Part 3

"Hindi mo ba alam? He's back in the country."

"Oh," tanging nasabi ko. "Isn't he recently married?"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "What? No." Saka siya napalatak. "Ah! You mean the wedding photos? Aren't they great? Seems like he's a photographer."

Photography? Of course, he mentioned it so many times before- if there's one thing he wanted to develop, it was his passion for capturing images. But because of my fear, I assumed and refused to see things clearly... to see the bigger picture.

I didn't want to make the same mistake.

That same night, while sitting on my bed with the book tucked with the plume inside, I mustered all my courage and made the first move to contact him. But I came across an unexpected thing. I discovered all his current messages stuck in the message request inbox. He had been messaging me since last year.

Amari, how are you?

Is this your account?

I guess you're not active here.

How are you?

I'm planning to go home. Can we meet when I came back?

Amari, happy birthday!

Merry Christmas, Amari. The weather here is freezing.

Happy new year, Amari. Do you still jump when the clock strikes 12?

Amari, I miss you.

My flight is next week.

I'm back home, Amari. Can we meet? I have to tell you something.

I didn't want to assume anything. I've been okay with spending years harboring these emotions alone. But I couldn't help the tears that brimmed my eyes when I replied.

Let's meet, Gio.

The day of our meeting came. It was Saturday afternoon at the same coffee shop we used to hang around a lot in college. I was wearing a simple beige colored dress under a pale yellow jacket. I was too anxious and ended up arriving too early.

My hands were sweaty. I couldn't stay still. I brought out the book with me to keep my mind off things. I've decided that no matter what he would tell me today, I would never let the chance slip from me again. I have to tell him how I feel. It no longer matters if he doesn't see me the same way. What matters is that I took the chance I missed the first time.

Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas nang dumating si Gio. Pareho kaming napaaga sa usapan. Mas tumangkad siya. His slightly long hair during college was now clean cut and he was wearing eyeglasses that suited his square shaped face. Nandoon parin ang pamilyar na ngiti sa kanyang labi nang makita ako.

We stood in front of each other, trying to hide our smiles. "Amari," he greeted me. I was able to hear my name again from the voice I had missed for five years.

"Hi," I smiled.

We were both nervous. Both of us were clumsy, bumping into seats and under tables, almost spilling our drinks. Now I understand why it never worked with others because with him, I could literally feel my heart beating inside my chest, so raw it was aching.

Isang bagay ang inabot ko sa aking bulsa saka inabot sa kanya. I slid the piece of Hershey's Kisses across the table to him. "To lessen both of our nerves," I said, smiling.

Humalakhak siya. Because it used to be his line. And just like that, it seemed like we were back to the times when we were spending countless afternoons in the same coffee shop, studying, hanging out, talking about random topics, talking about our future. Finally, we were able to stare at each other's faces.

"I came back," he said in his familiar low baritone voice.

"You did."

I gazed at the plume from the chocolate on the table. But I no longer had to tuck it between the pages of my book because this time, my feelings will finally reach him.

"Do you have someone?" I asked. "A girlfriend? Maybe a wife?"

I clasped my hands together under the table. The seconds felt like an eternity while I was waiting for his answer.

"I don't." I stared up at his face who was now staring intently at me. "Because my heart belongs to someone from home... that's why I came back."

"How lucky... is this someone."

"She is... but I'm luckier being able to meet her again. Because there were a lot of things I wanted to tell her. How she became someone I relied on for years. How she kept me company during my loneliest moments. How she used to be with me despite people finding me annoying and strange. How she told me I was a good artist instead of seeing my photographs as a waste of time. I was the lonely boy she saved and all I could give in return during those times were tiny pieces of chocolates."

I had to blink back tears. Inilabas ko mula sa aking bag ang isang maliit na glass jar na puno ng maliliit na papel mula sa mga chocolates na ibinigay niya sa'kin mula noong umpisa. The efforts he thought were little... they meant so much to me.

"I've been saving all of these..." I told him. "Because they were important to me." Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga bago muling nagsalita. But the tears already spilled from my eyes and they could no longer be prevented.

"I'm just happy I could finally tell you this. Gio I've been in love with you for a long time."

Sa halip na sumagot, tumayo siya mula sa silya. With a single long stride, he pulled me to his chest in a tight embrace before placing a kiss on top of my head.

"For a long time..." he repeated. "I kept this feeling for a long time. Now I can freely say it. I love you."

They say what's meant to be will always find a way. But in this life, I learned that it's not the case for everyone. What's meant to be will only find a way if one is brave enough to let them in. And for a love worth experiencing, I was ready to take the leap.

Because love isn't always about big gestures and special occasions, it's the small moments that make up the big picture, the small efforts that shaped a memory.

Most of our lives will consist of mundane moments. It will be up to us to see the beauty in the ordinary and show our love through the smallest gestures, just like the small pieces of Hershey's Kisses he gave me which ended up becoming a huge part of our story.

And I hope you find someone you can share these small moments with... to share the love.

The End