29

Miguel stared out into the setting sun at Manila Bay. He was now relieved and content.

"Miguel!" Laarni screamed from behind him. He turned around to see her running towards him. They embraced.

"Salamat." He said. "For listening to me." she just smiled.

"It was the song." she replied. "May kakaibang pakiramdam na dulot yung kanta."

"Sabi ko na eh." Miguel joked. "May lihim kang pagtingin sa akin."

"Che. Ikaw kaya nauna." Laarni replied, pinching his nose. "Pero yung kanta talaga. Second na lang yung good looks mo." The two laughed, as the sun continued its path and the night sky was creeping in.

FIN

28

"Here is my goodbye song
I feel the words are coming now
and they reveal how sad i feel
that you left me behind..."

Miguel banged his hand on the piano. He can't seem to get the words right. He got the bottle of beer on top of the piano, and drank. It's been two days, he thought to himself. In those two days, he had done nothing but drink to bury his feelings.

"Ang aga namang pag-inom niyan." a familar voice said. Miguel was surprised to hear the voice. Could it be, he thought. He turned around and immediately, a smile crept up his face.

"La!" He exclaimed, running towards the woman at the doorway. The two enveloped in a warm embrace. Miguel never wanted to let go. He thought this moment would never happen, but now that it has, it was surreal. "Akala ko..."

"I can't. Not like this." Laarni explained.

"Huh?" Miguel pulled away from the hug.

"I want to set things straight. Number one, gusto kitang pasalamatan sa honesty mo. Bihira sa kaibigan ang makakapagsabi ng ganun. Number two, hindi kita iiwasan, dahil..." Laarni paused for a while, building up the courage. "Number three... mahal din kita."

Miguel wanted to jump. He hugged Laarni again. Slowly, he pulled his face closer to hers until their lips finally touched.

27

Terminal One of Ninoy Aquino International Airport was overcrowded with jetsetters and contract workers. People were rushing to and fro, hoping not to miss their flight.



Laarni sat on one corner of the waiting area. Beside her, Adrian was making some last minute calls to his staff.

Am I doing the right thing? She thought to herself. Last night, she listened to Miguel's CD. It was a recording of his song, followed by a heartfelt message.

"Laarni, alam kong matagal ko nang sinabi sa iyo kung anong nararamdaman ko. Kung hindi mo man ako matanggap pagkatapos nito ay maiintindihan ko. I love you. I wish I could have told you sooner, but I don't know how, or takot ako. I don't want to lose you. Yet in the end, I felt I did.

La, maiintindihan ko kung hindi lalagpas sa pagkakaibigan ang pagtingin mo sa akin. Salamat sa mga pinagsamahan natin."

By the end of the message, Laarni found herself in tears, more confused than ever.

"Are you okay?" Adrian asked. Laarni looked at her and smiled, yet the sadness was evident in her eyes. She knew her attempt failed. Adrian at that point knew he lost the battle. Even if he forcibly married Laarni, he knew she would never be his.

"If you do not want to go, I'll understand." he said, a hint of depression in his voice. Laarni looked at him.

"No, I do want to go." she reassured him.

"Laarni, I know, when I have lost the war. You love Miguel." he said.

"No..." Laarni began, but Adrian cut her off.

"Your eyes tell it all. I have known it since then, that you feel something special for Miguel. I chose to ignore it, but it becomes more evident. don't want to force you into something you're not whole-hearted about."

Laarni nodded, she gave Adrian a hug. "thank you. she whispered." Adrian hugged her tightly, afraid to let go, but he knew he should.

"Go. before I change my mind."

26

Adrian neatly folded a pair of trousers into his luggage. Tomorrow is the day, he thought. He opened his bedside drawer and brought out the box containing the wedding rings.

He got his phone and dialled.

"Hello Sen?" he greeted as soon as Sen picked up the phone.

"What?" Sen asked, the annoyance evident in his voice. "I'm in the middle of having sex here." Adrian laughed.

"Just tell the girl to wait or something... this is important."

"What?"

