Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Dinamdam ko ang malamig na simoy ng hangin habang pinagmamasdan ang mga hyacinth na patuloy na tumutubo sa colline. I have been visiting this place everyday because it reminds me so much of Deidamia. At nito ko lang din nalaman na hindi lang pala ako ang bumibisita rito. I saw tito Achilles and tito Reilly here one time. Nag-uusap ang dalawa habang nakatanaw sa bayan sa ibaba.

"I'm sorry, Achilles."

"I'm sorry, Reilly."

Sabay silang napatawa nang magkasabay silang magsabi noon. I was just behind the tree where Deidamia's soul stays—its what I believe—listening to their conversation.

"I'm really regretting what I did back then, Achilles. Inaamin kong totoong may gusto ako kay Deidamia, dahil sino ba ang hindi? She was easy to love. At kahit noon ay alam kong may relasyon kayong dalawa ay nadala ako ng damdamin ko, specially my wolf. I never thought he'll be able to do that to her, our friend and the one I loved." Ngumiti ng mapakla si tito Reilly matapos niyang sabihin iyon, alam ko ang pinag-uusapan nila.

"But I never regretted having Erica, she was the reason why I kept living, despite all the bad things I did in the past, she was my hope...my life. Erica...looks exactly like her mom, she's her spitting image." Habang pinagmamasdan ko sila ay naramdaman ko ang walang hanggang pagmamahal ni Tito Reilly sa anak, while on the other hand, I saw Tito Achilles' pain.

He stayed silent, but I can also sense his regret. Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagbukas ng saloobin.

"D-Deidamia...like you said is very easy to love." Ngumiti ng malungkot si Tito Achilles ng sabihin niya iyon. I can see how his eyes sparkled with tears threatening to fall from it.

"I regret it so much that I didn't believe her 'til the last moments of her life. It hurts so much that she has to resort to killing herself...para lang...para lang mailigtas tayo. I was the one who's supposed to be her shield, but instead, she...she kept everything to herself."

Doon nga ay nagsimula nang magsipatakan ang mga luha ni tito. His hands clenched as he reminisce what happened. If I remember it correctly, it's been a hundred years since it happened, and here they are, still trapped in the past because they never had the proper talk they all deserved.

"Bakit nga naman ba siya aasa sa akin kung hindi ako naniwala sa kaniya? I knelt in front of her, asking her to live with me for the rest of eternity pero hindi ko siya pinaniwalaan nung sinabi niyang...wala siyang kasalanan." Umiiyak na saad niya. I can feel my tears slowly threatening to fall too habang pinapanood ko ang dalawa.

"Gosh, these boys. Hindi pa rin sila nakaka move on? I already forgave them hundred of years ago."

Nagulat akong napalingon sa tabi ko nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. I felt my eyes shedding tears as my gaze met her familiar green eyes, still wearing the same white dress she wore the last time I saw her.

"D-Deidamia... I-I thought?" Hindi ko mabuo ang mga salita sa isip ko. I was too surprised to even say anything anymore. My heart was aching for her—longing for her.

She smiled at me and hugged me, tight. I hugged her tighter, crying on her shoulders. She giggled at my reaction and slowly let go of me. Pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko habang nakangiti sa akin. I was just staring at her, making sure that she's really here, and that she won't suddenly disappear. Ayaw ko iyong mangyari.

Tumungo ako para kurutin ang sarili. I can't be dreaming right? 'Wag naman sana!

"Aray!" I shouted when I felt the pain. Ibig sabihin ay hindi ako nananaginip?