Riding The Waves (Fortalejo Clan #1)

Chapter 25

"W-Wait," Utal-utal kong sambit at mabilis siyang naitulak palayo sa akin. Hindi naman siya nagreklamo. He still has a small faint smile plastered on his lips but his eyes were serious.

"What are you talking about?" I gasped, having a hard time breathing the air around. Bakit ba sa tuwing malapit kami sa isa't-isa ganito na lamang katindi ang epekto niya sa'kin?

I know, I haven't moved on with my feelings for him yet. Because I didn't forget him in the first place anyway. I just prioritized what needed to be on my top priority but it doesn't mean that I buried him.

I just remembered my worth. I loved myself more than how I give love to other people but I showered all love in my heart to God. If it's not for him, I wouldn't be able to keep on living in this life. With him, my life couldn't go wrong anymore. I just have to put all my trust in him.

He licked his lips, still looking at me. Napagmamasdan ko na ng maigi ang kabuuan ni Aspen. He had grown more mature not only physically but also his mindset. He was never optimistic. Itinatago niya lang ang lahat sa sarili niya sa isiping nakakaabala siya ng ibang tao at baka nagiging pabigat lang siya. That's how I looked at it while thinking back when we were together.

"You did a great job, Mira." He smiled even more. "I'm so proud of you, Earth."

Parang may kung anong bumara sa lalamunan ko at parang tinadyakan ng kabayo ang puso ko. It's a mixture of pain and at the same time happiness. I didn't know that these two can co-exist together at the same time. How foolish of me.

"Can we talk?"

I gulped, trying my hardest not to stammer once again.

"We're already talking as you can see."

He let out a low yet deep chuckle. Pati ang marahang pagtawa niya ay mas lumalim pa lalo. Gayon din ang boses niya. The way he brings himself is like a king reigning across the whole territory. He's a victor, I could see that.

"Oh, yeah? My bad, forgive me." He bit his lips, smiling. "First of all, I want to apologize for what I did in the past. I could've been more open to you since you're already my girlfriend. I didn't realize that instead of making you happy, I'm already hurting you in the process of loving me."

Muling umihip ang maaliwalas at preskong hangin sa isla. Tinatangay niyon ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko habang magkadaop ang mga paningin namin ni Aspen.

"It's...It's already in the past, what's the need to talk about it now?" I lightly bowed down my head, fidgeting with my finger. Huminga ako ng malalim. Hindi ko alam kung handa na ba ako sa mga bagay-bagay katulad nito.

Now that I sorted out my feelings and it dawned on me that I'm still in love with him, the more I needed to be wise and cautious enough not to hurt myself in the process of loving someone for the second time around again.

We don't need to rush things. We can always take it slow. May mga bagay na hindi dapat minamadali dahil mas maganda ang resulta kung pinag-ukulan ng oras at panahon na walang halong pagmamadali. It's not about the result but the fact that you enjoyed the journey.

"I want to make things right this time by saying sorry to you first," He uttered. "I'll be honest to you now, yes, I have a hard time trusting you before but what I feel for you is real but raw. Those memories that we had, it was all true. Lahat ng mga bagay na ipinapakita ko sa'yo ay totoo."

Tinitigan ko siya ng mabuti. I could see that he's not lying. Totoo ang mga sinasabi niya ngayon. Puno ng kaseryosohan ang mga mata niya at ang boses niya ay tunog sinsero.

"What can you get after telling me all this? What if I don't love you anymore? Will you give up?" Sunod-sunod kong sinabi, tinatantiya ang mga maaaring isagot niya.