CHAPTER 20
1578 Words
AS THE MORNING ARRIVED, Zayden had decided to talk to Luna about their ‘complicated’ relationship. Nasa living room silang dalawa. Nakaupo si Luna sa edge ng couch, her knees pulled up to her chest, wearing one of Zayden’s hoodies. The sleeves swallowed her hands, as if she were trying to hide every part of herself that didn’t want to leave.
Nakatayo naman si Zayden sa may tabi ng binata at tahimik lang.
“Anong pag-uusapan natin?” tanong ni Luna.
Zayden, finally, looked at Luna. He took a deep breath. “Us.”
Natigilan si Luna at napatigil sa paghigop ng kape. Ibinaba niya ang hawak na tasa sa may lamesa saka tumingin kay Luna.
Zayden frustratedly combed his fingers through his hair. “Luna, hanggang kailan tayo ganito? Are you really going to marry that man?”
Luna swallowed. “I’m not doing it for love.”
“That makes it worse, Luna,” Zayden said. “You’re sacrificing yourself for a debt that should never cost you your future.”
Nagbaba ng tingin si Luna. “They have me a life. A home. Everything I am.”
“At paano naman tayo? Paano naman ako?” tanong ni Zayden at naglakad palapit sa dalaga. “The dinners. The sketches. The quiet morning and late-night walks. Don’t those matter too?”
Luna’s voice cracked. “They matter too much.”
Zayden knelt in front of Luna, gently resting his hands on her knees. “Then stay.”
Tumingin si Luna kay Zayden. Her eyes filled with mixed emotions. “I want to,” she whispered. “God knows I want, Zayden—”
A sudden knock on the door cut through the air.
Three short taps. It was firm and familiar.
Zayden froze.
They both looked at each other.
Kapagkuwan nanlaki ang mata ni Zayden. “That’s my mom.”
Agad na nag-panic si Luna. Without a word, she rushed toward the hallway and quietly slipped into the guest room, gently closing the door behind her.
Zayden exhaled and walked to the door.
As he opened the door, he smiled, seeing his mother. “Mommy,” he greeted, surprised. “Ang aga mo naman.”
Mylene, Zayden’s mom, elegant in a soft blouse and pearl earrings, walked past him with a knowing smile. "You didn’t answer your phone.”
Sinubukang itago ni Zayden ang kaniyang kaba. His mom never questioned his love life, and she never intervened. But it was different this time because he didn’t tell her that someone was in his condo.
“I brought coffee and pandesal, anak.” She placed down a brown bag on the kitchen counter, then looked around the condo.
Mylene’s gaze lingered a moment too long on the pair of slippers near the couch, too small for Zayden’s feet. Then, on the blanket draped messily over the sofa. The extra mug, with a design that doesn't suit Zayden’s style. And she also smelled the faint scent of lavender shampoo.
Hindi nagtanong si Mylene. Instead, she smiled gently. “Mukhang may naglalaba dito ng mga damit na hind isa ‘yo.”
Napakamot naman ng batok si Zayden. “Mommy…”
Pero nagtaas ng kamay si Mylene. “You don’t have to tell me yet,” she said, pouring herself a glass of water. “But I hope when you do, it’s because you’re ready and not because you think I won’t accept it.”
Nagbaba ng tingin si Zayden. Hindi niya masabi sa ina dahil sa klase ng relasyong mayroon sila ni Luna. “Mom, it’s complicated.”
Mylene softened. “You’ve always made things complicated when it comes to the things you love.”
Tumawa na lamang si Zayden.
Pero bago umalis si Mylene, ipinatong niya ang kamay sa balikat ng anak. “All I say is this, don’t wait too long to fight for what’s yours. Sometimes, we only get one shot.”
And with that, she kissed his cheek and walked out.
After the door closed, Zayden leaned against the door, heart racing, thoughts spinning.
Then the soft creak of the guest room door. Luna stepped out. Namumula ang mata ni Luna at halatang umiyak ito. “She knew, didn’t she?”
Tumango si Zayden. “She didn’t say anything. But… yeah, she knew.”
They stood there in silence.
Then Luna said, “I don’t know how to let go of the life I promised, but when I’m with you, I feel like myself.”
Zayden stepped forward. “Luna…”
Umiling si Luna. “Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko, Zayden.”
Niyakap ni Zayden si Luna. “Baby, I can’t promise, but I don’t like to see you with someone else. Pero huwag kang mag-aalala… I won’t make things worse for you.”
AFTER ZAYDEN left for work, Luna contacted her best friend, Ella, to meet at a cozy café tucked in a quiet corner of the city. The soft music plays in the background, and the scent of coffee and vanilla lingers in the air.
