CHAPTER 43: ROSE

QUINN’S POV

“Totoo?” marahan niyang tanong at hinila ako papalapit sa kanya. I swallowed hard when our eyes met.

Ang puso ko ay nagsisimula na namang magwala. Halos rinig na rinig ko dahil na rin sa tahimik na namuo sa pagitan naming dalawa. I wonder if he can hear my loud heartbeats for him.

“Quinn… totoo ba ang sinasabi mo?” he asked seriously that it seems a big deal to him, that it affected him. “Sinabi ko naman sayo diba, ikaw lang ang paniniwalaan ko… and I believe your words.”

Hinawakan ko ang kuwintas na suot ko at pinakita sa kanya.

“It was just a promised, Denver. Don’t worry, hindi na rin naman iyun mahalaga sa akin. Halos ilang taon na ang lumipas. Marami nang nagbago sa mga nagdaang taong iyun.”

His jaw moved, gayundin ang adam’s apple na gumagalaw sa bawat rahan ng paglunok nito.

“And what about this necklace?” he touched the rose pendant that made me flinched when his fingertips touches my bare skin.

“This is your proof of your promise.”

Tinignan ko siya sa mga mata. Binabantayan at binabasa ang reaksyon sa mukha nito. Umangat ang gilid ng labi nito at napanguso nang bumalik ang tingin sa akin.

“This is what I’m searching for, Quinn. The rose.” Lumiwanag ang kanyang mukha na tila ba naging malinaw sa kanya ang bagay bagay. “This was in my dream. Sumama ka sa akin!” Hinawakan niya ang palad ko at hinila ako palabas ng bahay.

We entered inside his car and he automatically drove away. Ang daan na tinatahak namin ay pamilyar sa akin.

Huminto kami sa abandonadong mansion na alam kong pag-aari ni Denver. It is still the same, it looks haunted but huge like the first time we came here. Lumabas kaming dalawa, kahit may pagtataka ang aking mukha ay hindi niya binitawan ang palad ko at hinila papunta sa likod ng mansion.

“Denver, bakit ba tayo nandito?”

Huminto kami sa isang puno na malak at matayog. It seems old, but the tree is still strong and firm. Pinapalibutan ito ng sandamakmak na bulaklak na tanim. The last time we came here, the flowers were dried. It looks lonely and alone. But now, I can see a little color and brightness around.

“Look.” He muttered and hold my hand, dinala niya yun sa trunk ng puno. At first, I was confused about what he is trying to point out. But then I noticed something on the trunk. Hinaplos ko ang nakaukit na rosas sa kahoy. It was perfectly engraved the rose the same design as the pendant I am wearing.

“I may not remember your face, Quinn. But I remember some vivid details.”

Nang tignan ko siya ay naabutan kong nakatitig ito sa akin, kasabay nun ang pag-ihip ng malamig na hangin. My heart suddenly beat faster, it was awakened like it always does whenever Denver is around.

“This is not just a promise. Now I get why I felt like I left something here, it was not Molino. It was not this huge mansion. It was not the past.” Napalunok siya at marahan na hinaplos ang palad ko. “It’s you, Quinn. Kaya pala nung makilala kita ay naging madalang na ang pagpunta ko rito. Simula ng makilala kita ay nakuntento ako sa syudad. Simula ng makilala kita ay mas maraming katanungan ang nabuo. But I never felt incomplete whenever I’m with you.”

My lips trembled in confusion of his confession. I know that there will always be this some strong connection between us that made us intact and unbreakable. Ngunit dahil sa rami ng nangyayari sa paligid namin ay hindi naging Madali sa kanya na pansinin ako na naghihintay sa kanya.

“What do you remember, Denver? Bumabalik na ba ang ala-ala mo?” I asked with my hopeful eyes and smile.

Hindi siya nagsalita at tinitigan lamang ako. He lifted his palm and carrassed it to my cheek gradually.

“Maghahanap ako ng trabaho malapit dito sa shelter habang nag-aaral ako. Hindi ako lalayo o aalis ng isla para mas madalaw kita ng madalas. Kapag nangyari yun at yumaman ako, babalikan kita at kukunin dito. Magpapayaman ako para mabuhay ka, Quinn. Sa ngayon, prinsesa muna kita, pero huwag kang mag-alala, darating ang panahon na gagawin kitang reyna,” he suddenly said out fo nowhere that mad e my eyebrows met in confusion.

“Anong sinasabi mo?” natatawang tanong ko sa kanya.

“Sa susunod… singsing na ang isusuot ko sayo, pangako,” he whispered on my ear and pulled me even closer to him. “Kapag dumating ang araw na mahal pa natin ang isa’t isa, pakakasalan kita,” bulong niya malapit sa tainga ko.

I gasped when I remembered that line, bagay na sinabi niya na kailanman hindi ko makakalimutan. I looked at him and my lips trembled in joy.

“You remembered.” Maluha-luha kong sambit.

“I can’t clearly remember everything, Quinn. But it is telling me that it was you. Ngayon ko lang mas napatunayan ang lahat.”

I shook my head in confusion as I lifted my head to looked at him again.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why you have to find Kate? Kung may parte pala sa puso mo na nagsasabi na totoo ang binitawan mong pangakong pagpapaksal sa akin?”

Napatikom siya ng labi at naging seryoso ang titig sa akin.

“Because I was waiting for you to tell it to me. Paulit ulit kong pinapaalala sayo kung gaano ako nagtitiwala sayo, Quinn. Kaya naghihintay ako na sasabihin mo ang totoo. Ayokong pangunahan ka sa alaalang hindi naman ako sigurado, hindi rin ganun kalinaw sa akin. I want you to confirmed it…” napahnga siya ng malalim. “But you never did. SO I thought I was mistaken.”

“And you saw Kate in your memories?”

He puckered his lips and looked away like he made a mistake.

“Hindi. But I saw Kate’s picture on the box that Madre Jona gave me. I called her and told her about the picture of a woman she left on the box. She said that it was accidentally put it by her, pero ang larawan ay talagagng para sa akin, pinabibigay ni Kate bago raw siya umalis. Ang larawan ay simbolo ng pagpapaalam niya sa akin at sa Molino,” mahabang paliwanag nito.

“She was never in your memory,” I stated like everything become clearer now.

“Yes,” matigas niyang pag-amin. “Sinabi ni Madre Jona kung sino si Kate Thomas, kaunting detalye lang ang naibigay niya. So… I thought it was her, I somehow think that maybe she is the one whom I offered and promised a marriage. Nagbakasakali ako dahil hindi ko naman malaman sayo ang totoo. I was certain that it was not you, because if it’s you, you will tell me right away. But you didn’t.”

“Denver, ayaw ko rin na pangunahan ka. I was afraid of how might reaction you’ll give me.”

“There was never a woman in my memories. I was only desperate to know the truth." 

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng awa sa kanya dahil hindi ko sinabi agad ang totoo. Kinain lamang ako ng takot sa maaaring maging kahinatnan kapag inamin ko ang lahaat.