Goodbye Lullaby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 27

Hate it when you leave me unattended
'Cause I miss ya, and I need your love
When my mind is runnin' wild
Could you help me slow it down?
Put my mind at ease
Pretty please
I need your hands on me
Sweet relief
-
Pretty Please by Dua Lipa

***

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." I sobbed as he caressed my hair. Marahan niya akong niyakap at inalo.

"Tell me what's hurting you, mahal ko. " malambing niyang bulong sa tainga ko. "I'm here now. You can tell me..."

I shook my head and sobbed more. Nalukot ko na ang polo niya na hindi pa napapalitan ng mas kumportableng damit mula sa mahabang byahe. His luggage was still at the living room, too, indicating that he has just arrived home... and my crying was the first thing he'd seen.

"Okay, love. Let it out first..." he gently tightened his hug and continued whispering sweet nothings into my ear to calm me down. I could feel his heart beating fast, while mine was breaking.

Ang nasa isip ko lang ay ang kapalpakan ko ngayong gabi. I was supposed to try opening up to my father, but I drove him away. It could be that way for the rest of my life now. Paano na ang plano ko para kay Eros?

God, have I been bad for all my life to deserve so much pain? All I ever did was live and fight for myself even when the world was cruel to me. I was okay. I accepted my fate... but why?

When I calmed down a bit, Eros sat me on the couch before leaving to get me a glass of water. He made me drink, but I was more focused on clinging to him. Napabuntong hininga siya bago nilapag ang baso sa center table matapos kong inuman ng kaunti iyon.

I hugged him sideways and rested my head on his chest. His heart was still racing fast. Niyakap niya rin ako at hinalikan ang tuktok ng ulo ko na para bang siya naman ang nagpapakalma ng sarili.

We were silent for a few minutes, but I was contented. Hindi ko maisip kung anong mangyayari sa 'kin kung mag-isa lang ako rito, umiiyak habang nagsasaya ang mga tao sa pagsalubong ng bagong taon. Eros never disappoints.

Unlike my father, who failed to realize how late he was, Eros always comes on the right time.

I looked up and bit my lower lip when I found him already staring at me. Mapungay ang mga mata nito sa pagod at pag-aalala.

"Babe," I croaked, immediately closing my eyes the moment he pecked my lips.

"I love you," he whispered while looking straight into my eyes. The corners of mine started to fucking water again.

"I'm s-sorry..."

Umiling siya. "Stop saying that, please. I said I love you..."

"Babe..." I cried.

He released a shaky breath and pulled me more to him like he's afraid I'd vaporize once he lets go of me.

"What is it? What's w-wrong, mahal?"

I couldn't see him through the tears in my eyes, but I know he has a pained expression. Pinalis ko ang mga luhang nakatakas bago tuluyang magsalita.

"I-I cut ties with m-my father..."

His lips parted.

"H-His mother humiliated me a-and... she made it seem like I'm living off of d-dad's money! I'm not! You know that, right, mahal? I-I was already using my own money from our gigs eversince we started... 'di ba, mahal?"

But he seemed to still be shocked about the first one I've mentioned. Nakaramdam ako ng takot.

"I'm sorry I cut ties with daddy... I-I can't introduce you to him anymore. I... felt invalidated so I l-left. I messed up. I'm so sorry, Eros..." tinakip ko ang mga kamay sa mukha at umiyak.