Castaway 1: Ocean's Heart

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The calm wind hit her face that made her hair dance beautifully. Her white floral dress was also dancing along with her hair so synchronized as if they practiced. She's facing the railings while watching the sun sets, she looked like a beautiful painting that made him think about a lot of what ifs.

Hussain Amor Sotelo is one heck of a woman, her pale white skin compliments her long blond hair along with her pair of emerald eyes that captured him since the very beginning. It was pulling him closer to the point that he fell for her.

“Love, what are you staring at?” Hussain called his attention. She's smiling brightly at him as she extends her hand to him.

He smiled. Shook his head and took her hand. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her from behind.

“Are you happy, love?” He asked softly.

Hussain giggled, “I am, love. I'm so happy to be here with you,” she replied grinning.

“We're together for almost six years now. We graduated from high school together and now, last year na natin sa pre-law and pre-med college.”

Humarap si Hussain kay Tymoteusz at niyakap niya ito sa bewang.

“Yes, we'll graduate together again for the second time. Tapos we'll graduate again for the last time together after natin sa law and medical school. Then after our internships, we'll get wed like what we planned,” aniya.

Tymoteusz kissed her forehead, “Do you really think we'll end up together, love? I mean, until we grow old? With white hair and all those stuffs?”

Her forehead ceased with his question. Agad niyang inangat ang ulo para salubungin ang mga mata nito. “What are thinking? Are you okay?” she immediately asked him softly. Her lips are trembling.

Bago pa man abutin ni Hussain ang mukha nito ay agad na itong lumayo sakanya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

“Tymoteusz Baek Primordial, what are you exactly thinking?” she asked with her shaking voice.

Alam niyang mangyayari na ito, nitong mga nakaraang linggo pa ang mga kakaibang kilos ni Tymo kapag magkasama sila. Yes, he still kisses her forehead. Yes, he still hugs her from behind. And yes, he still calls her love pero alam niyang may kakaiba na rito simula ng umuwi ito galing sakanilang probinsya.

It's been two weeks since he somehow changed pero hindi niya lang pinansin dahil akala niya pagod lang ito, o siguro, napapansin na niya talaga pero ayaw niya lang tanggapin.

“Hussain… can you stop pretending that we don't have a problem?” anito at bumuntong hininga.

Hussain bit her lower lip, “I will pretend until you stopped thinking about leaving me!”

“Hussain! Please! Just for once, stop thinking about yourself, stop being so selfish!” he hissed at her irritated.

Sumimangot siya at hinarap nito, “Selfish? You called me selfish? Tymo, I did everything for you! I gave you space last year for what? For a whole year, remember? Because you said you're so tired with everything especially with what's happening in your family. You said you'll find yourself, and you want to heal yourself on your own, so I gave you that! I. Gave. You. That. I spent the whole year waiting for you without any clue on how you are doing because you totally cut me off your life. You blocked me in all your social media accounts, you blocked my number, you moved out of town and didn't tell anyone where you are!”

“I waited for you. Do you even remember why?” aniya habang hinihingal at pinupunasan ang mga luha niyang walang tigil sa pag-agos. She took a deep breath, “Because you told me so. You told me to wait for you because you'll definitely come back for me. Because I'm your home,” she continued while tears streaming down her face.

“Hussain, I'm sorry…” he started.

He was shocked from her outburst. Hussain was always a calm person, she never lets her emotions run through her or control her. But he guessed there's always a first time and limit to it.

Tinalikuran ni Hussain si Tymo at pinunasan ang mga luha niyang walang tigil sa pag-agos.

Tymo started talking, but she didn't face him, nanatili siyang nakatalikod dito habang nagpapaliwanag ito.

He sighed heavily, “I knew I was the one to blame here, Sain. I knew I can never fix your broken heart with my sorry and I also knew I'm a big jerk to request this to you but, can you please let me go?”

“Alam kong marami akong ginawang mali sayo, sa relasyon natin, sa lahat lahat at wala akong mga rason para sa lahat ng iyon. Wala akong excuse sa mga kagaguhang ginawa ko sayo at lalong wala akong karapatan na magmakaawa sayo na pakawalan mo na ko pero sana magawa mo…” nanghihinang sambit nito.

“Bakit? Bakit… gusto mong pakawalan na kita?” tanong niya habang nakatalikod pa rin dito.

He chuckled lowly, “Because you don't deserve this. Pagod na rin talaga ko sa lahat, patong pato na mga problema ko.”

“Kaya ko naman ulit maghintay. Pwede naman na cool off ulit, bakit break up ang hinihingi mo sakin?”

“Because I wanted to be free…”

“Free from me?” Nasasaktan niyang tanong.

“Yes,” he honestly answered her.

She sighed and finally faced him. She smiled at him.

“Do you really want this? Won't you regret it?” she asked for the third time,  making sure.

“Yes and I won't.”

Silence surrounded them. The only noise you can hear are from the birds chirping nearby and the sound of the crashing waves.

Siguro nga dapat nang bitawan kahit masakit. Finally, she broke the silence between them, “Alright, You're free.”

Gulat na napabaling ng tingin si Tymo sakanya.

“Are you sure?” he asked carefully.

She nodded, “Yes, but can you… perhaps leave after our graduation?”

His forehead ceased.

“What do you mean?”

“Let's graduate together for the last time. Next week na rin naman iyon diba? Let's pretend that this didn't happen at all. Isang linggo na lang naman, pwede ba yun? Pagkatapos, malaya ka na. I promise you that,” she murmured.

Tymo nodded. Huling linggo. Kahit iyon na lang, mapagbigyan ko siya.

“Sige.”

Hussain smiled tiredly. Nilapitan niya ito at niyakap, “I'll see you on our graduation then? Sa loob ng isang linggo na iyon, kahit hindi na tayo mag-usap basta kapag may nagtanong, tayo pa rin ha? I'll see you by then, Love.”

She pressed her lips against him and turned her back to leave him in their sanctuary alone.

I guess this is for the best. You did well, Hussain.