Waiting For You (A Forbidden Love)

Chapter 17 Opening up

I was shocked when I found out the two were tying the knot as soon as Adric woke up. Ayaw talaga paawat ang isang yun.

I became one of their witness and his best man. I feel honored because he thinks of me as his brother, part of the family.

Ang samahan namin kahit di pa kami matagal magkakilala pero hinubog ito ng panahon at sinukat ng pagkakataon.

The time and situation tested our friendship. Sila nalang ang iniisip kong natirang pamilya. We will be friends for a long time that's for sure.

Over the years I have witnessed how the two struggle and fight for their love. Kasama ako dun sa storya nila and it's one thing that I'm proud of.

I became the godfather of their children. The two kids becomes so close to me. They can stay with me all the time.

Adric and Rabi are very careful dahil sa status nila prone sila sa issue and threats. Isa ako sa pinagkatiwalaan ng mag-asawa lalo na when it comes to their children who are very precious to them.

As the years go by I become more closer to Drice. I'm so fun of her. I have developed some special feeling that I can't explain. She is my haven and comfort when I'm in turmoil. She makes my heart at peace kapag hawak ko na siya.

I had felt strong connection towards her na di ko kailanman nakukuha sa mga babae na involved sa akin. It's a weird feeling especially when I get to see her eyes, para kaming magka-usap. And the feeling is incredible inside.

Yes I have tried to have a relationship para subukan uli but none of that becomes successful.

"Man, don't you have a plan of settling down?" Minsan saad pa ni Adric sa akin.

"Of course Man I would love that to happen. Sino ba ang hindi? Gusto ko din maranasan ang naramdaman mo. I want someone that I can go home with, may anak na babati sa akin pag-uwi galing trabaho. May kausap when I'm stressed but I haven't found that connection to everyone."

"Have you ever been in love with someone before? I haven't seen you being so serious with anyone lately." Seryosong pa niyang saad.

Sasabihin ko ba ang storya ko? Baka pagtawanan lang niya ako.

"You know Man you can trust me, you can trust us. Who knows baka makatulong kami ng mga alalahanin mo or pinagdaanan mo ngayon."

He is right, I want someone na pwede kong paglabasan ng aking emosyon. I have been keeping this for a long time kasi natatakot ako na di maintindihan ng iba.

"Oo nga Arthur, pamilya ka na namin at gusto namin makita kang maging masaya. That you will settle with someone. Kahit iba pa yang preference mo, wala lang ikatakot sa amin. We are open minded people, right babe? We are here to understand." Sabi naman ni Rabi.

"I'm not gay Rabi if that's what you mean;" ngiti kong saad. Di naman ako affected sa point nila. Nakita ko ang pagsimangot niya na parang bata.

Yeah why not tell them my story and see kung ano ang maging reaction nila.

"Would you believe that I fall in love at a young age? And that feeling stays strong over the years and have broke me many times." Malungkot kong umpisa sa aking storya.

"If I'm not mistaken I was just 15 years old that time, when I first saw her.

Teenagers in my age that time were busy hunting girl but di ako katulad nila. I'm so picky when it comes to choosing my woman. My Yaya have installed some values sa akin na pipili ako ng babae na pwede kong pagkatiwalaan at ipagmalaki sa lahat."

I saw them being serious listening to me. I'm getting emotional as I relive those memories of the past.

"Then one time I saw a picture hang on our wall. A picture of a very beautiful captivating woman." Di ko mapigilang mapangiti as her face struck my mind.

"Would you believe that I was attracted to that picture kasi every time I look at it para niya akong kinakausap. It feels like she is real, with a life and we share a strong connection. Every time I went to school kinakausap ko siya at excited akong umuwi to look at her again and tells my life on that day."

"I began to know her story through my dad. As I knew her more mas naging intense ang feeling ko towards her. Humanga ako sa courage niya, being a strong independent woman despite the hardship and being a nice person in spite of so many struggles."

"Mas excited akong malaman ang storya ng buhay niya kasya pakinggan ang mga kaibigan ko telling me how those girls have a crush on me. Mas excited akong kausap siya and shared my daily routine rather than going out with friends."

Nakangiti kong sabi sa kanila pero bakas sa kanilang mukha ang pagtataka.

"Would you believe I fell in love with the person that I only see in the picture?" Naging interested sila sa aking storya.

Nakita ko ang pagkunot sa noo ni Rabi. She seems to have the idea.

"Yes Rabi, it's the picture of your mom." Confirm ko sa kanya.

"What? How come Arthur?" Pagtataka niyang sabi, pati si Adric napatulala. But keeping his silent.

"I also don't know Rabi, how i ended up that way. I just found myself getting attached to her as the time goes. For me we share a special bond that I can't explain. I feel we have met in our past life and have our unfinished story back then"

The two of them are so engrossed of my life story. They never expected to hear this from me.

