THE BRIDGE TOWARDS LOVE
“Do you guys know about the legend of Agape Bridge?”
Tanong ko habang nag-aayos ng gamit for our new adventure. Me and my friends like to try new things and we decided to hike the highest mountain in the Philippines; the Mt. Apo, and to reach the summit.
“Agape Bridge? The last bridge na dadaanan natin before the summit?” Mariel asked.
“Yeah, the last bridge. It is where you can see the sea beautifully, because the end of the river looks like it goes directly to the sea, pero hindi. The river just falls beneath, which we call the Bongolanon falls.”
“Legend? Is that some kind of horror stuff because if it’s about that then I’m done. I’m not going.” Saad ni Janmar nang may pagtaas pa ng dalawang kamay, acting like he’s surrendering.
“Agape nga ‘di ba? It’s about love obviously, duh!” Maarteng sagot ni Grace sa kaniyang nobyo na may kasama pang irap.
“Love, my ass.” My bitter friend, Keisha, retorted.
“So Margotte what about it? The legend of Agape Bridge?” Angel boredly asked me. But I know deep down she’s already curious.
“It is also called as the bridge towards love. It is about a man and a woman who built the bridge together, but only one of them went to the other side.”
“Why only one of them? And why is it called as the Bridge Towards Love?” Tanong ulit ni Angel, halatang hindi na makapaghintay.
I was about to tell them the story but Jethro’s eyes pierced at me, giving me a ‘hurry-up-packing-your-things’ look. I rolled my eyes.
Okay mister, as you wished.
“How about I’ll just tell you while we’re hiking na?” Saad ko nang may pagtaas baba pa ng kilay.
_
“Rise and shine gorgeous me!” bati ko sa sarili habang nakatingin sa repleksiyon ko sa isang basag na salaming nakuha ko sa mga manlalakbay.
Estrelita your beauty can’t be defined using any vocabulary that even the goddess Venus will be envy. Ay, tama ba? Duh, ako pa ba.
I mentally praised myself.
Hayyyy. Bakit ba ako nabuhay na may mala diyosang mukha. Hindi ba nila alam na isang mahirap na responsibilidad ang pagiging maganda? Paano nalang ako na sumobra sa kagandahan? Eh ‘di patong patong na responsibilidad, ganoon ba?
Lumabas ako sa kubo at bumungad sa akin ang sirang tulay. Yeah, heaven really is so good to me. I can eat three meals a day because travellers seek help from me to cross the broken bridge. And just now, somewhere further, someone is approaching this bridge. Good heavens! Estrelita loves you.
Nang makalapit na siya at tsaka ko lamang nasilayan. Mamma mia! Ang gwapo! I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath since I saw his face. Why would someone as stunningly handsome as him, more like a God, went this way?
“Mister, perhaps you’re lost?” I asked after I gained composture.
Luminga linga siya. “No I’m not.” Pormal nitong saad.
So he’s really planning on crossing this bridge? How lucky of me!
“Oh, so you’re crossing the bridge. Sadly the bridge is destroyed. But don’t worry! I will lend you my help! Tutulungan kitang makatawid sa kabila.” I said with a smile.
But this handsome guy just looked at me, more like, stared at me intently.
Oh, this is not new. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized with this kind of beauty?
“Your eyes…” He said.
“My eyes, yes?”
“Your almond eyes is like telling me you have some wicked scheme.” He bluntly said.
What? Just what? He wasn’t mesmerized but–JUST WHAT?
“Like it wanted to steal.” He continued. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Just who the hell is he?
“Ano? Mukha ba akong magnanakaw para sa iyo?”
“Hindi ba? Kung hindi, tulungan mo na lang ako.”
“With what?”
“Fixing this bridge.”
“Fix the–NO WAY!”
“I wanted to fix this bridge so that others can cross too. You can help me if you want.”
