CRIPPLED: JULLIANNA (VUILLTRAEN SISTERS SERIES #1)

42

ONLY WAY

"He's not my friend... he's my boyfriend."

May pag-aalinlangan sa tono ko. Hindi ko kasi alam kung alin ang mas dapat. 'Yong sabihin ba sa kaniya ang totoo o sabayan siya sa paniniwala niyang kaibigan ko si Viscount. Pero hindi ba mas mabuti kung malaman niya ang totoo?

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Nawala ng parang bula ang saya sa mga mata niya. Napalitan na 'yon ng inis, galit, at pagkabigo.

"Oops, my bad then." A smile slowly curved on her lips. "You've got the best taste when it comes to men, huh? Your boyfriend is hot." She giggled.

Mali ba ang sinabi ko kay Icle? Pakiramdam ko... ang sama-sama ko. Pakiramdam ko tama siya... Na inagaw ko lang sa kanya si Viscount. Kasi sila naman talagang dalawa noon pa. Noon pang kakakilala ko lang kay Klaus.

Bakit... Bakit parang maling-mali ako na mas pinili ko ang ikakasaya ko? Bakit parang maling-mali lahat ng sinabi't ginawa ko sa gabing 'to? Napakamakasarili ko ba?

Umupo ako sa kama ko at niyakap ang unan habang umiiyak. Bakit parang ang dami kong nasaktan nang mahalin ko siya? Tinakpan ko ang mukha ko habang umiiyak.

Mama, kung 'andito ka lang sana... siguro may matatakbuhan ako ngayon. Kung tinupad mo lang sana ang pangako mo sa 'king babalik ka... siguro may nasasandalan ako ngayon. Mama, gan'to ba talaga kapag nagmamahal?

Viscount:

Baby, listen to me.

Don't check your social media or the
internet until I told you to, okay?

But it was already late.

I thought the chaos I've been facing will end that day, but I was wrong. It got worsen when someone uploaded a video in social media where Icle and I are both crying. Rinig na rinig pa sa video ang salitang 'inagaw' na sinabi ni Icle. Dagdagan pa na lumabas din 'yon sa tabloid at ikinabit na naman ang pangalan ni Klaus.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na nakipagkita pala sa'yo si Icle?!" Ate asked me with eyes full of worry after she knocked on my door.

I forced a smile to hide the pain. "Nagkita lang naman kami, Ate. Nag-usap lang kami-"

She cuts me off. "Nag-usap?! Ano'ng pinag-uusapan ninyo?! 'Yong pamimilit niyang ibalik sa kanya si Vico?! Ha?!"

I shook my head. "Ate-"

"Se, I thought we won't keep secrets from each other? Why are you lying to me right now? Your face is all over the internet today!"

And that slapped me. I didn't know how that simple supposedly to be dinner went like that. I didn't know how my simple 'yes' to Icle when she asks me 'can we talk?', would drag me back to the chaos I've been in before.

"Until when are you gonna keep this to yourself again?" Viscount asked in a husky and painful voice.

I chuckled. "Oh, come on, Viscount! I've been on this road before, and I've got through it. I'm sure I'll get through it too." I assured him.

"Stop lying, please," he stepped closer to me and wrapped his arms around me.

My tears then started to escape from my eyes. It's like his hug makes me weak, too weak that I couldn't stifle how painful I've been going through these days. I covered my face as I cried on his chest. Every sob that escaped from my mouth, his hug on me tightens, giving me a feeling of assurance that he's here.