"Nagsimula akong nangarap na one day makikita ko siya in person. Dad keeps searching for her, but never niya kayo nakita. I promise that one day kapag kaya ko na hahanapin ko siya."

"She became my inspiration, nangarap at a young age, nagsusumikap akong makatapos ng pag-aaral with her in my mind. So excited for my future."

"I brought her picture with me when I went to college. Everytime manghihina ako kinakausap ko siya. I feel di ako kailanman nag-iisa sa buhay kasi andun siya. Para siyang may buhay habang kinakausap ko siya. I share a deeper connection with her."

"There were times na napu-frustrate ako. kasi di ko siya mahanap when I tried searching for her. I keep praying na sanang makita siya ni dad so that I can finally see her. She becomes my obsession."

"There were times I doubt about myself baka may sayad na ako. I even went to a psychiatrist to seek help with my problem."

"How could I love a woman I haven't met and let alone an older woman for my age at girlfriend pa ng daddy ko? It's wrong but it feels so right."

"The psychiatrist told me to forget her by dating other woman with the intention of getting serious. I did what she told me. I tried to forget her. I get myself involved with someone just to take her out of my system pero walang nangyari. I still ended up seeking her presence."

"Lumayo ako kay dad at nagfocus sa negosyo para kapag nagkita na kami I intentionally snatch her from him. Ipaglalaban ko siya, ganun ako kahibang sa aking naramdaman. I wanted her just for myself ganun ka intense ang feeling ko towards her."

But when my dad died, nalugmok ako dun kasi I regret those time na di ko siya nakasama for my selfishness. I blame myself for not taking care of him."

"When he gives me his blessings to look for the both of you. Di ako nagpatumpik tumpik pa. I ask a different private investigator to locate your whereabouts but none of that happens. I never heard any news sa inyong dalawa. That frustrated me more. I felt like a failure."

"But one time when i saw you in person na shock ako kasi magkamukha kayo. I feel like she was alive because of you." Nakita ko ang pag-iba ng expression ni Adric but said nothing.

"But I don't have same feeling for you that I feel for her. Dun ko nalaman that what I felt for her is true. Kasi kahit magkamukha kayo di ko kayo napagkamalan. My heart only beats for her." Nakita how Adric's face changes, he maybe thought i have feelings for Rabi.

"I intentionally get close to you not because I wanted you but it feels like you become an extension of her in me. Mas nanaig ang aking mithiin na one day magkikita kami."

"But when you saw her pictures and told me she was your mother. Sobrang saya ko nun Rabi. At last makikita ko na siya, may katuparan na ang aking matagal na pangarap. I don't care about the age gap. All I know is she is the woman I wanted to be with."

"But my happiness ended abruptly. My heart was broken when you said she already died 8 years ago. My dream crash Rabi. How could it be when she feels so alive and yet she was in the ground for years? It leaves my heart broken until now."

Di ko mapigilang mapaluha upon thinking of my situation. Yeah I'm still grieving from the lost. For my lost dream.

"I was never the same as before. My heart died the moment you told me she was already dead. How I feel that kind of love and thinking she is real when in fact she is no longer alive for years, that's always my question."

"Di ko alam na ganun ang naramdaman mo Arthur sa nanay ko. It's weird, di ko maisip;" sabi pa ni Rabi.

"Yeah it is but it's how I feel. Now, I can't find that same attraction towards anybody else. The same joy that filled my heart. The same intensity and that strong connection towards anyone. How I wish I can have that same feeling again."

Nangangarap kong sabi. Yeah I'm still so hopeful that one day I may see her.

"If I can feel it again, di na yun bibitawan pa. Kaya maybe I will be like this for the rest of my life until I meet her again. Our souls intertwined that's all I know. I know babalik siya para sa akin. Maybe not in this life time, who knows."

"I have a strong faith in reincarnation. Whatever human body she belongs to I'm okay with that. Basta lang babalik siya sa akin to continue our love story."

"Man, I don't know na ganun pala ang pinagdaanan mo. What you have been through is unique and i believe in you. Marami talaga wonders ang buhay natin that is hard to explain." Malumanay na sabi ni Adric.

I'm happy I got friends who understand me and never judge me.

"But don't surrender on love, maybe someday there's one person that is meant for you. Like me I never thought I would be married and have this beautiful life but I have, it happened." Encourage pa niya sa akin.

"I hope so Adric kasi sawa na din ako. Gusto ko na may makasama sa buhay pero paano ko yun gagawin kong siya parin ang nakikita ko. I cannot force myself. I don't want to lie to anyone or to myself just to have a relationship. No, I won't do that."

I want to be true to myself. If one day I'll be lucky to find her again then I will be the happiest man alive.

Little did I know that I am forever stuck to this family. I will be connected to them in the future. And the biggest turmoil and hardest situation I would take for the sake of love.