Return of the Groom (Groom Series Book 2)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12: Slippers

The idea of going back to the Philippines scares me. I now have a peaceful life in France. Paris to be exact. The city of love.

Ngunit hindi puwedeng habang-buhay na lamang akong mamuhay sa takot. Because in order to be stronger, one must face his fears. And to be the strongest, you have to overcome them. Hindi puwedeng harapin mo lang ang mga takot mo. Dapat talunin mo.

Elliot is a blessing to me. He may be a reminder of my dark past, but he is the light that has given me hope during the times of my struggle.

A week after fleeing to France with my brother, I found out that I was pregnant. I could not believe it at first. Dahil syempre, lalaki ako. Pati ang mga doktor at mga eksperto rito hindi rin makapaniwala. At first we thought that it was an abnormal growth in my stomach. But when I got myself checked with more experts, we found out that it was indeed a baby.

Being pregnant was never easy. Especially when you have to take care of yourself with no partner to help you. Mabuti na lamang at kasama ko ang aking kapatid. Dahil kung hindi, baka hindi ko kinaya.

Sa una, syempre nasasaktan ako. It was always my dream to have a family with Mick. Noon pa man. Ngunit dahil sa trahedya na iyon, sinayang niya ang pagkakataon. I never blamed myself as to how we ended up here. Mick had options. Una ay paniwalaan ako at ipagtanggol dahil pinagsamantalahan ako. At ikalawa, ang maniwala na nagsinungaling ako at niloko ko siya.  He made his choice. And sadly, he chose the latter. Mas pinaniwalaan niya ang kanyang mga kaibigan, ang kanyang mga kaibigan na siyang nagsinungaling sa kanya.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ako pinakanasaktan dahil sa mga pisikal na ginawa ni Mick sa akin. It was the feeling of betrayal. Trinaydor niya ako. He was boyfriend! Fiancé to be precise! Ngunit imbes na ipagtanggol ako, sumali siya sa pang-aapi sa akin! He became one of my perpetrators. At iyon ang pinakamasakit.

He was supposed to be my strength, my fortress, my safe haven. But instead, he became a nightmare.

Dahil mas pinili niyang maniwala sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

Hanggang ngayon, palaisipan pa rin sa akin kung bakit nila iyon nagawa sa akin. I never wronged them. Or at least I can't remember a time when I wronged them. Kaya bakit nila nagawa iyon sa akin?

And Louis? We ended things in good terms. Maayos kaming naghiwalay kaya hindi ko rin alam kung bakit niya ginawa iyon.

Gayunpaman, hindi ako magbabalik ng Pilipinas upang alamin ang mga kasagutan sa mga bagay na hindi klaro sa akin. Magbabalik ako upang ibalik ang aking dignidad. They have tarnished my dignity. At hindi lang iyon. I will make them feel what they made me feel. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.

Noong buhay pa si Mama, she always taught me to treat people with kindness. Na kung batuhin ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay. I have always adored her for trying to raise me in a good way.

But as people always say, our attitude is a reflection of the roads we have walked in our journey. They are but a product of our experiences. Ang mga bagay na ating pinagdadaanan ay hindi basta-bastang mga karanasan lamang. The true victor is not one who succeeds in his missions, but one who learns from them.

Hindi sapat na nagtagumpay ka. Dapat may natutunan ka.

My previous experiences have taught me many things. One of which is to never let your guard down. Ngunit hindi sapat na handa kang protektahan ang sarili mo. Dapat handa ka ring sumalakay. The best offense is the best defense. Ang pinakamabisang proteksyon sa sarili, ay ang unahan ang mga kalaban mo. Umatake ka sa panahong hindi nila inaasahan.

I would not really say that I am taking revenge. I only want to teach them their lessons and make them pay for what they did. Lalo na at hindi biro ang ginawa nila sa akin. Nina Louis at ng mga barkada ni Mick. And what better way to teach them a lesson than making them suffer, right?