As Long As My Heart Beats

"THIS is the best Christmas of my life." Bulong ni Katerina kay Brett matapos nitong ayusin ang nakaibabaw na jacket sa balikat niya. They decided to spend Christmas in the home for the aged that he was helping. Ang akala niya ay mga bata lang sa foundation ang sinusuportahan nito. Iyon pala ay pati din ang mga matatanda.

Brett played the guitar while Katerina sang for the elders. They make a great team. It was among the many things she discovered about him. He could play the guitar so well. Ayon rito, tinuruan lang ito ng isa sa mga matatandang lalaki doon kung paano tumugtog. Nakisabay din sila sa pagkain ng mga naroon at nakipaglaro sa mga ito. Brett was the one who prepared for the food and for all the gifts.

It made Katerina feel embarrass at first. Dahil maliban sa sarili niya, wala na siyang ibang dala papunta sa nursing home dahil wala siyang idea na doon siya dadalhin ng binata. But everyone there was so easy to get along with that she later on forgot about her anxiety. And now, the elders were resting since it was past nine in the evening. The elders looked tired but they were happy.

Today was the second time that she saw Brett danced. Noong una ay sa Christmas party. At ngayong araw kasama ng mga matatanda. For a man who once claimed that he didn't believe in the good things, for a man who was once tagged as the 'ogre', these things were unexpected. Every day, she discovers something new about Brett which makes her fall deeper in love with him.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa terrace ng dalawang palapag na nursing home at nagpapahangin. Katatapos lang nilang maghapunan kasama ng mga staff doon. They decided to rest for a while before they leave. "Thank you for taking me here, Brett. I had so much fun."

Inakbayan siya ng binata. "I'm glad that you liked it here. This is our first Christmas together so I wanted this to become more special for the two of us. But I didn't know where to bring you. I've researched for so many places but I gave up when I thought about your job and how you've seen some of the most beautiful parts of the world already. That's why I took a risk and brought you here instead. Gusto kong makilala mo ang mga nandito dahil malapit silang lahat sa puso ko. This is where I spend holidays."

That was another secret he unfolded. Sumandal si Katerina sa balikat ni Brett habang tahimik na nakikinig.

"Whenever I'm stressed out, I would find myself going back to this place. I only saw about this place when I was browsing the net five years ago. Sinubukan kong pumunta minsan hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan na dumalas na nang dumalas. Maybe because you were right. I was lonely. I was searching for someone to be with, to sit with, to eat and talk with. And the elders here became my companion. They knew exactly what I feel even when we don't talk about it. Sometimes, after playing chess or after the jamming session, we would just sit together in a comfortable silence and think about what's going on with our lives."

Katerina smiled appreciatively. "Thank you for sharing these things with me."

"I'm feeling so blessed these days. Do you mind if I share some more things with you?"

"I would be more than happy if you do so."

"I used to be a very proud man, Katerina. It was only when you came into my life did I learn how to acknowledge how lonely I've been all these years. You know my story. You know how I've lost faith in love that's why I didn't think that I would fall in love one day and actually be with someone. I didn't think that there would be a day when I'd try and risk. Pero mula noon hanggang ngayon, naiiba ka. Ikaw lang ang nag-iisang babae na nagturo sa akin kung paano sumubok kaya susubok ako ngayon."

Sa pagkagulat ni Katerina, biglang lumuhod sa harap niya si Brett. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang maglabas ito ng kahita mula sa bulsa nito. She was greeted with the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen.

"You made me acknowledge what loneliness meant. And it's being without you. It's waking up every morning without you by my side, eating breakfast without you, and going back to bed without you. And I want to change that. I want us to do things together. I can't promise to always make you happy but I promise that I will always be by your side. Katerina, I love you. I love you so much. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

Tumulo ang mga luha ni Katerina. "Of course, Brett. For you, I'd take a risk, too. Because I love you, too!"

Nasopresa siya nang makarinig ng mga palakpakan sa paligid. Noon niya lang namalayan na naroon din pala sa terrace hindi lang ang mga staff ng nursing home kundi pati na ang mga matatanda na ang akala niya ay nagpapahinga na.

"Merry na ang Christmas mo mula ngayon, apo." Anang isa sa mga matatandang lalaki doon na nagturo kay Brett tumugtog ng gitara.

Emosyonal na tumango si Brett. "You are right, Lolo Bert. With Katerina around, it will definitely be a Merry Christmas from now." Isinuot ng binata ang singsing sa daliri niya bago tumayo at niyakap siya nang mahigpit.

I was happy enough today. I didn't want to ask for anything more. Who would have thought that I would go home with a ring on my finger?

