BC # 2: Interim Dalliance (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 16

PINATUNOG niya ang mga kamay na kanina pa nangangawit kakasulat. Mas dumami ang tao bandang hapon dahil natapos na rin ang mga doktor na nag-iikot sa mga bahay-bahay. Kumpleto na rin ang nasa listahan niya kaya nakakasigurado siya na wala na siyang kailangan pang hintayin.

She massaged her knuckles as Sidney approached her with a smile while holding a glass of water. Adam is talking to Zed so she didn't mind him and get the glass from Sidney.

"Buti tapos na. Akala ko mabilis lang," Sidney chuckled as he sat down on the stool near her "Marami-rami pala ang tao rito."

"Kaya nga 'e. Nagulat ako mahaba-haba pala yung listahan."

"Magpapahinga ka ba mamaya pagka-uwi?" Makahulugan siya nitong tinignan na agad naman niyang nakuha "Bukas na tayo pupunta sa Brgy. Catangnan. Baka gabihin tayo kapag tumuloy pa."

"Hindi ko alam. Baka sabayan kong kumain si Adam," Umiwas siya ng tingin para hindi niya makita ang pagkunot ng noo nito

"I read that you were together before," Tumingin ito sa unahan at ngumiti. Tila ba'y may inaalala "I know I may sound stupid but I got jealous because of that knowing that I have Lareign with me."

"Why did you marry her then?" Hinugot niya lahat ng lakas ng loob para itanong iyon kay Sidney. Gusto niyang batukan ang sarili dahil sa kahihiyan.

"Well, back when you were seventeen," Sinulyapan siya nito bago magsalita "Everything were settled. My family knows and loves her. Her family wants me too since we are both in the same field," Tumawa ito habang nakayuko "But I am an asshole. I tried to enjoy my life being single and I had you in my grasp."

"You were her fiancé..."

"Yes. I cheated but I never regretted anything because I met you. I just," Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya para humingi ng tawad "Need to protect my name that's why I did that."

"It's okay, Sidney. I understand," Hinigpitan niya rin ang pagkakahawak sa kamay nito ngunit alam niya sa sarili na kahit si Sidney ang mahal niya, may galit pa rin sa kaniyang puso na mahirap mawala "Tapos na 'yon. Walang magagawa ang galit kung patuloy nating balilikan 'yon."

"Veronika," Napabitaw siya sa pagkakahawak kay Sidney nang makita si Adam na nakatayo sa harapan nilang dalawa nang may madilim sa ekspresyon sa mukha nito "I got your favorite iced coffee drink in bottle."

"Salamat, Ad---" Walang pakialam itong tumalikod pagkatanggap niya ng ibinigay nito "I'll talk to him. Pasensya ka na."

Lakad-takbo niyang sinundan si Adam papunta sa dalampasigan na malapit sa covered court kung saan sila nanggaling. Nakita niya itong nakaupo at may malalim na iniisip. Gusto man niyang umalis ay hindi niya kayang makita na ganito ang itsura nito.

They need to talk. She needs to know why he is acting like this.

"Adam, ano bang ginagawa mo?" Paunang sabi niya nang naupo sa tabi nito "Alam ko naming ginagawa mo 'to para gumanti pero bakit ba ganiyan ka umasta?"

"Go back to your little fucking daddy, Veronika." Asik nito sa mas mapait na tono. Nagtataka siya sa inaasta nito dahil sa huling kita nila, sinabi nito na pinagsisihan nitong nakilala siya. Bakit ganito ito umatas ngayon kung ganoon?

"Adam! What's your problem? You keep on acting like you're in-love with me!"

"Well, fuck this feelings but I fucking do!" Sigaw nito pabalik sa kaniya dahilan para matulala siya rito "I fucking do! I don't want to feel this anymore, Veronika. I don't want to feel that kind of pain where I question my worth."

"Huwag mo na kasi akong mahalin," Nagsimulang tumulo ang luha dahil sa awa niya sa binata "Mahirap akong mahalin, Adam."

"Just like what you feel to Sidney, Veronika," He responded with a bitter laugh "If I could just unlove you and move-on, then I already did. But I fucking can't."

"Hindi kita kayang mahalin kaya please? Huwag ako..."

"I already suffered too much. If I can just forget you, Veronika. I keep coming back to you. These feelings keep on choosing you," He clenched his jaw as his eyes started to water "When I saw you holding his hand, I want to kill him and tell that motherfucker that you are mine," He looked at her straight in the eyes "But I got back in my senses and remembered you chose him and you are still choosing him over me."

"I love him. Even if these shits happened, I can't help but to choose him,"

"He's fucking married, Veronika!" Hinila siya nito kasabay ng pagyakap nito sa kaniya nang mahigpit "Why can't you just choose me?"

"I don't know, Adam." Niyakap niya ito pabalik kasabay ng pagkawala ng hagulgol na kanina niya pa pinipigilan "I can't understand myself either. I know that I love him. That's it..."

"Then, I'll make sure that you'll forget him." Hinalikan nito ang noo niya na para bang handa itong sumugal sa giyera ng pag-ibig "Even if there's no chance of winning you... I'll give my all."