Prologue
Beautiful faces are everywhere. But beautiful souls are rare. It's hard to find someone with that kind of souls. Yet, when you finally found it, it's worth it.
Being in a famous university puts you a lot of pressure. But Duke doesn't care about that. For him, studying is about enjoying your journey in the school. And that's what he did. He's an Architect students and also a band vocalist. Laro-laro lang niya ng mag-audtion siya para sa UBand at hindi niya lubos akalain na makakapasa siya. Freshmen and he's already a part of the UBand.
Dahil sa pagiging band vocalist, madali niyang naattract ang kasikatan. Maging ang atensyon ng karamihan na kapwa niya estudyante. And most of them is girls. Sinong babae ang hindi hahanga sa kaniya? Eh, sa itsura pa lang ay pang-masa na. Titigan lang siya sa taas ng entablado ay aani na siya ng mga fans. Paano pa iyong kakanta na siya? That's what Duke thought. Akala niya ay fans na niya ang lahat. But how wrong he is.
Duke flirt around the university. Ilang babae ang naging ka-fling niya. He dumps a lot of women. He breaks a lot of hearts. He played with his popularity and feeling. He was a jerk. Not until someone cross path on him that change everything.
She. Change. Everything.
Hindi na-love at first sight si Duke pero aminado siyang iba ang naging epekto ng babae sa kaniya. Mula ng makita niya ang babae ay hindi na siya nakipag-fling pa sa iba na animo'y committed na siya sa babae. Every day, Duke secretly watching that girl from afar.
"Damn you man." natatawang sabi ng kaniyang kaibigan. "Ang daming naghahabol sa'yong babae tapos ikaw, heto, palihim na pinagma-masdan ang isang babaeng junior mo pa at hindi nga alam na nag-eexist ka."
"What!?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Duke.
Ngumisi naman ang kaniyang kaibigan. "Her friend, Jane, we bumped from each other in cafeteria. Tapos sabay na kaming naglakad. I know that you like her friend, kaya naman natanong ko if kilala ka no'ng kaibigan niya. But sad to say, pero hindi."
"No way!" Duke hysterically said. "Hindi ako naniniwala! How come?"
Bumutong-hininga naman ang kaniyang kaibigan. "Because of that." sabay sulyap sa kanilang tinitignan.
There, Duke saw that the woman she likes is already with someone else. Ouch, pain. Pero kahit ganoon ay hindi nawala ang nararamdaman ni Duke. Hindi siya gumawa ng bagay na pagsisisihan niya kaya naman nirespeto niya ang relasyon ng iba. But deep inside his heart, he's dreaming to have that woman inside his arms.
And a door of opportunity opens for him. But he waited over a year before moving.
"Sia, right?" untag ni Duke sa babaeng mag-isang nakaupo sa kiosk.
Nag-angat ng tingin si Sia sa kaniya. The sun rays reflected on Duke's handsome face. Tila nasilaw si Sia at hindi niya inaasahang kikilos si Duke upang takpan ang sinag ng araw. There. Sia freely saw his downright gorgeous face.
"Sia," muling untag ni Duke.
Ngumiti si Sia. "Yes?"
Seeing her smiling feels like a heaven for Duke. Wala pa man ding ginagawa si Sia pero heto at hulog na hulog na si Duke. "Can I sit beside you?" paalam niya.
"Oh, sure." muling ngumiti si Sia.
Hindi na nag-alinlangan pa si Duke na maupo sa tabi ni Sia. And sitting beside her is already an heaven. Tuluyan ng nahulog si Duke at wala siyang balak na umahon. He loves the feeling. The feeling of being drowned to his love for this woman.
Duke waited for over a year before making his move 'cause he respects Sia's space for moving on. Yes, Sia and his boyfriend broke up at hindi na nais malaman ni Duke ang dahilan. It's not his business to stick with. Isang taon siyang mula sa malayo ay nakatanaw, and finally, he's now beside Sia.
Ang naunang pagsasama ng dalawa ay nasundan pa ng nasundan hanggang sa maging magkaibigan na sila. And Sia admitted that being with Duke is like having a peace. Mind you, Sia moved on from his ex on her own. Hindi niya ginamit ang atensyon ni Duke. At kung ano ang ipinapakita niya sa binata ay totoo lahat at may bukal sa puso. Until her heart opens again. And Duke bravely entered it.
"Every time I see this woman; I always see an angel. Every time I am with her, I felt heaven. And every time she smiles, I see light. She gives so much inspiration. She gives me so much love. Everyone, I know you all this, but let me flex it again. From the moon to it's million stars, everyone, that girl is my girl!" sabay turo niya kay Sia na nasa pinaka harap ng entablado.
Unti-unting hinanap ng spotlight si Sia at ng matagpuan ay itinuon na sa kaniya ang spotlight. Nagpalakpakan ang lahat habang si Sia at abot langit ang ngiti. Sia doesn't know that this will be Duke's retirement performance. Lingid iyon sa kaalaman ni Sia. And aside from that, the performance also contains Duke's surprise.
"So, before the main song, let me first sing my favorite song. This is for you." sabay kindat ni Duke kay Sia.
Duke hum the song as the guitar stars to played.
Suddenly, our destiny
Has started to unfold
When you're next to me
I can see
The greatest love story has ever told
Now my life is blessed with the love of an angel
How can it be true?
Somebody to keep the dream alive
The dream I found in you
I always thought that love
Would be the strangest thing to me
But when we touch
I realize
That I found my place
In heaven by your side
Dahan-dahang bumaba si Duke sa entablado patungo kay Sia habang marahan na niyang inaawit ang sariling kanta para kay Sia. Mabilis naman na nangilid ang luha ni Sia dahil sa saying nararamdaman. Lalo ng tumulo ang kaniyang luha ng ilang hibla na lang ang layo nila sa isa't isa.
"Sia..." tawag ni Duke. "I know and I am sure that you will be the woman I'll spent my life with." saad niyang puno ng damdamin at tsaka ito unti-unting lumuhod.
Naghiyawan ang lahat ng manood habang si Sia ay natutop na lang ang kaniyang bibig upang pigilan ang hagulhul na nais kumawala. She knew that she wants to spent her life with Duke too. Katulad ni Duke, wala ng ibang lalaking nakikinita si Sia na mamahalin niya. It's only Duke.
"My Angel, my saving grace, my life changer, my dream, can I spent my whole life with you?" Duke ask proposingly.
Sia smiled widely. There's no reason for her to reject it. She loves this man so much. And she's willing to spent her life with him too.
"Yes, Duke. Yes. And I love you." she answered.
For Duke, nothing greater than a love that is pure and true. Nothing is much great than having your dream for the rest of your life.
Waiting is always worth it. Searching is somehow helpful. But searching for the beautiful soul and wait for it is such a great feeling.
While looking at Sia, Duke dream to be this woman's epilogue, not just a prologue.
But in order to do that, he must be consistent of showing his love for her. But does love is enough to make someone stay? Does a beautiful soul is enough to stay and don't say goodbye?
Is love really what we need? Or there's still a missing piece?
Well, in life, it's all about learning. And what Sia and Duke learn is incomparable.