"NAGTATAKA ka siguro kung bakit ako nandito o kung paano ko nalaman ang address mo." Kaagad na bungad ni Andrei kay Katerina nang ang lalaki ang mapagbuksan niya ng pinto sa kanyang apartment nang umagang iyon. "The truth is, inalam ko talaga ang lahat ng mga bagay na may kinalaman sa 'yo."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni

Katerina saka napasulyap sa kanyang relo, alas-nueve na. Sa ganoong oras, dapat ay

nagmamaneho na siya papasok sa trabaho lalo na at hindi na muna siya masusundo ni Brett sa araw na iyon Dahil maaga pa lang ay nagpunta na ito sa Antipolo, Rizal matapos nitong makatanggap nang sunod-sunod na mga reklamo mula sa mga empleyado ng Buddies' roon ng pang-aabuso umano sa mga ito ng itinalaga ni Brett na branch manager.

"Can I come in?"

Katerina wanted to downright reject Andrei but something in his warm eyes told her that the man would not personally visit her there if it was not an important matter. Wala sa anyo nito na magsasayang ng panahon para sa mga walang kabuluhang bagay.

Pero hindi pa rin siya tuluyang makapagdesisyon. Kahit pa minsang natulungan na siya ni Andrei ay hindi pa rin maaalis niyon ang pagiging estranghero nito. Naihatid man siya nito ng matiwasay sa restaurant noon ay makakasiguro pa rin ba siyang magiging ganoon pa rin ang mangyayari kung papapasukin niya ito sa loob mismo ng kanyang apartment? Para namang nabasa ng lalaki ang pag-aalinlangan sa anyo niya dahil marahang ngumiti ito.

Dinukot ni Andrei ang wallet mula sa bulsa ng pantalon nito at mula roon ay naglabas ng ID at tsapa. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang mapag-alamang isa palang police detective ang lalaki.

"You are safe with me, Kate. Okay lang sana kung dito sa labas tayo mag-uusap but the chances of people to recognize you are quite high." Nagkibit-balikat ito. "I don't really mind to go through the same experience on the mall with you but the question is, do you want to go through that same fans day affair again?"

"Come in." bahagya nang kumbinsidong sinabi ni Katerina pagkatapos ay niluwagan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. "Ano ba'ng sadya mo sa akin?" deretsang tanong niya matapos silang makaupo pareho sa sofa sa sala.

"Naaalala mo pa ba kung saan tayo unang nagkita?" sa halip ay ganting-tanong ni Andrei. "Twenty-five years ago, isa lang kanlungan ng mga madre ang lugar na 'yon bago nasunog. The mayor at that time decided to relocate them someplace else."

Tumahip ang dibdib ni Katerina.

Nang marahil ay mapansin ni Andrei

ang pagkamangha niya,

sinamantala pito iyon para

magpatuloy. But before the

incident, may iniwang batang babae sa tapat ng kanlungan. The child just turned two years old at that time. Iniwan siya roon pansamantala ng kanyang ama para mailigtas ang buhay niya laban sa mga noon ay humahabol sa kanila. Pero bago niya iniwan ang bata, may isinuot siya ritong kwintas. It was a gold necklace. Sa loob ng pabilog nitong pendant ay may dalawang letrang naka-engrave. E at M iyon. It

symbolized the owner's name which is Eirene Morrison."

Nahigit ni Katerina ang hininga kasabay nang matiim na pagtitig sa kanya ni Andrei. "For so many years, our task was simple yet complicated. Iyon ay ang hanapin si Eirene Morrison. And at the mall when I met you, I found her."

Pumatak ang mga luha niya. Posible kayang nagkatotoo ang dasal niyang matagpuan na siya ng kanyang pamilya? The chance of finally knowing her real identity gave her away. "What took them so long to find me? Bakit hindi na siya bumalik?" Nabasag ang boses niya. "Sa loob nang ilang taon, naghanap rin ako."

"That's for your father to explain, Eirene." Andrei sighed. "Dapat sana ay noong nakaraang araw pa ako nakapunta rito pero inatake sa puso si Ninong Martin, your father, nang malaman niyang finally ay may lead na sa anak niya. Besides," Nahaplos nito ang batok. "I had to wait for the DNA result. Kinailangan ko pa ring makasiguro. I didn't want to give him false hopes."

Umawang ang bibig ni Katerina.

"Nakakuha ako ng sample ng buhok

mo noong araw na buhatin kita

palabas ng mall. To doubt and investigate are parts of my job description Kasabay nang pag-iinit ng kanyang mga mata ay ang pag-iinit rin ng kanyang mga pisngi sa tahasang pahayag ni Andre "Noon pa lang na kumpirmahin ko sa yo kung ikaw nga ang babae sa magazine ay nagduda na ako tungkol sa pagkatao mo. I just couldn't tell you yet." Mayamaya ay tumayo na ang binata at lumapit sa kanya. Inilahad nito ang isang palad. "I believe I haven't formally

introduced myself yet. Ako si Detective Andrei Benett. And heck,

looking at you right now made me

glad I stayed single for the past years."

Napasinghap siya.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