“Okay fine!” Pagsuko ko. “I’m stealing. I’m pretending to help anyone who crosses this bridge and when they lend me their belongings I would run with it. I need to survive, obviously. Now can you leave and stop ruining my business?”
“Stealing isn’t business.”
“It is.”
“Then go steal in other bridge.”
“I can’t. There are other robbers in the other bridges too. Just leave okay!”
“No. I’m fixing the bridge.” It looks like I can’t really stop him.
“Okay then. Once you fixed this bridge, I’ll destroy it again.” I started walking to my hut.
He smiled, “Alright.”
He started fixing the bridge all by himself. He cut trees and turned them into lumber. He started building the foundation of the bridge, a lot better and stronger than before. He would work everyday, and he’s making slow progress! But at least there is progress but what annoys me is that he’s giving so much effort while having just a little improvement in return! Like, can’t you see it’s not worthy of your time? Just leave it be!
“Hey! Hindi ka pa ba napapagod? Hello? Ang tanga mo!”
Pabalik balik siya sa pagkuha ng mga tabla. At kahit halatang nahihirapan ay patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtrabaho. Argh, how annoying!
“Kung sinabi ko bang napapagod na ako, tutulungan mo ba ako?”
“No way!”
“Then just shut your mouth and watch,” bara niya sa mga reklamo ko, naiingayan na ata.
Dios mio. May pa gano’n?
He would always work. Humihinto lamang siya kapag kakain, magpapahinga saglit, at matutulog. Kahit ang ulan ay hindi nakapagpapahinto sa kaniya. Kahit bumabaha na ang ilog, patuloy pa rin.
Hanggang sa hindi na ako makapagtimpi, “Argh, stupid!” I started picking up the lumber at ginaya ko ang mga ginagawa niyang kabisado ko na sa dahil pabalik balik niyang ginagawa, he would cut trees to make lumber, then attach it to the foundation and viola! You make a very little progress!
“What are you doing?”
“Can’t you see? I’m just helping so that it would be finished sooner at masira ko na rin!”
He smiled, “thank you.” I rolled my eyes.
This work is tougher than what I imagined! Pagod na pagod na ako umaga pa lang. Palagi akong napapatingin sa kaniya but wala man lang akong makitang kapaguran sa kaniya, ang gwapo niya pa rin! How unfair is that?
Napatingin siya sa akin, “are you tired? Magpahinga ka muna,” he said.
“As if!” Singhal ko.
We continued what we were doing.
He would wake up before the sun rises, at bago pa man ako magising, ay nakapagluto na siya ng pagkain namin. And I am always full. He would always greet me good morning bago kami magsimula, and kahit sa pagtatrabaho ay palagi niya akong kinukumusta, hindi lang iyan, kahit bago matulog he would tell me stories as if I’m a child. I find it annoying at first ngunit ‘di kalaunan ay nasanay na rin ako.
I woke up earlier this time, the sun hasn’t risen yet, nakita ko siyang nagluluto ng almusal but he didn’t notice me. I went to the bridge para, wala lang, magtulala. And after a few minutes our eyes met, he was shocked seeing me up this early. He just smiled.
And I don’t understand myself but that annoyed me.
The whole time we were working, he would always ask me what’s the problem, and I just rolled my eyes, like the usual.
And when we were about to sleep, he spoke. “Really, Estrelita, what’s the problem? Kanina mo pa ako hindi kinakausap.” Saad niya ngunit hindi ko pa rin siya pinansin.
“Okay then, hindi na muna kita gagambalain. Siguro naman bukas kakausapin mo na ako.” He was about to stand up when I stood up first–
“You didn’t greet me good morning.” I spatted and went straight to my hut. He stared at me as if he can’t believe what I just said.
I heard him laugh so hard outside.
And after months, finally, we finished fixing the bridge, or rebuilding it rather.
“It’s done! Ignacio it’s done!” Sobrang saya ko habang patalon talon sa tulay na ginawa namin.
