THE MAN IN GREEN UNIFORM (Montenegro Series #3)

Chapter 25

Celestine's POV.

Dahan-dahan akong umiling.

"H-hindi ko—"

I was lost for words. Kusang napasandal ako sa hamba ng pintuan ko.

"I- I can't have this conversation right now, h-hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko."

"Celestine!"

"Leave me alone! Tngina, anong gusto mong gawin ko ngayon Stephen?! Should I be happy, na after mong sabihin sa 'king magkaka anak kayo ni Tamara, here you are in front of me, telling that you still love me? Nakikipaglaro ba ko sa 'yo?!"

"I- I wish I am just lying to you—"

"No! You're lying and if you're not lying right now, anong purpose ng pagsasabi mo sa 'kin ngayon? Will you leave Tamara and your kid behind para makasama ako?"

I know it is stupid to ask pero hindi ko rin naman gustong kuhanan ng ama ang isang inosenteng bata. I was four when I first met my dad, four years lang pero pakiramdam ko ang hirap-hirap na para sa 'kin.

I want him for myself, I truly and badly want to choose him pero the circumstances is not on our side.

He have Tamara and their unborn child and I have Nicholas.

"So, let's just pretend na hindi mo sinabi ito ngayon sa 'kin, dahil kung nung una pa lang pinili mo na ko at hindi niloko, we won't come to this point."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

"Please, just please, stop saying this to me, stop asking me to fight for you, when you didn't even fight for us."

Tatalikod na sana ako pero mabilis niya kong niyakap mula sa likod.

At this point, mas nagtuloy tuloy ang pagbagsak ng luha ko.

His warmth is all over me, but all I can feel is our cold ending.

I held his hand na nakakapit sa mga bewang ko, I can feel him sobbing behind my back.

"Ayoko, ayokong bitawan ka," he said that in between his sob, like a kid begging him not to be left in that scary dark room.

I gently tap his hands, trying to give him the best comfort I can. The final touch I can give for the man I love. The final strength I can share with him before I collapse.

"Ayoko, please bubby."

I shook my head gently. Ang tanging naririnig niya lang ay ang patuloy kong pagtangis. Ang mga luhang tanging makakapagsabi sa kanya kung gaano rin kahirap sa 'kin to.

Dahan-dahan kong pinagbitaw ang dalawang kamay niya, nahihirapan ako because he was clinging into me, nahihirapan ako dahil, ako mismo, ayokong bumitaw sa kanya.

Pero nagawa kong pabitawin sya, mabilis kong pinakalma ang sarili ko bago ko siya hinarap muli.

Nagpupunas pa siya ng luha nung humarap ako sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, I can't destroy your child's future. I can't hurt Tamara just like how the two of you broke me at higit sa lahat..."

He looked at me straight in the eyes.

Defeat is in his eyes. He knows me, he knows that if I made a decision, pangangatawanan ko iyon hanggat kaya.

"...At higit sa lahat." Pagpapatuloy ko. "Hindi ko pwedeng iwan si Nicholas, hindi ko siya puwdeng hayaang maghintay sa altar."

"N-no." Umiiling sya.

"I can't leave the man who always picked me up whenever you decide to drop me in order to run to her."