Missing the Wildwaves [Province Series #01] ✓

08

The night carried whispers of confrontation, lingering in the air like a storm waiting to break.

"Ma, bakit mo naman binigyan ng sasakyan si Lahari? Ini-spoil mo naman, eh."

I froze just outside Mamang's room, my mother's voice threading through the quiet.

Was she on the phone with her?

"Deserve niya iyon, Lallyne. Pera ko ang ginamit at hindi sayo. Can't you just be happy for your child?" Mamang's words were sharp, yet coated in restrained anger—anger I knew she carried for everything my mother had done.

"Pero binibigyan ko naman siya ng monthly allowance nila ni Levi—"

A lump formed in my throat as silent tears slipped past my defenses.

Was she just forced to give us money?

"And that is your responsibility! Kung pati doon ay napipilitan ka, then wag ka na magpadala. Ako ang gagastos sa lahat ng kailangan ng mga anak mo, huwag ka lang aasa na ibibigay ko sila sayo."

Mamang's voice cut through like a blade, unwavering.

I ran to my room, diving into the mattress, burying myself beneath the sheets as though they could shield me from the weight pressing against my chest.

Do I really deserve this pain?

Was it some cruel joke from fate? That just before the new year, I had to carry this grief like an unwelcome guest?

I laughed bitterly at the thought, my voice hollow in the silence.

A gentle knock interrupted the spiral of emotions.

"Love?" Ethan's voice filtered through, warm despite the cold reality I sat in.

I wiped my tears hastily. He shouldn't see me crying—I couldn't be weak, not in front of him, not in front of anyone.

I got up, unlocking the door before returning to bed, pressing the pillow against my face.

The mattress dipped slightly as he sat beside me.

"Matutulog ka?" His voice was soft, laced with concern, his fingers threading gently through my hair.

I felt my chest constrict. "Oumm."

If I spoke too much, he'd hear the tremble in my voice.

"Okay, wala naman nang ginagawa sa labas. Matutulog nalang din ako sa tabi mo."

His arms wrapped around me, his warmth replacing the cold void in my heart.

And that was when I let my tears fall freely.

'Lord, if you take Ethan away from me, can you do it next time? When I have no more problems, or when I am okay, please?'

A silent prayer echoed in my mind, knowing that I had already lost too much.

I stirred in the middle of the night, shivering slightly. Carefully, I pried Ethan's arm off my waist, reaching for the air conditioner remote to turn the temperature down.

Settling back beside him, I found myself staring at his sleeping form.

His face was calm, untouched by worry.

"Huwag mo muna akong iiwan, ahh?" I whispered into the space between us.

He wouldn't hear me—but somehow, I wished the universe would.

I brushed his cheek lightly, my tears stubbornly trailing down my skin.

I prayed again—'I hope he doesn't leave me in a situation where I keep falling for him.'