Igniting a Heartbeat

'Cause all of the small things that you do
Are what remind me why I fell for you
And when we're apart, and I'm missing you
I close my eyes and all I see is you
And the small things you do

Those Eyes New West
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"Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed on the destination. Welcome to NAIA Airport. This is your captain speaking. Once again, thank you for traveling with us and enjoy your stay."

 

 

 

Mas lalong kumabog ang pintig ng puso ko nang marinig ko ang announcement ng piloto ng eroplanong sinasakyan namin ngayon. We have been traveling for hours now galing Isla Del Montezor.

 

 

 

Halos isang taon din kasi akong namalagi sa islang 'yon for the purpose of healing– mental and emotional healing to be specific– sa tulong na din ni ate Jisoo, Karina's cousin, na isang magiting na Psychotherapist sa bansa.

 

 

 

Inaamin ko, throughout that year, hindi naging madali ang lahat. Akala ko nga, pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari sakin ay magiging okay na ako. Turns out, hindi pala. At mas lalo lang lumala.

 

 

 

Na para ba akong isang balloon na patuloy na nilalagyan ng hangin with the certain expectation that you can withstand any amount of pressure of the air you're acquiring that is, until... you couldn't... anymore. Kaya ang ending, sumabog ako. Sumabog ako sa lahat ng mga dinadala ko.

 

 

 

At first I felt numb, and then I kept having these nightmares of the past– flashbacks, which resulted into me loosing my sleep for over a countless of nights hangga't sa hindi ko na pala namamalayan na isang mental health condition na pala ito caused by my traumas.

 

 

 

But now, I can proudly say that I am truly fine and fully healed with no baggages left behind. Pinakawalan ko na lahat in order to be finally free and move on. Determinado din kasi akong gumaling kasi may pamilya pa akong uuwian– 'yung mahal kong si Karina at yung anak naming si El-J.

 

 

 

Because only God knows on just how much I have miss them so much. Kaagimat din kasi nang pagpapa-galing ko ay isang taon rin ng pangungulila sakanila.

 

 

 

Kaya heto na ako ngayon, uuwi na sa piling nila.

 

 

 

"Ay shala. Ang gara naman pala dito sa airport ng Maynila." My lips formed into a small grin when I heard River muttered beside me habang namamangha niyang inilibot ang paningin sa paligid ng airport.

 

 

 

Oo nga pala, hindi pa pala 'to nakakapunta sa Maynila. Laking isla kasi.

 

 

 

Tinanong ko naman sila ng mga kaibigan niya kung bakit ni minsan ay hindi man lang sila gumagala dito pero sinagot lang nila ako na hindi daw nila bet ang pumunta dito dahil masyadong matao, magulo at mausok daw kung ikukumpara sa mas tahimik at mas malinis na paligid ng isla– which is totoo naman. At isa pa, wala silang budget pang-gala.

 

 

 

Kaya noong nagkaroon ng opportunity last week, which was when River got invited by a hotel owner on vacation to play a gig sa hotel nila sa Manila, eh ako na ang umindak sakanya na patusin ito.

 

 

 

Masyado kasing natuwa ang may-ari ng hotel sa magandang boses nito kaya ayun, inofferan na kumanta sa gaganaping event sa hotel. Idagdag mo pa na malaki din ang bayad sakanya if ever. Kaya sayang naman kung papalampasin niya lang 'yun diba?

 

 

 

Hindi naman daw bago sakanya ang mga ganoong klaseng offer kaso palagi niya nga'lang itong tinatanggihan kasi masyado na daw siyang busy sa isla para ipasok pa sa schedule niya ang mga gigs-gigs na 'yan.

 

 

 

Ang dami ba naman kasing trabahong pinapatos. Para na nga siyang female blonde version ni Chief Hong ng Hometown Cha Cha Cha. Yes, nanonood ako ng k-drama courtesy of Ate Jisoo.

 

 

 

Nafo-force din kasi akong manood nito para lang ma-lessen minsan ang boredom ko sa kakahintay sa facetime schedule namin ni Rina. Hindi din kasi magkatugma ang mga schedule namin minsan. May mga times na busy siya habang free ako o di kaya vice versa.

 

 

 

Naiintindihan ko naman since magiging future CEO na ang Mahal ko hehe. At kapag nagkataon, matutupad na din ang lowkey na pinapangrap ko na magkaroon ng sugar mommy. Charot! Natupad na nga pala 'yun simula una palang. Charot ulit! Pero lowkey totoo! Haha.

