Wicked Hearts

Chapter 50

KiB: This is the last chapter of Wicked Hearts. Thank you so much for reading this story. Sana nag-enjoy rin kayo sa story nila. Hehe. Salamattt!

Chapter 50: Gift

After a long silence of contemplating whether I should hang up and pretend like I had a bad signal or my cell phone slithered from my grasp and broke it, I finally managed to find my voice.

I cleared my throat.

"Y-yes po. This is Riza."

I muttered a cuss. I trained hard how to professionally answer calls only to end up sounding like a quacking duck.

"I see. As I already said, I am Urich's Mom. I'm sorry for calling you all of a sudden—"

"No. It's totally fine, Ma'am."

Napapikit ako. Shit. I should have not interrupted her. Parang nagkabuhol-buhol bigla ang mga nasa isipan ko. I've answered hundreds of calls now. Bakit parang bumalik ako sa una ngayon?

Lumabas ako ng bahay para makasagap ng malamig na hangin. Dumiretso ako sa likod saka umupo sa bench at tumitig sa swimming pool.

"Nasabi na rin po kasi sa akin ni Ulrich na tatawag kayo," dagdag ko pa sa magalang na pananalita.

Pero hindi niya sinabi kung para saan!

I mentally cursed Ulrich. Kulang-kulang ang sinabi niya tapos bigla pa akong binabaan kanina. Ngayon ay hindi ko tuloy alam kung ano ang sasabihin.

"Anyway, I've heard that my son is courting you."

I chocked on my own saliva. Tila umakyat sa ulo ko ang dugo nang marinig ang sinabi niya. But it was a relief that I couldn't feel any grudge from her when she said that.

"You were batchmates, right?" I heard her chuckle. "I remember how he used to tell me things about you. Like... exciting things. He was so happy."

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga binti ko. So... naikwento na rin pala niya ako sa Mommy niya. Base sa kwento ni tita ay matagal na rin nangyari 'yon.

"Until he suddenly stopped talking about you." I heard her sigh. Lumipas ang ilang segundo ba siya uli nagsalita. "Sabi niya ay kasama ka niya sa college, pero hindi na siya nagkwento sa akin matapos no'n."

Nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi. Wala akong masabi kahit na alam ko ang sagot.

"But I have my own ways..." she said.

Kumabog ang didbib ko. Shit.

"You two broke up because you wanted to focus first on your studies. Isinantabi niyo muna ang nararamdaman niyo at nagtiwala sa isa't isa."

"I'm sorry, but that's not true, Tita." Huminga ako nang malalim. "That truth is... I broke up with your son. It was not a mutual decision."

Tumingala ako nang mangilid ang luha sa mga mata ko. I drew a deep breath as the memories of yesterday flooded my mind. I remember how desperate he was to steal more moments with me. Because I couldn't stay with him. Because I couldn't choose him. Because I couldn't fight for him.

"Riza..." Nanindig ang balahibo ko nung tawagin niya ako sa pangalan ko. "I know everything. Your sister, my son... you. Tahimik man ako pero alam ko lahat ng nangyayari."

Doon na tuluyang bumagsak ang mga luha ko.

"I-I'm sorry, Tita," I gasped.

"We can't really force love, can we?" she laughed.

"I don't think you can even consider it love if it's forced."

"I admire you, honey. I admire you so much for what you did. Would you believe me if I say you shown me the light I needed? The go signal I have been waiting for all my life... you gave it to me unknowingly."