"I thought about what you said... and yes, I'm marrying Laarni in the Cook Islands."

"Okay." Sen said, a tinge of impatience, and restraint in his voice. Adrian laughed when he heard deep breathing.

"Consider this an invitation. See you at the Cooks in a couple of days." He hung up the phone.

25

The Manila Bay Sunset was famous the world over. It's basking glow seemed to envelop the Manila Skyline. Further beyond, the darkness was creeping in like a lion hunting for its prey.

Miguel Mendoza paid no attention to these as he stood at the breakwater of Harbor Square. In his hand, he had a small box.

"Miguel." Laarni called. Miguel turned around and saw her approaching him. The setting sun radiated her face. Dressed in a simple white blouse and skinny jeans, she seemed like a goddess lifted up into the sun. The two shared an embrace.

"La. Please, huwag kang umalis." Miguel began.

"Babalik pa naman ako, eh."

"Iba pakiramdam ko dito." Miguel explained. "Pagbalik mo, baka mag-iba na ang lahat..."

Laarni was puzzled.

"Mahal kita. Mahal na mahal. Sana naman, magtiwala ka sa akin. Kahit ito lang, ibigay mo sa akin. Huwag kang sumama sa Rarotonga."

"Alam mo naguguluhan ako sa mga nararamdaman ko ngayon." Laarni explained. "aaminin ko may nararamdaman ako sa iyo. meron din kay adrian. hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko."

There was a glimmer of hope in Miguel's eyes.

"Hindi ka na aalis?" He asked.

"Hindi ko talaga alam. May isang part ng katawan ko na ayaw sumama, but at the same time..." her voice trailed off. "Bigyan mo ako ng time mag-isip."

Miguel handed the box he was holding. Laarni opened it, and saw a CD.

"Yan yung composition ko. Para sa iyo." Laarni felt her stomach rising, a knot on her throat becoming larger. The tears were welling in her eyes.

"I have to go." She said as she turned around.

"Maghihintay ako Laarni. It may take forever, but I will wait!" He shouted.

24

"Miguel?" Laarni greeted as the other party answered the call.

"La?"

"Listen, pupunta kami ni Adrian sa Cook Islands." Laarni said, a glint of sadness in her voice. There was silence at the other end of the line, punctuated by sobbing. "Miguel?"

"La, isa lang pakiusap ko. Please, bago ka umalis, magkita tayo."

"Ha?"

"Please Laarni?"

"O sige... dating gawi."

* * *
As Miguel put down the phone. He pondered about his sudden decision. He felt that the trip to the Cook Islands would be his last ditch effort to gain her back. Afterwards, all else would be futile.

This is my last hope, he thought.

23

"You're taking her to Rarotonga?!" Sen exclaimed.

"yeah." Adrian replied nochalantly. Sen took a gulp of scotch. He knew what Rarotonga meant to the girls Adrian dated. Usually, when Adrian took a girl to the island paradise, it meant that he was breaking up with her.

"You're breaking up with her?" Sen asked, confirming his suspicion.

"Ano ka ba. I'm taking her to Raro to marry her." He laughed.

"Wow! Talagang matindi ano?" Sen said. Adrian nodded. He then brought out a small box in his pocket. He opened it. Inside, Sen saw two rings made of white gold.

"ganda." He said.

"There's only one problem." Adrian said as he took a shot of tequila.

"Miguel?" Sen asked. "We always thought that iba yung tingin niya kay Laarni."

"Honestly, hindi ko rin sure kung may nararamdaman si Laarni. Tuwing may tinatanong ako about Miguel, she changes the topic." Adrian commented. There was a glimmer of despair in his eyes.

"Well, she's with you. Unahan mo na lang si Miguel. Kung doon na rin kayo sa Cook Islands magpakasal. That way, pagbalik niyo, wala nang magagawa si Miguel." Sen suggested. Adrian paused to think about his friend's suggestion. It sounded plausible, but he was still not that convinced. "Pero trust me, she likes you. Otherwise hindi ka niya sasagutin. She's yours."

"I wish, Sen. I wish."