It Was His (SELF-PUBLISHED)

Chapter 24

"Maupo ka nga muna rito! Para kang bata na kanina pa takbo nang takbo ah." Kanina pa niya ako sinusuway ni Apollo dahil masyado na ata akong nag-eejoy sa pinong buhangin dito.

Medyo tuyo na rin ang mga damit namin dahil tinuloy na talaga namin ang pag-swimming kanina. Naglakad ako palapit sa kinaroroonan niya na ngayon ay naka-squat sa buhangin.

"Nagpunta ka na rin dito noon?" tanong ko pagka-upo sa tabi niya.

Sinandal niya ang dalawa niyang kamay sa likod para umalalay sa bigat niya. Gano'n din ang ginawa ko habang pinagmamasdan ang paglubog ng araw.

"Yep. I discovered this place when you left," He said in a monotone voice.

I didn't dare to speak after that and just seize the moment. This exact scene looks so romantic yet dangerous. I shouldn't think that way because the man beside me is already taken by someone else. Ako nalang din siguro ang nag-iisip na ang romantic nitong nangyayari sa 'min.

Maybe I'm thinking of him right now that made me smile a bit but it suddenly fade away, knowing that his mind is thinking of other woman.

"How have you been, Nath? I asked you this before but I want to know more." Sabay pa naming tinignan ang isa't isa kaya tumikim muna ako bago magsalita.

"Well...it's been a tough years for me. I feel so alone in New York although my relatives are there. It's like there's some missing pieces in me."

I breathed heavily as I remembered the past. Simula no'ng dumating ang kambal ay nabuo ako ulit ngunit 'yon ang akala ko. It's given that I am happy having them. I can't ask for more but I know to myself, I'm not yet totally happy and contented. Alam ko na kung ano ang kulang na 'yon pero ang hirap nang makuha ulit eh...

"We just experienced the same thing..."

Humangin nang malakas sa gawi namin kaya napayakap ako sa sarili ko. My dress is a sleeveless type at isama pang kagagaling lang namin sa swimming kanina. Nilalamig na tuloy ako. Naramdaman ata ni Apollo 'yon kaya umusog siya palapit sa 'kin. I was stunned for a moment when I felt his arm on my shoulder.

"Do you mind?" He sounds so hesitant and I can feel his cold hands shaking a bit.

"Baka may magalit ah. Ako naman ang malalagot." Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. Ano namang nakakatawa do'n? Bakit ba kapag binabanggit ko pa lang ang tungkol kay Missy ay pinagtatawanan na niya ako. Does his girlfriend look like a joke to him?

Sarap naman niyang sapakin...

Mas humigpit ang akbay niya sa 'kin na kulang nalang ay yakapin ako. I want to push him this time but my body feel so weak. Not because of coldness but because I'm so nervous. We're so near with each other and he's no good to my heart. Ang bilis-bilis na naman kase ng tibok nito at kulang nalang ay lalabas na. 

"Wanna know a secret?" He asked out of the blue.

"Secret nga eh tapos sasabihin mo pa?" I sarcastically asked but he just smiled at me. Damn those smile of his. Makalaglag panty pa rin...

"I don't really have a girlfriend. I mean, she's already my wife."

What the hell?! Kasal na sila ni Missy?!

This time ay nag-ipon na ako ng lakas para lumayo sa kanya tsaka ako tumayo. Hindi na talaga maganda 'to. Baka bigla nalang ako sugurin ng asawa niya dito at pagkamalan pa akong kabet. Kainis naman 'tong Apollo na 'to! May asawa na nga tapos nilalandi pa ako.

"What?" Tumayo rin siya gaya ako at nagsimula na namang tumawa.

"Stop laughing, Apollo. You're so annoying. Kasal na pala kayo ni Missy tapos hindi mo man lang sinabi?!"

He smiled again but this time, there's something on it. Ewan ko ba pero kakaiba ang ngiti niyang 'yon hanggang sa unti-unti siyang humakbang palapit sa 'kin.

