Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 20 part 2

TCWDM: Let me remind everyone that we're all shaped differently. I hope, even if some of you don't understand where Aurora's coming from or what she's going through, to at least give her time to figure herself out. Iba-iba ang timeline natin ng self-healing. Respect her timeline.
Again, ang mang-away kay Aurora bibi, kakagatin ko, hane? 🥺
Anyway, thank you for still reading this. We'll get to the end eventually ~

***
My knees were weak but I managed to walk out of the house without looking back. I was waiting for an echo—of a movement, of his voice calling for me. There was none. I should be relieved, but pain is the only thing consuming me. My tears were falling as my feet got heavier, as my heart broke piece by piece with every step. 

I was walking away from Maxwell.  

The last ounce of strength that I could muster ran out when I got into the car. Nagtatagis ang panga ni Calyx nang hagurin ako ng tingin. 

"Aurora, what—"

"Please . . . D-drive . . ." I couldn't breathe with all my tears and all the pain. Ang duwag-duwag ko. Ayoko nito pero ang duwag-duwag ko . . .

Calyx didn't say anything when he started the car and drove.

I let myself cry. Pero kahit na ano'ng iyak ko, hindi nababawasan ang bigat sa dibdib ko. Nang malapit na kami sa bahay, instead of driving straight there, Calyx took a turn. Sa isang park sa malapit siya huminto. 

I could see the bright morning outside the window. May iilang tao sa park na nakaupo sa bench. May ilang batang naglalaro. May isang babaeng naglalakad, hawak sa kamay ang anak niyang batang babae. I miss Mommy. 

Calyx let me cry. Buti na lang, tinted ang salamin ng kotse niya.

When my eyes got tired at mahinto sandali ang mga luha ko, naningil naman ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin.

"What happened, Aurora?" malumanay na tanong ni Calyx.

Nanginig ang mga labi ko sa pagsagot. It was the most absurd thing: I broke someone's heart. "I asked Maxwell . . . to stay away from me."

Dumilim ang mukha ni Calyx doon. "Bakit? Akala ko . . ."

Sandaling pumagitan sa amin ang katahimikan. 

"Did you tell Maxwell . . . about my request? Sinabi mo ba?" Maxwell is not the kind who'd cross boundaries just like that. Ang naiisip ko lang, matapang siyang lumapit pa rin sa 'kin dahil may sinabi si Cal. But . . . "Bakit mo sinabi, Cal? Akala ko ba, magkakampi tayo?"

Sinalubong niya ang mga mata ko. "Kakampi mo 'ko. Oo, sinabi ko sa kanya na nagkukunwari lang tayo. Sinabi ko dahil unlike you, hindi ako in denial na mahal mo siya."

I don't know what to say. Calyx looked like he just spat poison. Pain was in his eyes while he kept on looking at me.

"What . . ."

"I love you, Aurora," he said while gritting his teeth. "I love you for a long time now, that I know, where your heart is."

Lalo akong nawalan ng salita. Calyx used to say he loves me . . . but this sounds . . . different. Inabot niya ang mga kamay ko at ikinulong sa mga kamay niya. He looked at our hands as if he's going to break too.

"I mean I love you, not as a friend, Au-Au." 

"W-What . . .? That's . . ."

"And don't tell me it's not possible dahil matagal na matagal na kitang mahal."

Napailing ako. Napakurap para iwasan ang titig niya. "No . . . I-I believe you. Yes, that can happen. I mean, you, you're with me since we're kids and . . . and . . ."