Owned And Treasured ✔︎ [unedited]

Chapter 30

LAST GOODBYE

“Hindi kita kilala...”

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Kinusot kusot at pinikit pikit ang mata ko. I canʼt believe that this is happening to me.

“What?” pagklaro ko. Can someone wake me if Iʼm dreaming.

“Youʼre not Adrian but you look like him.” naningkit ulit ang mata niya.

“Crystal, stop tripping on me, please.” I said, sarcastically.

“Iʼm not tripping...” sabi niya. I see how she was trembling in fright. That made me stop everything Iʼm planning to do, everything I think inside my mind. “I really donʼt know who you are.”

“Iʼm the one who put you into this.” Nakangiti ngunit naluluhang sagot ko sa kaniya. I canʼt describe the feeling. Iʼm just smiling while I let my tears fall down.

Ngumiti siya sa akin. ʼYung ngiti niya...

“Hey, I donʼt have an idea what youʼre talking about but it isnʼt your fault.” she smiled. I wish that the smile sheʼs wearing in her lips were as sweet like the first one it touched mine. “By the way, who are you?”

Her innocence made me love her even more this time.

Thereʼs a doubt that sheʼs really tripping on me because of what happened. Maybe she is pretending he doesnʼt know me so she can forget all the things that caused her pain—so she can forget me.

“Iʼm the reason why you cried a river, the reason why youʼre doing all of this to yourself.” I admitted.

“Ngayon lang tayo nagkakilala pero...” hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya, “parang napakalungkot mo.”

Oo, malungkot ako dahil ganito ang pakikitungo mo sa akin. Gusto ko na ibalik lahat ng nakaraan sa atin, Crystal, pero malabong mangyari ʼyung gusto ko. Gusto kong bumalik sa panahong nakilala kita, sa panahong hindi pa natin nasasaktan ang damdamin ng isaʼt isa. Gusto kong ibalik ang nakaraan natin at magsimula muli kasama ka... Pero hindi ko kaya...

“Weʼve known each other for a long time...”

“Are we friends?” she asked then I nodded.

And know I admitted that we are friends. I want her to overcome that relationship weʼre sharing now. I want her to be my girl.

“Are we only friends?” tanong niya. She tilted her head so she can lean into the pillow behind her. “Because you treat me like itʼs more than that.”

Halos maubusan ako ng hininga sa tanong niya. Sheʼs a good observer. Napansin niya ang bagay na kahit ako mismo ay ʼdi napansin.

“For you maybe yes, but for me, I treat you like a lady. For me, youʼre my everthing.” I said, unintentionally, I became emotional.

“What do you mean?” she asked again.

“For now, you should take a rest.” Sambit ko saka lumapit sa kaniya at dinampot ang kumot. “Goodnight...” kinumutan ko ang katawan niya. Habang ginagawa ko iyon sa kaniya, ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagtitig niya sa akin. Hindi siya umimik sa kaniyang puwesto. Pinagmasdan niya lang kung paano ko ilagay ang kumot sa kaniya. Nang makumutan ko na ang kabuuan niya inilapit ko ang ulo ko sa ulo niya. Binigyan ko siya ng isang saglit na halik sa noo niya. I kissed her forehead like how the a man kiss his wife a good night. “Donʼt worry, Iʼll be here until morning.”

Ngumiti lamang siya at kinuha ang kamay ko. “Thank you for staying here with me.”

“I stay not only with you but for you.” I corrected.