 

 

 

Papalabas na kami ngayon ng airport habang bitbit ang mga bagahe namin when the small smile I was sporting earlier became even wider 'nung matanaw ko na ang taong pinaka-una kong hiniling na makita once na gumaling na ako– si Karina, ang Mahal ko.

 

 

 

She was holding a "Welcome Back" banner at para bang may hinahanap– which is obvious na ako yun haha– sa the way nang pag-likot ng mga mata niya sa paligid kaya dahan-dahan naman agad akong pumunta sa gawi niya kasunod si River sa likod.

 

 

 

"Mahal..." I uttered catching her attention and my God, mas lalo siyang gumanda up close kaya mas lalong umaburoto din tuloy ang tibok ng puso ko. Like no amount of screen coming from our gadgets can give justice to her beautiful, gorgeous face.

 

 

 

Dumagdag pa lalo sa kagandahan niya 'yung suot niya ngayon na cropped black leather jacket na pinaresan niya din ng white mid-riff tee underneath, short shorts, atsaka black leather heeled boots. Naka-lugay din ang wavy hair nito.

 

 

 

Pero mas lalo akong nasabik nang makita ko ang suot niyang wooden leaf necklace na iniregalo ko sakanya noong birthday niya noon.

 

 

 

"My baby..." She gasped nang makita na ako at dali-daling binitawan ang hawak-hawak niyang banner at tumakbo palapit sa'kin.

 

 

 

Nang mapagtanto ko 'yon ay kaagaran ko rin namang binitawan ang lahat ng mga dala-dala kong mga bagahe, opened my arms, ready to meet her with my most tightest hug ever.

 

 

 

And as the moment our body collasped together, it's as if I was healed again for the second time around. Like everything I did was all worth it– and it was.

 

 

 

Her embrace tightened as she laid her head onto the crook of my neck while I also did the same thing, inhaling her familiar scent that I have come to love so much.

 

 

 

"You're finally home, My Love. God, I miss you so much." She whispered into my ear and that sent shivers down my spine. I mean, I always hear her voice sa laptop tuwing nagfa-facetime kaming dalawa but like I said, no one can really compares to the real deal.

 

 

 

And that she is right, that I am finally home.

 

 

 

To her.

 

 

 

I smiled. "Naka-uwi na sayo, Mahal ko." I replied, tightening my hold around her waist as I lighly kissed her temple and eventually, holding her cheeks to gently capture her soft, sweet lips that I have missed to feel so much.

 

 

 

Few seconds into our kiss but my heart was still beating so fast. And then, I tried to assess my feelings and as expected, ganon pa rin. Still the same strong feelings as before– if not, it only became even stronger.

 

 

 

That what I feel while kissing her would still bring my heart into a frenzy, that it would still make my soul light, that it would still make me feel like home.

 

 

 

And as I savor our moment together, I deepened our kiss even more to which I felt Karina smiled in between kaya napangiti nadin ako.

 

 

 

I think it took us about a minute to finally let go of each other's lips. Wala naman kaming pake kung may audience o PDA kami. Maiingit sila kamo.

 

 

 

"Ang tamis! Nilalanggam na ako dito oh, Parekoy at Marecakes." Karina and I both chuckled after our shared kiss but our foreheads are still attached together with our eyes closed while catching our breaths.

 

 

 

But after what seems to be a minute ay kumalas muna ako mula yakapan naming dalawa but not before stealing a peck onto my gorgeous girlfriend's lips. Screw PDA. It would always looks so inviting for me to kiss.

 

 

 

"Well hello to you too, Ilog na mukhang pinabayaang model ng alaska cans." My look-alike friend only scrunched her nose while I lightly laughed as I gently placed my arms around my Karina's small waist, slightly drawing circles onto her exposed skin using my index finger.

 

 

 

"Ay grabe ka naman sakin Marecakes Ellisa. Pinabayaan talaga?" Pabirong pabalik ng kaibigan kong blondina kaya it was my girlfriend's brows turn to scrunch. On the span of the year, parang trademark na yata ng dalawa ang mag-biruan gamit ng kanilang pangalan. Ewan ko ba sa trip nilang dalawa.

 

 

 

"Just so you know, I still haven't forgiven you for dragging my Mahal sa mga babae escapades mo." Both River and I gasped as my girlfriend teasingly glared at her. Alam ko namang nagbibiro lang 'to.

 

 

 

But as much I admit it pero malakas talaga ang hatak ni River when it comes sa mga babae, especially sa mga foreigner or dayuhan ones. It was apparent by how much she's on demand when it comes to getting picked as their tour guide sa isla.

