"The Promise (ITGP BOOK 2)"

🦋Chapter 31🦋

Xien's POV

Ilang beses na akong nakakulong sa bahay kung saan ako dinala ni Winton nung nakaraan.

Bagot na bagot na ako, realtalk iyon. Wala naman kasi akong ibang magawa eh. Kung hindi manood ng TV ay nakacp lang ako, minsan ay nagluluto rin.

Its been two days din na hindi ako nakakapasok sa hospital. Pryston and Nick are the ones na pumupunta at bumibisita sakin dito every morning pero yung taong hinahanap ko ay hindi man lang nagpapakita.

I understand that he must be busy pero namimiss ko na siya eh. I felt alone right now lalo nat ang alam ko na alam ng iba ay nasa ibang bansa ako kaya't hindi nila alam na nandito ako.

I'm now safe pero hindi ko parin mapigilang mainis dahil imbes na nasa hospital ako ngayon ay nakakulong ako sa bahay na to.

It's a mansion and its so lonely for me to live in this big house.

Ngayon ay napili ko na lamang na magluto ng paborito kong Ampalaya na may Egg at gumawa nalang din ako ng choco chips. Naisipan ko kasing manood ng netflix mamaya.

Pero nagulat ako ng may tumunog sa labas which means na may tao.

Dahan dahan akong nagtago. Niluwa ng pinto si Audrey kaya't napahinga ako ng maluwag.

"Hey..." Tawag ko dito ng mapunta siya sa kusina.

"Yow!!" Sabi nito at inakbayan pa ako. Tinignan niya ang niluluto ko bago sumandal sa may counter.

Walang nagsalita sa amin kaya't tumikhim ako.

"What are you doing here, Rei?" Tanong ko.

"You're alone so I came here. Why?" Napatingin ako sakanya na nasa malayo ang tingin.

"Do you have a problem to share? I'm ready to listen. You can count on me." Sabi ko pa and she smiled at me.

Kumuha ito ng baso at naglakad papunta sa may ref.

"Mom's in critical condition..." Panimula nito na ikinagulat ko ng sobra. Hindi ako nagsalita because I felt that she doesn't need someone to talk to, she needs someone to listen to her rants instead so thats what I did. "Plus my brother's missing..." Napatingin ako sakanya saglit at binalik ang tingin sa niluluto at baka mapano pa iyon. "I don't know what to do anymore..."

I stopped the stove and looked at her. Hindi na ako nagsalita at niyakap nalang ito kaagad.

"You can always be vulnerable to me, Audrey. You can count on me, I'm always here for you to listen on your every rants. Just don't forget that I'm here for you...." Sabi ko habang magkayakap kaming dalawa.

She hugged me back. "You know, you've been such a good friend to me even tho I did a bad thing to you and to Crysthan...You two are such meant for each other..." Sabi nito at napangiti ako.

Are we really meant for each other? Papaano kung hindi nga?

Sumang-ayon si Audrey nang sabihin ko sakanyang balak kong manood ng tv. Tuloy ay magkatabi kami habang nasa paa ko nakalagay ang bowl na mayroong popcorn habang nasa center table naman ang choco chips na ginawa ko rin kanina.

We were watching Bridgerton but my mind is occupied by something or should I say....someone.

Nagulat ako ng napatingin sakin si Audrey.

"What?" Ani ko ng mapagtantong nakatingin ito sa akin.

"What's the real score between you and Crysthan?" Biglaan nitong tanong kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin at napaisip.

Ano nga ba kami? Hindi naman niya sinabing kami na eh. But we did that. I think kami na naman siguro diba?

Nagkibit balikat nalang ako. " I don't know."

Napasinghap ito. "You should ask him."

Umiling ako.

"Nahh, he's too busy for me ask him questions like that..." Ani ko at napatawa nalang sa isip. Busy?! Tangina yan!

"You know what? You both deserves happiness..." Napangiti ako.

Sana nga ay talagang deserve namin iyon no?!

"Don't worry, I can assure you that Crysthan's still inlove with you... He's just so busy for the reason that he wants to protect you..."

"But who will protect him?" Nakita kong nabigla ito sa tanong ko. Maski ako ay nagulat din ng maitanong ko iyon.

"He's always there to protect me and you, Pryston and others are also there to protect me but who will protect yourselves? Who will protect Crysthan?" Tanong ko pa. Napabuntong hininga ako. Matagal ko na rin itong napag isipang itanong. "Can I join your gang?" Walang pakundangan kong tanong na nagpagulat sa katabi ko.

Tumayo pa ito at umiling.

"No way!!" Angil pa nito pero umiling ako saka nilagay ang popcorn sa lamesa at tumayo narin saka pinakatitigan ito.

"Why not? I'm afraid no one can protect Crysthan!"

Umiling ito. "We are already here, Driene...you don't have to join us. We don't need you ...." Dun sa sinabi nito ay bahagya akong nasaktan. Yes, they dont need me because I'm not like them. They are so far that I feel I can't hold them. I'm afraid I can't hold him anymore.

"Crysthan would disagree by your suggestion, Driene. It could cause a lot of problem not just to you, not just to us but also to Crysthan... So if you love him, you would not think 'bout that again..." Sabi nito at napabuntong hininga ako.

I nodded at umupo na rin. Naramdaman ko itong umupo at ilang saglit lang ay niyakap ako.

"You're such a strong woman, Driene... I know you can handle everything but we are not like you... Crysthan's not like you... Being away with you is okay but losing you forever would kill him and I know you wouldn't want that to happen..." Tumango nalang din ako.

Gabi na at napagdesisyunan ng umalis ni Audrey kasi may kailangan pa siyang puntahan raw. I thanked her for being with me this day dahil papaano'y nawala ang pagkabagot ko.

And now, here I am sa kwarto ko nakatingin sa phone.

I was torn between calling him or not.

Should I call him?!

Or should I just let him call me?

Fuck?! What should I do?

I closed my eyes and my phone rang.

It's him....