When The Flower Withers (Fleur Series #1)

Chapter 30

"A-Ash..."

"Mommy!" Niell ran towards me and immediately wrapped his arms around my waist.

I wasn't able to move nor to hug him back and kiss him... My eyes were just fixated at him... He was staring at me too and his face was devoid of any emotion. It's as if he was just staring at the simplest thing in the world but his eyes were intense, if that was possible.

Before, his stare was enough to made me feel I was loved... But right now, the way he's staring at me was enough to hurt me... It was enough to bring me back to the days we were slowly drifting apart.

Suddenly, he became everything around me and nothing could ever alleviate the pain I was feeling.

Na para bang hindi ako ang nang-iwan.

Na para bang hindi ako ang mas nanakit.

Na para bang ako ang mas nasaktan na sa mga panahon na sinubukan niyang magmakaawa na 'wag akong umalis, na 'wag ko siyang iwan, hindi ko siya pinakinggan.

I became deaf when he plead, I became blind when he begged while telling me we could still fix everything between us. He told me to stay... But I still chose to hurt him and leave without letting him know.

When I couldn't hold the intensity of his stare anymore, I tore off my gaze away from him and looked at the woman he was with. It didn't last for more than a minute when my eyes landed on the little girl Ash was holding.

The little girl waved at Niell. "Mommy! She's my friend... Laillana." He pulled the hem of my coat repeatedly when I didn't budge. "Mommy, are you mad? I stumbled earlier but Lailanna's father helped me. That's why I was crying."

Father?

He has a daughter?

Laillana's his daughter?

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa palasingsingan niya... Pain sheeted through me when I saw there was a ring on it. I suddenly had a hard time breathing properly as I felt my heart was being stabbed continuously...

When I felt my eyes was about to brim with tears... I turned my back on them while holding Niell's hand... I was holding his hand so tight that he began to writhe in pain...

"Mom, you're hurting me." When I looked down at him, his eyes were read. Kumikibot din ang labi niya na para bang pinipigilan niya ang sarili na humikbi.

Kinuha ko na ang bag niya at binuhat siya. I was whispering 'sorry' to Niell while walking towards my car. After I buckled his seatbelt, I almost stumble when I felt someone's presence behind me...

No, God, please...

I wasn't expecting for this.

This wasn't what I expected.

Oo, sa nakalipas na ilang taon, hindi ko lang isang beses hiniling at sinabi sa sarili ko na gusto ko siyang makita. Pero hindi sa ganitong paraan...

"Ms. Salazar..."

His voice... It was different from the voice that once gave me warmth. Just like his face earlier, his voice was emotionless... I couldn't feel anything anymore aside from its coldness. His voice just made me shiver.

Why? How did we end up like this? I couldn't help but to wonder.

I closed my eyes when he called my last name once again. I clenched my fist and gathered all the strength left inside me before I faced him—sighing heavily.

I looked at where they were standing earlier. Wala na ro'n si Pearly at ang kaibigan ni Niell. Kahit na ayaw ko, kahit na nahihirapan, nagawa ko pa rin mag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya... I was failed to see any emotion from his eyes yet again.