 

 

 

Parang araw-araw ata ay fully booked siya. Not to mention, puros mga grupo pa ang mga tino-tour niya. Nasasama din ako minsan dahil nagpapatulong din siya sa'kin sa pagha-handle.

 

 

 

It was a fun experience naman to tour the place around dahil ang ganda-ganda talaga ng isla. Kahit nakaka-ilang libot ka na nga ng paulit-ulit ay talagang babalik-babalikan mo pa rin ito. What makes the experience ugly though are the people we're touring.

 

 

 

Syempre, hindi talaga maiiwasan na meron talagang mga taong mas sobra pa sa malandi kung umasta. Nako, kung hindi lang talaga customer ng kaibigan ko ang mga tino-tour namin ay walang ano-ano'y naihagis ko na sila sa gitna ng dagat dahil sa sobrang pagka-inis.

 

 

 

Hindi ko nga alam kung paano natitiis ni River ang mga ganoong klaseng tao pero mukhang immune naman na ata siya by just laughing their advances off. Dedma lang ganon.

 

 

 

What peaks my curiousity though is kung bakit hindi pa nagkaka-jowa ang isa 'to knowing na she's almost on par with those handsome bachelors na palaging pinipilahan. But believe me or not, pero sobrang mailap din kasi nito sa mga babae. Ang gulo nga no?

 

 

 

"Sorry naman po, Miss Elaine. Masyado kasing malakas ang appeal namin ng Parekoy ko eh. Kaya ayun, hinahabol-habol." Pagbibiro ni River sabay kindat with matching taas-baba ng kilay pa kaya napa-angat na din ng sariling kilay ang Mahal ko at mas lalong sinamaan siya ng tingin.

 

 

 

"Eh kung ipahabol kaya kita sa mga aso, aber?"

 

 

 

"Ay nako naman, hindi ka naman mabiro Marecakes Emilia. Ganyan ka ba sa mga bisita niyo?" My friend retaliated. "Grabe ang bait-bait ko sainyo nung pumunta kayo sa isla tapos aapihin niyo lang ako dito." Umakto-akto pa siyang nagpupunas ng imaginary luha niya kaya napa-sighed na lamang ako.

 

 

 

"Umuwi nalang kaya ako? Mukhang hindi naman ako welcome dito eh." Ay ayan. Naging sadgirl na.

 

 

 

My girlfriend only chuckled in amusement as she rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Tara na nga." Akmang lalakad na kami nang magsalita ulit si River.

 

 

 

"Sandali muna mga lodi pero kanina pa kasi talaga ako naiihi eh hehe. Eh ayaw ko naman kayong istorbohin sa mala-romance k-drama niyong reunion kanina at baka masapak pa'ko ni Marecakes Korina Sanchez 'Handa na ba kayo' dahil inistorbo ko yung halikan session niyo. Kaya baka pwede na ako mag-paalam sainyo ngayon, noh? Baka pwede muna ako jumingle sa cr? Hehe."

 

 

 

Umiling na lamang ako. Ang daming pang sinabi eh iihi lang naman pala.

 

 

 

"Samahan na kita?" I asked pero she only shook her head.

 

 

 

"Huwag na Parekoy. Mabilis lang naman ako. Atsaka, nakita ko naman na kanina ang cr habang papalabas tayo hehe! Realquick lang talaga ako, pramis!" I didn't have the chance to reply to her nang kumaripas na siya nang takbo habang hawak-hawak ang puson. Ihing-ihi na talaga siguro.

 

 

 

"Why do I get the feeling that she's gonna get in trouble?" I heard my girlfriend beside me kaya nilingon ko siya. "May dala naman siyang phone diba?" She asked me and I pursed my lips and nodded my head.

 

 

 

"Meron naman. Bakit?"

 

 

 

"Wala lang. Sadyang malakas lang talaga ang kutob kong may mangyayaring some kind of trouble sakanya." She answered kaya napatawa naman ako ng mahina.

 

 

 

"Hindi ko alam na si Madam Awring ka na pala ngayon, Mahal." I kaya nahampas naman ako bigla sa braso. Aray ko lang ha.

 

 

 

"Silly! Kakasama mo kay River 'yan." I laughed. Siguro nga naa-adopt ko na 'yung pagka-makulit at pagka-maasarin ni River.

 

 

 

"I heard from ate Jisoo na nagiging masungit ka daw, Mahal. You miss me that much no?" I further. Hindi naman nakawala sa'kin ang pagba-blush ng mga pisnge niya. Ang ganda niya talaga, damn. Kaya hindi ko din mapigilan na hawakan siya ulit sa pisnge upang mahalikan ulit ng mas matagal sa labi.

