Always, In All Ways (Change Series #4)

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi?"

I am still crying when Gio let go of my lips. Nakayuko lang ako habang umiiyak. I regret the time when we could fix what we have but we chose to hurt each other even more.

Gio held my chin and made me face him. "Ayaw kong ako ang magsabi dahil baka hindi ka maniwala." he softly said.

"Maniniwala naman ako sa 'yo, eh." I sniffled. "Bakit hindi mo ako pinuntahan noong na-ospital ako?"

"I was there..." he whispered. "Every night when you were sleeping, I was there. I was watching you and it really destroyed me whenever I see you get hurt. Whenever I see those tears in your face." he said while wiping my tears.

"B-Bakit hindi mo... hindi mo binigay sa akin ang letter? Bakit hindi ikaw ang ang nagbigay?"

He bit his lower lip, containing his tears. "B-baka..." Tears fell from his eyes. "Baka hindi ko kayanin," bulong niya, hinang-hina. "Baka mawalan ako ng lakas ng loob. Baka kapag nakita kita, yakapin kita at sabihing okay lang ang lahat."

I can hear on his voice how much he is hurting... we're both caught up in the situation.

"It was so hard to let you go... siyempre, mahal na mahal kita, eh."

I pursed my lips as another tears fell from my eyes.

"I just really needed to protect you especially whoever shot you was not behind bars that time. I can't risk your life. Mas kaya ko pang mawala ka sa akin basta alam kong ligtas ka."

"That's why I worked so hard to be a prosecutor, together with finding the one who is liable to what happened to you and Maureen just so I could go to you again. I could hug again. I could be with you again."

"I'm sorry, Gio."

He cupped my face. "Don't ever doubt yourself. Ako ang nagkamali. I should've had the courage to face you... to tell you that I needed to leave. Dapat sinabi ko sa harap mo para mas naintindihan mo."

"Gio,"

He pulled me into a tight hug. "I miss you so much, love. I was longing for you the whole time."

Bumitiw ako sa yakap niya at hinawakan ang pisngi niya. "I just want you to know... that I'm proud of you. I'm proud with the man that you become. I'm always proud of you, my love." I smiled with tears.

He sighed and planted a kiss on my forehead before looking me in the eye. "I am what I am because of you. I chose to live because of you. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. I'm sorry."

"Sshh." I tiptoed and planted a kiss on his lips. "We will not waste our time anymore. Thank you for your sacrifices."

"Whatever the choice that I made... and the choice that I will make, will always be for you. I will always choose you even if it means letting you go..." He bowed down his head.

I wiped the tears on his face. "Know that I will do the same for you, Gio. I will also choose you... always, in all ways."

Maybe if I am in his position, I would do the same. I would let him go so he could live. I am willing to die just so he could live because our love is not selfish... and our love is willing to sacrifice. Always.

"I love you, Natalia. I still do... always have and always will."

I nodded. "I love you, too, Gio. Always have... and always will."

He hugged me again so tight as if this was our only chance but I know that we'll have a lifetime to hug each other, to be with each other... and to love each.

Dahil kung hindi lang din siya, huwag na lang.

"All the memories with you, all our memories together forever lingered in my heart... and they were the ones that kept me going." he whispered, still hugging me.