“Puwede mo na sirain ulit.” saad niya.
“Are you crazy? Bakit ko sisirain ang pinaghirapan ko? Ano ako, stupida?”
“Hindi ba?” Tukso niya. Aba’t–
He gave me the most genuine smile so far, “You look prettier when you’re happy.” he said out of the blue.
I was startled. I mean, I’m a self proclaimed beautiful. I’m used to people complimenting me but when it comes to him, it’s different. I could literally feel...

the butterflies in my stomach. He smiled at me and I gave up. He got me.
As soon as we finished the bridge, I realized that my simple glimpse that turned to stare while he’s focusing on his work was already a small portion of my affection. How his diligence became my inspiration to finish our task, his smiles that brighten my mornings, his words that comfort my cold nights, and his care that makes my heart flutter.
I never thought through cutting trees and attaching deckboards to the bridge’s foundation could build more than just this bridge. I never thought I would build this feeling with him. This bond with him. This relationship with him.
“Can I cross the bridge first?” He said those words while I was busy realizing about my feelings.
I am a hundred and one percent sure: I definitely love him. Along with his physical beauty, his kindness, his purity, and even his imperfections.
“Sige, and when you crossed the bridge, I have something to tell you.” Confessing this far might be a better option.
And while he was walking, “Hey, Ignacio!” I called him. He looked back. “The first time I saw you, I was astonished. Not gonna lie, I was attracted. But the moment you told me you would build this bridge,” I chuckled, “you annoyed me.”
He laughed too.
I continued. “We’ve been building this bridge for months, and only up to this day, I realized that I wasn’t only attracted, I liked you too. And somehow, as the days passed by, I did love you, I learned to love you. I am always loving you. And I love you more than yesterday.” I stopped but he never uttered a single word.
“G-gusto ko lang na malaman mo,” I hesitated.
“I know. Your soul already told me how much you love me. And you may believe it or not, I already told your soul my reply too. So whenever we see each other again, no matter how long it will take, our minds and bodies may not remember, but our soul will.” He smiled. I smiled too. And later on became confuse. I am about to ask him what he meant by that but as soon as he reached the other side, his body disappeared. My jaw fell. He…he became a ghost!
“Ignacio what the hell is happening?” I asked with horror.
But he just smiled.
Damn it!
He- he’s slowly disappearing!
I don’t know what to do, but my body quickly ran to him. I was at the middle of the bridge when he told me to stop, so I did.
“Estrelita, as soon as we see each other again, hug me tight. I admit you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but it was your soul that made me choose the right path to take. Yes, I was already a soul, a lost soul. But after I met you, I came to realize that the sole purpose of me going to this path is to be born again, to be alive again, to meet you again, to feel your soul again. Even if it takes how many years, decades, or century, you’ll be the only one I’ll be home to, my sanctuary.”
“I can settle for the ghost of you!” I desperately said. He chuckled.
“Babe, I want to encircle you with my arms. To wipe that tears which I can’t still do now. To cook you more than three meals a day. To kiss you under the light of a thousand stars. And even just to touch the tip of your hair will be worth it for a thousand years of waiting.”
“Steal my heart again, and I will be your willing victim.” I ran towards him. Tears falling so hard. But what broke my heart is that I can’t cross the bridge we made. I was just inches away from him who is across the bridge. He’s so near yet so impossible to reach.
“Please wait for me, my Estrelita. Please wait for my reply.” His last words before he slowly disappeared right in front of me.
My knees turned to jelly which made me fall. Ignacio, you’ve taught me almost everything. How to love, and to be hurt like this. How the pain pierces the heart until it bleeds. How hope can be a strong weapon to stay positive. How your sole words protected me from breaking. And the thought of me hearing your reply to my ‘I love you’ makes me think waiting for years is just a piece of cake.
I stood up, collecting myself.
“I will wait, of course.”