I can now smell and feel his mint breath near my face. He tucked my hair at the back of my ear that keeps on blowing away by the wind and his hands went on my cheeks. He caressed it while intently looking at me. Kung kanina ay malamig ang pakiramdam ko, ngayon naman ay parang uminit dahil sa sobrang lapit niya sa 'kin.

"Missy isn't my wife, it's you, Nathalie."

I totally turned into a statue when his lips met mine. Nakalapat lang ang labi nito sa 'kin at ramdam ko ang sobrang lambot nito. And when he started to move his lips, I pushed him hard.

"Why did you do that?" Gusto ko siyang pagtaasan ng boses pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Pinaglalaruan ba niya ako? 

"I missed you..."

"Are playing some tricks on me, Apollo?"

"Of course not. Sorry if you misunderstood about Missy. When I told you that she's my girlfriend, what I mean that time is she's a GIRL FRIEND to me. Get it?"

I started to burn a fuel this time because of irritation and went to him to punch his chest. Patuloy lang ako sa pagsuntok sa kanya para lang mailabas ko ang mga matagal ko nang kinikimkim. Now that it's all clear to me that Missy is really out between us, I guess this is my cue to let him feel what I suffered all along.

"I HATE YOU!!!"

"Are you tired?" Hindi ko na namalayang basang-basa na rin pala ang mukha ko dahil sa pag-iyak. Pagod na pagod na ako...

Apollo trapped me in between of his arms and hugged me tightly. This pushed me more to cry out loud until there's nothing left.

"Rest now, baby. I'm already here to fight for us this time..."

___

Habang nasa daan kami ay hindi ko maiwasang makonsensya. Tama pa bang hayaan ko ulit siya sa buhay ko? After all the mess and confrontation, I think I don't deserve him fully yet. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanya ang tungkol sa mga anak namin. Will he be able to forgive and accept me again?

"Did you inform your brother that we're going home late?" Tinignan ko ang orasan sa cellphone ko at nakitang quarter to seven na pala.

"Oo nga pala, nakalimutan ko. And speaking of my brother, I blocked him. Si mommy nalang i-tetext ko."

"Really? Why did you blocked him?"

"T*ngina niya eh."

Nagsimula akong magtipa ng mensahe kay mommy at sabihing malalate kami ng uwi at siya muna ang bahala sa kambal. Ngunit gusto ko nalang maitapon ang cellphone ko nang bigla itong namatay. Shemay...ngayon pa na-lowbat.

"You can use my phone." Inabot niya ang cellphone niya sa dashboard at nag-alangan pa akong kunin 'to. Talagang papahiramin niya ako?

"C'mon. Para namang hindi mo laging kinukuha sa 'kin 'yan noon." He smirked but I just look at him with my dagger eyes. Nagsisimula na namang ungkatin ang nakaraan eh.

Our past was the most beautiful moment that has been a good remembrance to me. He's the one who filled my empty heart and made me feel like I'm the luckiest girl alive. But despite those smiles ang laughter we shared, there's a tragedy that breaks us apart and brought us many lessons. 

It's more than a stab from a sharp knife but we must also be thankful for that misery who broke us because it brings us back together again. We, both deserve to be happy again for the second time around but this time, we'll face it together. Pagkatapos nitong trip namin ngayon ay aamin na talaga ako sa kanya.

"FVCK!"

Nagulat ako nang biglang tumigil nang malakas ang sasakyan at may lumabas pang usok sa harapan. Ang dilim na rin ng paligid at wala pang dumadaang ibang sasakyan. Para nga kaming nasa gubat tapos masisiraan pa kami ng sasakyan?

"Pa'no na 'yan? Wala pang signal ang phone mo," saad ko at napasuntok naman siya sa manibela tsaka lumabas. Agad naman akong sumunod.

"It's impossible to fix this without my materials."

"Huh? Bakit hindi mo ba dala?" nag-aalala kong tanong. Edi paano na kami makakauwi nito?

"Your fvcking brother get it this morning."

And now I know why this is happening to us.


No choice but to stay with my ex for a night...