Luna and Ella sit in a booth by the window, half-finished frappes in front of them.
Ella leaned across the table with wide eyes, her voice was low but sharp with excitement. “Oh my God, girl. Don’t tell me… You two did that thing already?”
Namula si Luna habang nakatakip ng kamay sa mukha saka sumagot. “Yeah.”
Ella gasped dramatically, smacking the table. “You minx! And you didn’t text me after?”
“I was overwhelmed!” Luna groaned, peeking through her fingers. “And tired. Emotionally. Physically and spiritually.”
Ella leaned back, smirking. “Let me guess, you’re happy?”
Tumango si Luna. “I am. I really am.”
“Wait, who’s the lucky guy na nakabingwit sa iyong kapurihan?”
“Nabingwit talaga? Ano ako? Isda?”
Nagkibit naman ng balikat si Ella. “Sagutin mo na lang ako. Dali. Gusto kong malaman ang buong pangalan. Hindi mo sinabi noong huli tayong nagkausap, eh.”
Luna sighed. “Zayden…”
“Zayden…” Ella arched a brow.
“Zayden Axl Fernandez.”
Kamuntikang maibuga ni Ella ang iniinom na kape dahil sa pangalan na binanggit ni Ella. “He—what?! Wait! What?!”
“Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?” tanong ni Luna.
Ella’s eyes widened. “Totoo?!”
Tumango si Luna. “Oo.”
“Hindi mo ako niloloko? Peksman? Mamatay man kapitbahay niyo?”
Napailing na lamang si Luna. “Nandamay ka pa.”
“Eh, hindi kasi kapani-paniwala. Zayden Axl Fernandez is one of the bachelors na pinapangarap ngayon ng mga kakaibahan. Mayaman. Gwapo at chef pa. Swerte mo at natikman mo ang katawan niya na pinangarap ng karamihang babae at beki.”
Sumama ang mukha ni Luna. Aware siyang maraming nagkakagusto kay Zayden.
“Pero mailap sa mga babae.”
That made Luna smile.
“So, girl, kwento mo naman? Mahaba ba? Malaki? Masarap?”
“Ella!”
Ella chuckled. “Sige na nga. Huwag na.”
Napatitig na lamang si Luna sa sariling kape.
“So, ano? Kumusta naman ang puso mo?”
Ngumiti si Luna. “My heart was beating so fast every time I saw him. Every time he smiled at me like I was all he wanted in the world.”
Ella’s teasing softened. “Luna.”
“What?”
“You’re in love.”
Luna blinked. “What?”
Ella raised an eyebrow. “Alam kong alam mo kung ano ang tunay mong nararamdaman. Gaga. Walang imposible sa pag-ibig. Sabi nga ng kanta, ‘kapag tumibok ang puso, wala ka ng magagawa kundi sundin ito’.” Pagkanta niya sa huling salita. But then she leaned forward, more serious now. “Pero ang tanong… masusunod mo ba ang t***k ng puso mo?”
Nawala ang ngiti ni Luna. “No,” bulong niya. “I’m already engaged. And I don’t have the right to fall for him.”
Ella stirred her drink, letting the silence sit for a moment before breaking it gently. “Alam mo, hindi ko sinasabing madali ito. Hindi ko rin sinasabing iwan mo agad lahat. Pero tanungin mo ang sarili mo, are you living your life? Or are you just fulfilling someone else’s version of what they think you owe?”
Napatitig si Luna sa kape. Her heart thudded louder than the café music. “Zayden makes me feel… like I belong. Like I’m not just someone filling in a role.”
“Because you do belong, Luna. And you aren’t a role. Tao ka, Luna. May puso at may karapatan kang magmahal at mahalin.”
Nakagat ni Luna ang pang-ibabang labi.
Inabot ni Ella ang kamay ng kaibigan at pinisil ito. “Hindi ko sinasabi kung ano ang dapat mong gawin. Pero kung mahal mo talaga si Zayden at mahal ka rin niya, ikaw na ang bahalang makaalam sa sarili kung ano ba talaga ang pag-ibig para sa ‘yo.”
Luna looked up. “Thanks, Ella.”
“Anytime, babe. But seriously, next time you fall into bed with a guy, text me after, okay?”
“Ella!”
Natawa na lamang si Ella. Then he added, “And use protection.”
“Ella!”
“What?!”
Napailing na lamang si Luna pero sa pakikipag-usap niya kay Ella, gumaan ang pakiramdam niya. Nasabi niya ang mga gusto niyang sabihin na hindi niya masabi kahit pa kay Zayden.
- Writer
