Vil P.O.V

Parang natigilan si Vil nang biglang bumukas ang projector na nakapatong sa mahabang conference table na nandun.

The screen was blank for a couple of seconds before a recording started playing there. And in it was the very person her heart was aching for ever since she walked out on him that night.

The very same man who made her heart beat way faster than normal. The man who broke it into pieces.

And, the only one who could put it back together. The man she Loved-her Imagination and Reality.

"Reed. . ."

Tumikhim pa ang binata mula sa screen.

"Ehem...uh...Hi?" Matipid na ngumiti ito.

"I...uh- I've tried this a hundred of times now and... I'm not sure if I can get it right this time. But, no harm in trying, Right? So here goes..."

He sighed.

"Vilma, I know I was a Jerk back then. I've hurt you and yet, I let you walk away. Just like that. B-but I-"

Inabot nito ang camera, saka iyon bahagyang ini-adjust bago muling nagsalita.

"Eight years ago, nagkaroon ng malaking problema ang pamilya namin. My dad made a really bad deal. Really bad investment."

"Naapektuhan niyon ng husto ang buhay namin dahil, well...my dad didn't take it so well. He became an alcoholic. Me, being in my last year of highschool, knew that I couldn't do anything about it-yet."

"Minsan tinanong mo ako kung bakit ako umalis ng bansa. A little clichéd, I know. But this is my Reality."

Saglit na natigilan si Reed.

He looked so much in pain that she could feel her heart going out to him.

"I went there to take back what they took from my father, Vil. I studied twice as hard, worked thrice as hard until I reached what I am today. I thought I had enough."

"Akala ko nakumpleto kona ang lahat sa buhay ko. I mean, I got my dad's company back and more. Then I came back. Here."

Damang-dama ni Vil ang unti-unting pag-ahon ng samu't saring damdamin sa puso niya nang diretsong tinignan nito ang camera.

It was as if he was staring directly at her through the lenses as he continued to pour his heart out.

"When I first met you again after a long time, I thought, "What the h*ck?" I mean, eight years and coincidentally, Ikaw agad ang nabangga ko- literally?"

"I don't know why but my supposedly short vacation, suddenly felt like. . .home. I should've walked away, you know?"

Saglit na natahimik ito bago unti-unting ngumiti na parang may naalala siyang Magandang pangyayari.

"I should've walked away but I couldn't. Wanna know why?"

Ramdam ni Vil ang pag-iinit ng sulok ng kanyang mata.

"Cause even after all the achievement, deep down, I know, I'm still longing for home. A home in this harsh reality. Happiness amidst all this. And being with you...felt like that. And I-"

Napakunot noo si Vil nang muling magblanko ang screen.

Mabilis na nilapitan niya ang projector, saka pinindot ang play button. Sa inis niya, na hindi na nagpe-play iyon.Mukhang hanggang doon lang ang recorded file nun.

Tuluyan nang pumatak ang kanyang mga luha.

"Reed, you idiot!"

Malakas na tinapik niya ang projector bago napahikbi.

"Idiot! Stupid! Jerk! Asshole! *sob* Praning ka! Praning ka..."

Dahan dahan siyang na payuko sa conference table.

She couldn't feel her heart bursting with so much emotion and she can't do anything about it.

Gusto niyang makita si Reed.

Gusto niyang yakapin nang mahigpit at sabihin dito na ayos lang ang lahat.

Kung gaano niya itong nami-miss at Kung gaano niya itong kamahal.

"Dapat pala hinayaan ko nalang ang Papa mo na barilin ako."

Napaangat si Vil ng tingin.

Muli na namang namuo ang kanyang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata nang unti-unting makilala ang lalaking ngayon ay nakatayo sa di kalayuan sa iniiyakan niyang mesa.

"R-Reed.."

His smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Hi, Vilma."

She wanted to run at him, hug him and kiss him.

Hindi niya alam kung alin sa mga iyon ang kanyang uunahin kaya nanatili na lang siya sa kina-uupuan.

Isa pa marami pa siyang tanong dito.

"Anong g-ginagawa mo d-dito?" Tanong niya at napansinghot pa siya.

He shrugged bago patagilid na sumandal sa pinto.

"I came here to see you, Vil."

"Why?"

"To finish what I wasn't able to tell in that recording."

Natahimik lang si Vil.

Kasabay ng pagbilis na tibok ng kanyang puso ay muling pag-ahon ng mga damdaming pilit niyang ibinabaon sa pinakamalalim na bahagi ng kanyang puso nitong mga nakaraang linggo.

"Okay! Fine. Talk-"

"I- I'm in love with you, Vilma Cuyos."

O__o

Kamuntik ng malaglag si Vil sa kina-uupuan niya ng dahil sa sinabi ni Reed.
Sinalubong nito ang mga mata niya.

Kamuntik na naman siyang mapahikbi nang makita ang kalungkutan at sakit sa mga mata ni Reed na nakaguhit.

His eye's clearly reflected what he just said, what she felt for him-LOVE.

"You-But..." She sighed. "Y-you're already engaged."

"Was." Mabilis na sagot naman ni Reed. "I was engaged."

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"An-Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

Ngumiti naman ng matipid sakanya si Reed saka ipinamulsa ang mga kamay sa bulsa ng pantalon nito.