 

 

 

After separating, she seriously looked at me in the eyes before dragging me along with her sa may corner papuntang parking lot na mukhang for exclusives lang kaya walang masyadong katao-tao.

 

 

 

Nakita naman agad namin ang sasakyan niya kaya she motioned for me to get inside and I did. Hinayaan ko nalang muna ang mga bagahe ko sa labas. Safe naman 'yan diyan.

 

 

 

After getting inside the passenger seat, nagulat nalang ako nang hindi siya pumunta sa driver's side kundi pumasok din siya sa loob ng passenger side pagkasunod na pagkasunod ko at kumandong sa'kin which made me gulped so hard.

 

 

 

She then hooked her arms around my neck as I automatically encircled my own around her waist.

 

 

 

"You have no idea on just how much I have missed you so badly, Mahal. Para na nga akong mababaliw." Mahina niyang sabi, confessing, and I bit my lips to stop myself from smiling. At nako po, mukhang mapapa-aga pa ata ang reunion nina Pikachu at Mingming nito ah. Charot!

 

 

 

I just gave her a genuine smile in return as I studied her face even further. Mas lalo talaga siyang gumanda, especially now. Mas blooming pa nga siya kung ikukumpara sa mga bulaklak na namumukadkad eh.

 

 

 

Mabagal ko namang inilakbay ang paningin ko sa mukha niya, drinking her gorgeous features. 'Yung mahahaba niyang pilik mata, her playful, brown soft eyes, her pointed nose and of course, her perfectly sweet, pink plump lips na masarap halik-halikan ng ilang beses.

 

 

 

I sighed in admiration. That one year apart made me even more realize on just how much I love her. It also made me grew fonder of her. Tamang-tama nga talaga siguro 'yung kasabihan na "Distance makes the heart grow fonder". 

 

 

 

I mentally sighed once again. Damn, mahal na mahal ko talaga ang taong 'to. I wouldn't trade her for the world. At siguro, kung bibigyan man ako ng Panginoon ng ilang beses na pagkakataon na magmahal ulit, then, I wouldn't hesitate to love Karina Ellyse Riego so many times in my given multiple lifetimes.

 

 

 

Kinalas ko ang isang kamay ko na nakapulupot sa bewang niya at inayos ang gumugulong buhok nito sa mukha, tucking it behind her ears. Pagkatapos non ay marahang hinaplos-haplos ko ang malambot niyang pisnge as I lovingly stared deeply into her eyes, where I can find my reflection in it.

 

 

 

And best believe na ito 'yung klase ng bersyon ng repleksyon ko na pinakanagu-gustuhan ko sa lahat.

 

 

 

Because it's the version where Karina Ellyse Riego always sees Winter Leafy Reyes with all of her love and nothing else. Just strong, pure love and good intentions for someone who's as is.

 

 

 

"You know, you will always look so pretty, Mahal." I gently complimented with my most utmost sincerity from the heart which cause her to smile softly. "Especially when you look at me like this, happily in love."

 

 

 

It gave me a sense of pride of course na ako lang ang tanging nakaka-gawa sakanya ng ganito. Na ako lang ang tanging taong tinititigan niya ng ganito. But at the same time, it would also make me feel so blessed because I have a woman like her.

 

 

 

A woman who's willing to sacrifice everything for me.

 

 

 

A woman who's willing to give me anything I wish for.

 

 

 

A woman who's willing to wait for me.

 

 

 

A woman who's patient enough to accept all of my flaws and baggages.

 

 

 

A woman who sees me for who I am.

 

 

 

And most of all, a woman who's willing to love me for me.

 

 

 

That's why finding a woman like her would be one in a million, a rare gem. Kaya sobrang swerte ko talaga na ako ang minahal niya.

 

 

 

She bump her nose with mine, giving it an eskimo kiss. "I am happily in love with you and it will always remain as a constant, my Leafy." She softly whispered before creating a small distance between us and gave my forehead the most gentle kiss ever kaya napa-pikit ako. "Thank you for coming back home to me."

 

 

 

"I will always come home to you, Karina. Always." I replied, feeling emotional sa magkahalo-halong saya't pagmamahal na nararamdaman ko ngayon sakanya.

 

 

 

I then took her hand as I gave it a gentle kiss that I always do whenever we meet or together. Kahit kailan ay hinding-hindi ko talaga makakalimutan na gawin ito as this was already engraved into my soul after all.