Inspired by Tampuhan (Lover's Quarrel) by Juan Luna [above], Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, and the song "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?" by Pops & Martin.
His eyes forced a spark as the light from the balcony reached into his pupils. The dark intensity within them hid the uncontrollable ambiguity of his emotions. And by that light, emerged a familiar face from his childhood, yet made beautiful with age.
"Josephine," he managed while stepping up towards that light.
The woman, upon hearing his voice froze in place. On her face, from what could be seen, was contorted in some form of emotion, irrefutable by the sight of him. He, who has been her childhood friend of so many years, who left her when she was ten, who has left to break her heart. They wrote letters when he was in Spain, England and Germany; through them he showed his excitement of fulfilling his dream of seeing new lands, through his vivid descriptions of the wonderful European terrain, and through them, she was able to dream of the closeness they could have shared.
She turned to leave and close the door behind that dream, when his hand graced across her soft skin to stop her. What was then not seen was evident now, on her face was irreplaceable sorrow.
"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" She said quietly, refusing to look up at him.
"¿Es verdad? Totoo bang ikakasal ka na?" The young man's voice was uncertainly calm, but trembling.
The young woman couldn't answer but tried to break free, only to be gently pressed against the door as the man in front of her stepped closer. She suppressed a shudder of indignation when she saw him smile lightly.
"Sí. Oo.."
"¿Pero, su letra? Anong ibig sabihin nito?"
The man held up a piece of folded paper: the letter she last sent him, the letter when she told him she loved him (too). It must have reached him much later, much later when it was already too late for her. For them.
"Lumipas na ang madaming panahon, Jose," she began as she dared to look at him, "madaming mga gabi ng ikaw lang ang aking iniisip at nais kong makita..."
With her words, she removed his grip on her arm and stepped away.
"Ngayon, ibig kong itanong sa iyo: Bakit ngayon ka lang?"
Also with that, and she was gone and closed the door in front of the young man behind her. The symbolic closure to her beloved memories of him and him altogether.
1 comment:
oh man that was vivid for me. i could actually picture it all happening, especially with the painting.
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