"My engagement with Camille- it was a business deal. I needed her family's backing, she needed me too as her shield from potential political marriage arrangements."

"What?!"

He sighed.

"That's one of the reasons kung bakit hindi kaagad ako nakipagkita sayo. Camille just helped me all the way. So I had to keep my end of the bargain."

"One of the reasons?"

Reed looked like he was broken then he sighed.

"You looked so hurt, Vilma. I wanted to kill my self when I saw the pain right into your eyes. So I let you walk away. Only the way that I want kill myself more for doing just that."

"P-paano si Camille?"

"Well, she is already had a boyfriend a years ago and they comeback, a week ago, she told me that. So I don't think her parents will even think of setting her up for another business arrangement engaged or Relationship just yet."

Tumango-tango naman si Vil.

"So, break na kayu maganun? Ganun?"

"HaHaha...Yeah a week ago."

Saglit na natahimik siya bago muling nagsalita.

"Your... Your dad. How is he?" She asked.

"He's fine. Great, actually. He said he'd love to meet you sooner than later."

Natahimik si Vil.

Hindi na rin naman nagsalita pa si Reed kaya hinayaan niya na lang muna niya ang sariling i-absorb ang lahat ng ipinagtapat nito sakanya.

She needed to do that she really need.

Dahil kung hindi, malamang sa mahigit, sumabog na ang puso niya sa sobrang dami ng emosyong nararamdaman.

"Vilma...Vil."

"Wait! Sandali...wag kang magulo. Nagko-concentrate ako."

"I love you...so much...I will always do as long Iam by your side and breathing for you... I love you, Vil."

Gumuho ang lahat ng pagpipigil ni Vil sa sarili ng dahil sa sinabi ni Reed.

He said it with so much emotion and passion that she thought her heart couldn't take more.

Hindi na siya nakatiis. Mabilis na tumayo siya at humakbang palapit sa kay Reed.

"For so many years, nanatili ka lang isang magandang ala-ala sa imahinasyon ko. I never even thought I'd meet you again after such a longtime."

Humakbang ulit siya palapit dito at nagsalita ulit.

"Kampante at permanent na ako sa buhay ko. I mean, love life aside, I was happy. Pero dumating ka. You made me see the world from different perspective. You made me smile, you made me so happy. You made me realize that there is a lot of more in life than the colors around me."

Huminto si Vil ilang hakbang mula kay Reed.

"You know what is the Best part? The best part is You made me fall inlove with you."

Sabi pa niya kay Reed at kitang-kita niya kung paanong nangislap ang kasayahan sa mga mata nito. Dahan-dahang tumuwid ito ng tayo, saka nakangiting sinalubong ang mga mata nito.

"I'm sorry I hurt you."

Kamuntik na naman siyang maiyak nang maramdaman ang sinseridad sa boses nito. Pinatatag niya ang sarili, saka gumanti ng ngiti.

"You're forgiven."

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."

"Better late than never."

He chuckled.

"I love you so much, Vilma..."

Hindi na niya nagawa pang sagutin si Reed nang tawirin nito ang distansya sa pagitan nila. Hinapit nito ang baywang niya, saka inangkin ang kanyang mga labi.

Buong pusong tinanggap niya ang halik nito.

She almost cried again when she felt all the emotions he'd been wanting to convery to her through his kiss.

Ang sabi nila MALAYO sa imahinasyon ang realidad.

But for Vil, She believed that one's imagination could also be their reality. As long as you're willing to wait and work for it.

She was about to drown in his kiss when she suddenly remembered something.

Bahagyang lumayo siya kay Reed.

"Wait, nasaan nga pala ang mga employees dito?"

Reed just groan.

"I don't know."

Tinapik ni Vil ang noo nito nang akmang hahalikan uli siya.

"Reed!"

"Argh! Fine. They're at the lobby. Ginawa silang guwardiya ng papa mo incase na hindi tayo magkasundo, Vil..."

"Si Papa?"

Tumango ito bago hinaplos ang pisngi niya.

"Ibabaon daw nila ako ng buhay kapag hindi kita napapayag o napapasagot na pakasalan ako."

"What!?"

He grinned.

"So, Miss Cuyos, are you ready to take me into your life as long we our both breathing and alive?"

"As if naman na may choice ako Diba?"

"No."

Npangisi nalang din si Vil sa sobrang bilis ng sagot ni Reed.

Oh, well magpapakipot pa ba siya?

"Yes, I do Reed, I really do I love you too until our last breath."

Hindi na niya hinintay pang makasagot si Reed. Siya na ang kusang sumiil ng labi nito para halikan.

Saglit na natigilan ito bago buong pagmamahal na gumanti ng halik.

She smiled against his lips.

Finally after a long time of chase, nagtagpo na rin ang puso nila.

It took a long time and lot of detours, but hey! Love is a Maze, right?

Ang importante, nasa tabi na niya ang lalaking Mahal niya at Mahal din siya.

Hindi na imahinasyon, kundi sa realidad na bubuuin nila ng magkasama.

In reality with THE ONE THAT I LOVE...

°•°•END•°•°

[The One that I Love is already Completed & Closing]

[September 15,2020 / 12:00AM]

This Chapter is Dedicated to: stupidlly &
Danielle_Orange

Note: Happy birthday twinny this chapters is Dedicated to you and to my friend Orange stay safe always love you both....thank you for the support ^___^