OFFICIALLY DATING (COMPLETED)

EIGHTEEN

Yumi's POV:

I looked at the clock and it's already six in the morning. Hanggang ngayon gising pa rin ako and all I do is look at Paolo.

Walang pagsidlan ang tuwa ko kanina ng sinabi niya sa aking baka mahal na niya ako. Alam kong hindi pa naman confirmed 'yon pero the thought that he might love me, means a lot to me.

"I love you..." Bulong ko.

Alam ko namang mahimbing ang tulog niya kaya kahit ano pa ang sabihin ko, hindi niya ako maririnig.

"Gustong-gusto kita Pao.. Pero.. natatakot ako.." Dagdag ko.

I was hesitant to hold him pero hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at hinwakan ko ang pisngi niya. I slowly caressed it which made him move a little.

"Bianca.." Tawag niya. 

I smiled bitterly. 

"You still love her, don't you?" Mahinang tanong ko sa kanya. 

I slowly stood up and went out of his room as quite as possible. 

Wala na talaga.. 

Hanggang dito nalang ako.. 

Isasara ko na ang part ni Paolo sa buhay ko.. 

Lumabas ako sa kwarto niya at isinara ang pinto. It's still too early so I thought his Mom is still sleeping but to my surprise, she's sitting at the couch having her morning coffee. 

"Good morning Yumi.." Bati niya. 

I smiled. 

"Good morning din po.." Sagot ko. 

"Breakfast?" Tanong niya. 

Umiling ako. 

"Hindi na po Tita.. Busog pa naman po ako.. At isa pa, maya-maya lang po nandito na ang sundo ko.." Sagot ko. 

She smiled. 

"Okay.. But before you leave.. can I tell you something? Something personal about Paolo.." Sagot niya. 

"Sige po.." Sagot ko. 

She signaled me to sit beside her and I did. 

"I know that your having a hard time figuring why Paolo acts like the way he does.. Pero sana sa sasabihin kong 'to sayo, I hope na mas maiintindihan mo siya.." Panimula niya. 

I smiled. 

"I've always tried my best to understand Paolo.." Sagot ko. 

She was silent for a couple of seconds before she started telling me a story about her son. 

"Ten lang si Paolo at Nicole when their father and I separated.. Third party and dahilan ng paghihiwalay namin ng Daddy nila.. Aside from that, sinasaktan din ako ng dati kong asawa.. My kids witnessed it all.." Kwento niya. 

"That's horrible Tita.. I'm so sorry to hear that.." Sagot ko. 

"Okay lang sana kung ako lang ang nagsu-suffer.. Kaya ko.. But it pains me everytime I see my kids crying dahil sa nangyayari sa amin ng Daddy nila.." Sagot niya. 

I was not able to answer because I was speechless. Hindi ko akalain na minsan ng nangyari ang ganun sa pamilya nila. I saw Nicole smiling all the time and their family is really close. Hindi mo sila makikitaan ng trauma from what happen so this story really shocks me. 

"When my ex husband decided to leave us, para akong nabunutan ng tinik.. Para sa akin, the day he left was like throwing away a big burden I was carrying for years.. Akala ko okay na kami.. Pero iba pala ang effect ng pag alis ng dati kong asawa para sa mga anak ko.. Lalo na kay Paolo.. He always had this deep anger to his father.." Dagdag niya. 

Nararamdaman kong umiinit na ang paligid ng mga mata ko and tears are about to fall from my eyes. 

"Tita.. I'm sorry.. Pero I think hindi ko na po kayang makinig.. My heart is aching for Paolo.." Sagot ko. 

She smiled. 

"Sorry to make you feel that way.. Pero please.. listen.. Just give me five more minutes.." Sagot niya. 

Tumango ako pero tumutulo na ang luha mula sa mga mata ko. 

"After their Dad left, Paolo vowed that he will only love one woman.. At ng parehas ng tumungtong si Nicole at Paolo sa highschool, they met Bianca. She's really beautiful at mabait.. Matalino, mahinhin at maalaga.. She became Nicole bestfriend and Paolo's first love.." Sagot niya. 

"I cannot agree with you more Tita.. Kung naging lalaki po ako, isang Bianca din po ang gugustuhin ko.." Sagot ko. 

She smiled. 

"Would you believe me if I tell you that Paolo's not in love with Bianca anymore?" Tanong niya. 

I looked at her. 

"Tita.. We both know that's impossible.." Sagot ko. 

"College sila nun ng sinabi niya sa akin na mahal niya si Bianca at siya na ang babaeng papakasalan niya. Ibubuhos daw niya lahat ng pagmamahal, oras at atensyon niya kay Bianca. And he did.. Lahat ginawa niya para kay Bianca at Lucas.. Inubos niya lahat ng savings niya to save the woman he loves.. Dinala niya si Bianca sa Amsterdam to start a new life there.. But as we can see, things didn't worked out between them.. And I don't blame Bianca for anything.. Choice ni Paolo ang lahat.." Sagot niya. 

"Tita.. Believe me.. Hanggang ngayon mahal pa rin ni Paolo si Bianca.." Sagot ko. 

Umiling siya. 

"No.. Paolo's too blinded.. He didn't believe that he could move on from Bianca.. Nasanay siyang si Bianca lang.. But trust me, he loves you.. Masyado lang siyang kumakapit sa pangako niya sa sarili niyang si Bianca na ang mamahalin niya habang buhay.." Sagot niya. 

I was about to answer pero biglang tumunog ang telepono ko. I took it out from my purse and saw that I received a message from Lance saying that he's already outside. 

"Tita.. I'm sorry po.. Pero nasa labas na po ang sundo ko.." Sagot ko. 

Tumango siya. 

"Okay.. Sige.. And thank you for listening.." Sagot niya. 

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Paolo's POV: 

Hapon na ng nagising ako at sakit ng ulo agad ang bumungad sa akin. Kinapa ko si Yumi sa tabi ko at laking gulat ko ng wala na siya sa tabi ko. 

Where is she? 

I decided to get out of bed to look for her. 

"Ma.. Si Yumi po?" Tanong ko sa Mommy ko. 

"She left.. Maaga siyang umalis kanina.. Sinundo siya nung Lance.." Sagot niya. 

Tumango ako. 

I thought things would get better for me and Yumi after what happen last night. But I guess I was wrong. 

"Sige po.. Balik nalang po ako sa tulog.." Sagot ko. 

I was about to go back to my room when Mom called my attention. 

"Paolo.." Tawag niya. 

"Po?" Sagot ko. 

"Anak.. Allow yourself to be happy.. 'Wag mong itali ang sarili mo sa nakaraan.. Hindi mo kailangang pagbayaran ang mga kasalanan ng Daddy mo.." Sagot niya. 

"Ma.. Let's not talk about this right now.. Masakit po ang ulo ko.." Sagot ko. 

"Paolo.. Alam nating dalawa na mahal mo na si Yumi.. So please.. palayain mo na ang sarili mo sa pangakong sinabi mo dati.. Alam kong matagal mo ng pinakawalan si Bianca.. So please.. pakawalan mo na rin ang galit mo sa Daddy mo.. Dahil anak.. you will never be like your Dad.. Never.. So go on.. Mag mahal ka na ulit.. Mahalin mo na ang babaeng gusto mong mahalin.." Sagot niya. 

Gusto ko na rin sana.. 

Pero hindi ko pa kaya.. 

Magiging unfair lang kay Yumi..

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