Splendiferous Crescent

KABANATA 25

Is this what Archer meant when he told me to better show up as early as possible before everything might be too late for me? If this is, I guess everything are indeed, late.

I felt betrayed even when I know, I shouldn't. We're friends. I should support him with his relationship with his new girlfriend – if she is. I should be happy for him because he has already moved on from me.

Pero hindi 'yon ang nararamdaman ko, e. Parang may kung anong gumuho o nalaglag sa loob ko. That hollow part inside me widened and deepened so much that it almost caused me to let out a tear.

"Hey, Selene, are you okay?" Saka lang ako natauhan nang marahang tinapik ni Ella ang balikat ko. "Let's go inside again, may kakausapin lang si Archer-"

"Hu-huwag na," mabilis akong tumanggi. "Aalis na rin ako, may kailangan pa akong daanan."

"Oh... okay. Please inform me when you already arrived, 'kay?" Bahagya siyang lumapit sa akin, yumakap at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.

Of course, what I said was a whole lie. Hindi pa sana ako aalis at higit sa lahat, wala akong dadaanan dahil wala akong ibang schedule sa araw na 'to kung hindi ang appointment kay kuya at ang pakikipagkita kay Ella.

If only I didn't saw him with his new girl, siguro ay imbes na nandito ako sa loob ng sasakyan at nagmamaneho pauwi, nasa restaurant sana ako at nakikipag-usap sa kaniya – kung kasama man siya sa kausap ni Archer.

"Hi, tita," bati sa akin ni Zeph pagpasok ko sa bahay. Naka-upo siya sa sahig sa sala habang nakikipaglaro ng chess kay kuya Leonel.

Lumapit ako sa kanila at bahagyang yumuko para halikan siya sa noo. "Hello, baby. Did you already finished your home works?"

"Opo, tapos na. Kuya Leo helped me."

Ngumiti ako at bahagyang ginulo ang buhok niya bago tumayo at nagsimulang maglakad paakyat at nang makapasok na sa kwarto ko.

Now that I am alone again with no works to do, image of Pierce and his girl showed up like a freaking romance movie inside my mind.

I thought I've already moved on from him. Akala ko hindi ko na siya mahal. Akala ko... madali lang siyang iwasan gaya ng plano ko. But I guess, It would be more easy for me to avoid him since he already got a girl to love... a new girl to show his love.

She's helping me to do what I am planning but in a hurtful way. This is way more hurtful than avoiding him with my own reason. Mahirap siyang iwasan lalo na't mahal ko pa rin pero kakayanin ko para sa kaligtasan niya. Pero hindi ko inakalang mas mahirap pala 'to. Mas mahirap palang nakikita ko siyang may kasamang iba.

But, I should stop complaining. Mas ligtas siya sa babaeng 'yon. Kapag siya ang kasama ni Pierce, malayo siya sa gulo at kapahamakan. With her, he would be able to live a normal life. Away from threat and chaos that he might experience if he's with me.

It's hard but it's way more better for him. She's way more better than me. Her life is way more peaceful than mine. She'll give Pierce a peaceful life and a wonderful family - in case they'd end up together in front of the altar.

I know, I sounds pathetic for I cannot stop thinking our big difference. Added by the difference of Pierce's life when he's with her contrasted with his life if he's with me.

"Parang no'ng nakaraang linggo lang ay ang ganda pa ng ngiti mo tapos nitong mga nagdaang araw, napapansin kong daig mo pa ang hiniwalayan ng jowa?" tanong ni Architect Valenzuela pagkatapos maglapag ng kape sa table ko.

At first, I was surprised when he entered my office with two cups of coffee but immediately removed it on my visage when he also put a white envelope.