb. I want Him to witnessed how much I love you," he said. I actually couldn't explain what I am feeling right now. I stared at his eyes.

"Ang corny mo, Leo. Bakit naman dito pa? Nakakahiya may mga tao sa labas, oh,"  bulong ko sa kaniya pero tinawanan niya lang ako at hinawakan sa baba at saka ibinalik sa kaniya ang tingin.

"Shhh, don't mind them. Listen to me, matagal akong mawawala at hindi kita mababantayan. I'm not able to pick and send you back home everyday. I'm not able to date you every sunday. I'm not able to hug and kiss you. I'm not able to see you personally. My mom needs me  now. I want you to hold on to my promise that once I get back here, I will marry you." My tears started to pool in my eyes.

I thought I forgot it for awhile. Akala ko matatakasan ko ang sakit na maidudulot sa akin ng pag-alis niya. His mom has a cancer and they have to bring her abroad for her treatment. I have to understand him because I am just his girlfriend. The health of her mother is more important.

Hindi ko na napigilan at niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit. Leo is the sweetest and caring man I've ever met. Siya 'yong tipo ng taong hindi mo gugustuhing mawala sa buhay mo. Sobrang mapagmahal niya at maeeffort. And I can't wait to be his wife--that's one of my dreams. Ang mapakasalan ang lalaking alam kong hindi ko pagsisihan sa huli.

He tightened his hug. I cried more.

"Hush, baby." He wiped away my tears and smiled weakly. I could see that he's hurt too. Nakita kong may kinuha siyang maliit na box sa kaniyang bulsa.

He opened it and I saw a beautiful necklace that I've never seen before. Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa akin bago niya hinawi ang aking buhok papunta sa aking balikat. Isinuot niya iyon sa akin.

"This necklace was from my grandmother. I promise to myself that I will give this to the woman I'm willing to spend my life with. Sobrang iniingatan ko ito at gusto kong ganoon din ang gawin mo rito. It'll tell you everyday of how much I love you."

After that, he kissed my forehead infront of God for the last time.

Each day I am longing for his presence. We didn't lose our communication but as the time goes by, he started to become busy for I don't know the reason. I still understand him even sometimes It makes me overthink. Ang kwintas na ibinigay niya sa akin ang nagbibigay panatag sa akin na babalikan niya ako.

Two years have passed and he still not coming back. Siya na lamang ang hinihintay ko dahil handa na ako. I'm already willing to be with him forever. I decided to surprise him and fled off to States just to see him but I wouldn't expect what I witnessed.

Akala ko ay hindi niya 'yon kayang gawin sa akin. Kissing and hugging another woman while I'm waiting for him to comeback. I am so mad at him. He cheated on me and that's the only thing na malinaw sa akin.

He tried to win me back. Araw-araw pumupunta siya ng bahay pero hindi ko siya nilalabas. May mga panahon na inaabot siya ng ulan sa labas pero talagang matigas na ang puso ko. Hanggang isang araw.

"Stop doing this, Leo. Hindi na ako babalik sa manlolokong katulad mo," I coldly said. Halos palakpakan ko na ang sarili ko dahil walang luhang lumalabas sa akin.

I freeze when he kneeled and hugged my legs. He keep on asking for my forgiveness pero mas lalo lamang akong nagalit sa kaniya. Saying sorry means you are guilty for what you did. Mas lalong sumikip ang nararamdaman ko kaya mabilis ko siyang tinulak.

"I waited for two years, Leo! Nagmukha akong tanga sa kakahintay sa isang taong nagpapakasaya na pala sa ibang babae. Madami pala akong nasayang na panahon sa kahihintay sa 'yo. I waited for a wrong a guy." I saw the glint of pain in his eyes.

Hinawakan ko ang kwintas na ibinigay niya sa akin at hinaklit iyon mula sa aking leeg. "See this? Wala itong kwenta dahil manloloko ka!" Itinapon ko iyon sa kung saan bago ko siya iniwan doon.

But I never thought that it was the last time that I would be able to see him. After a day, his parents contacted me that he died because of accident. Hindi ko iyon matanggap.

"'Yong araw na umalis siya sa bahay, sinabi niya na pipilitin ka niyang makuha muli sa kahit anong paraan. Mahal na mahal ka ng anak ko, Feb. He even gave up his dream job in States for you and that was the moment you saw him with another girl. He was so fucked up that time," umiiyak na sabi ng kaniyang ina. Tuluyan namang tumulo ang luha sa aking mga mata.

"Nagpaconvert siya into Roman Catholic para sa iyo dahil gusto niya na makasal kayo sa paraan na gusto mo. At ang kwintas na ibinigay niya sa iyo ang siyang mas nakapanakit sa kaniya. Noong itinapon mo iyon ay sinubukan niyang hanapin. Sa sobrang pagkadesperado niyang mahanap, hindi niya na napansin ang sasakyang parating." Halos hindi na ako makahinga dahil sa aking mga naririnig. Sising-sisi ako sa mga ginawa ko.

"D-did he find the necklace?" nanginginig kong tanong.

Nagulat ako nang iabot iyon sa akin ng kaniyang mommy. "Natagpuan namin iyan sa kaniyang kamay. He was holding that thing as if he have to protect that at any cost," umiiyak na wika ng kaniyang ina.

Tinitigan ko ang mukha ni Leo sa loob ng kaniyang kabaong. Napahagulhol ako nang maalala ang mukha niyang nagmamakaawa sa akin.

"Alam mo ba kung gaano kahalaga sa kaniya ang necklace na iyan?" tanong sa akin ng kaniyang mommy.

My brows furrowed because I also wanted to know the reason why it was very important for him.

"Because it's a 100 languages I love you necklace. It contains languages telling how much he loves you."

Now, I regret everything for not forgiving him. It's too late to realize that this necklace is a symbol of his love for me. A simple thing but speaks hundred of feelings. And throwing this like what I did means trashing his feelings and love for the woman he want to spend his life with.