_
“Ang sakit ng lovestory nila!” Angal ni Angel. I told you behind her stoic facade, she’s drop dead curious about the legend. I mentally chuckled.
“So does that imply that anyone who crosses that bridge ay isa lang ang makakatawid, ganoon ba? Single lang ang allowed? Sige Janmar at Grace unahan niyo na para magbreak na kayong mga nakakasama sa kalusugan naming mga single.” The bitter Kiesha said.
“Nothing can fall us apart, Kiesha. Not even bridges.” Seryosong sagot ni Janmar.
“Pero totoo ba iyan Margotte?” Kaagad niyang tanong sa akin. Binatukan naman siya ni Grace.
And she is the one who replied. “Legends nga ‘diba? Of course they’re not! Duh! Like, just tales and stuff that are just handed down by tradition–you know what, why do I even bother on explaining this to someone like you.” She rolled her eyes. Janmar just laughed.
Again, I mentally chuckled. Young love, sweet young love.
“It’s getting dark. Let’s put up our tent here.” Saad ni Mariel.
“But the Agape Bridge was just meters away!” reklamo ni Angel.
“May bukas pa naman. Pagod na ako, I need to really lie my whole damn body now, that bridge can wait.”
“Mariel’s right. The Agape Bridge can wait. Atsaka, this is our last night. Bukas maaabot na natin ang summit. For now, let’s enjoy here.” Jethro speaks with authority, making everyone obey him.
And so we settled. We chatted for two hours and went to sleep earlier because everyone was also tired. It was just 8:00pm when the bonfire was doused, and the peaceful night just begun.
Naalimpungatan ako kaya’t lumabas ako sa tent at nakitang madilim pa. I took a glimpse at my watch and it’s still 4:30 am. Others were still in deep sleep so I roam around and decided to go to Agape Bridge to witness the sunrise.
I walked for minutes to reach the Agape Bridge because it is where you can see the sunrise at its best. Dahil malapit lamang ito, I reached the bridge earlier than what I expected. The trees were black against the sky, it was still twilight of the dawn.
And somewhere near the other side of the bridge, I saw a silhouette of a man.
As the golden rays of sunlight slowly brought colors of yellow, orange, and red, reflected the man’s face, I held my breath unintentionally, doing nothing but to just stare at him, with my heart beating steadily, following the rhythm of his footsteps towards me.
He’s so fine. He’s drop dead gorgeous. If he’s not a God, then who the hell is he?
He stopped walking at the end of the bridge, him, still at the other side. I didn’t realize that I am already walking towards him, I tried to stop but I can’t. He’s like a gravitational pull, he was just there standing firmly, and yet my whole body reacts to him. His smile created chaos inside me, his damn smile awakened the longing that was just there in my safe haven soundlessly sleeping for thousands of years.
As the sun rises that depicts new beginning, my old yet still love emerged like a trigger that made my tears fell, so as my whole system. I ran to hug him and he wholeheartedly welcome me.
I didn’t have the chance to witness the magical rising of the sun, but the sun did witness the love of the lad who perseveres and the maiden who patiently waited, which I can say is much more magical.
“Your eyes have different shades than before, and yet you still have the same stare. Did you miss me so much that you’re planning to steal my heart again?” The first thing he said as soon as I fell in his embrace. I chuckled, wiping my damn tears.
“And oh, I love you too, my Estrelita.”
At last, I reached the other side of the bridge.
It’s not that Estrelita didn’t go to the other side, it is just she can’t. And so she waited, she never thought of walking backwards, she never questioned love. She had faith in Ignacio and his love and she believed that they’ve built the bridge to move forward to the next stage, so she waited until Ignacio’s return, for her to cross the bridge and walk towards her love, no matter how long, whatever it takes.
Her love is patient, his love protects. Her love always hopes, his love perseveres. Her love always trust, his love is kind. Time was never a hindrance because their love never ends.
True love never fails.
___
Work of fiction. Pcttro.
Written by: Endorsi Evankhell