Record The Shot (SOON TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Stupid

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Thinking that I, Maevhelle Douce Espina, the woman who can never understand cheaters, cheated on the man whom I love the most, makes want to throw up. I never thought of anything the day that Toshi slapped me with the hard fact that I cheated on Leale. All I could think of is my child with his/her unknown father. But upon hearing Toshi's statements, I think I already know the father is.

And I hate him. So much.

"Douce,"

I lifted my gaze at the person who stood in front of me. Nakaupo ako sa may bench, malapit sa may labasan ng Cohen Academy. Kahit na malayo-layo na 'ko sa soccer field, dinig na dinig ko pa rin ang mga sigawan kanina ro'n kaya alam ko kung anong school ang nanalo. Ang Cohen Academy.

"Are you okay?" Leale asked before kneeling in front of me. He was gazing at me with his worried eyes.

Suot pa rin niya ang maroon soccer jersey niya. Basang-basa ng pawis ang buhok niyang nagulo dahil sa kanina pang pagta-takbo. Even if I could clearly see the worriedness in his eyes, I know that deep down inside him, he's hurting, too. And knowing that he's hiding his pain from me, hurts me, too.

"Why are you crying? Hindi ka ba masaya na nanalo ako?" Malambot niyang tanong habang nakaluhod pa rin sa unahan ko.

Should I feel happy that you won despite the pain that you're feeling? The pain that I am certain that I caused?

"Douce..." he called my name in the softest tone.

"'Yung video..." nangangatal na sambit ko.

Nakita ko kung pa'no nag-iba ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya nang marinig ang sinabi ko. He clenched his jaw as his eyes became sharp before looking away from me. Tears fell from my eyes as my heart hummered in pain upon seeing his reaction with just those words. I felt how heavy his breathing was before he looked at me again, trying to hide the pain and anger he was feeling.

"About the video..." nanginginig ang boses na panimula niya, dahilan nang pag-tikhim niya para ayusin ang sariling boses. "About the video, Douce... Let's just forget about it, okay? It's fake. Peke 'yon, sabi no'ng kakilala ni Toshi. The video is fake, Douce. G-Ginawa lang talaga 'yung video para matalo nila kami,"

My lips trembled while looking at him trying to convince me with his lies. I watched how he looked in multiple directions, trying to hide the fact that he was lying. I felt my heart hummered again while watching him lying in front of me.

"I don't know what's up with that asshole that he made that video, but the video is fake, Douce. It is fake," he even nodded his head like he was trying to convince me... and himself. "Well, I'm really not sure who made that video, but according to the video itself, it's him. Jason, that asshole,"

Mabigat ang pag-hinga niya habang naka-squat sa harapan ko. Hindi na rin siya makatingin sa 'kin habang unti-unting kumukunot na ang noo niya para itago ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. Hindi siya nakatingin sa 'kin pero alam kong nasasaktan siya habang nag-sisinungaling sa harapan ko dahil kitang-kita ko kung pa'no siya lumunok pagkatapos mag-sabi ng isang kasinungalingan niya.

Nanginig ang mga labi ko kasabay nang sunod-sunod na pag-patak ng mga luha ko nang hindi ko na nakayanan pa ang mga nakikita ko sa kaniya. Mabilis siyang bumaling sa 'kin nang marinig ang pag-pipigil ko sa mga hikbing ayaw kong pakawalanan. Agad siyang na-alarma dahil sa 'kin, dahilan nang mabilis niyang pag-upo sa tabi ko para patahanin ako.