Heart of the Sunset (Heart Series #4)

T W E N T Y - E I G H T

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…

Smile at least

Matapos ang tawag ko kay Nikki ay nakatanggap naman ako ng tawag galing kay Ino. Nalulungkot na pinanood ko lang na tumunog ang cellphone ko. Ayoko itong buksan. Ayokong magbago ang isip ko.

I am leaving. I am going back to the Philippines. I will be staying there for good. I will make a new business there and have a peaceful living. I want to stay away from pain.

Being with Ino is a paradise for me. It was like I’m in a cloud full of glitters. Colorful and light.

But being with Ino is like a cliff for me as well. It feels like anytime I’ll fall and end up broken in very small pieces. It’s scary and painful.

I was torn between two. I was torn between staying and leaving. But eventually, I chose to leave.

Kung kailangan kong umalis para maiwasan ang sakit at para na rin hindi masaktan si Ino, aalis ako. I know that I will also hurt Ino through leaving him but he will eventually find someone else. Marami siyang pwedeng mahahanap na hihigit pa sa kaya kong ibigay sa kanya.

I felt my eyes sting as I watched my phone lost it’s light when Ino’s call stopped. I sighed. Nanghihina ang mga tuhod na naupo ako.

Tinawagan ko si Arabelle. I want her to know. Para naman kahit papaano, may alam siya sa mga plano ko.

“Hello? Niv? Where are you? You didn’t make balik na dito!” Singhap niya. Mukhang stress na si Manang.

I smiled a bit. “I booked a flight to the Philippines, Arabelle. I’m… staying there for good. So, uh… aalis ako mamayang 10 PM, agad-agad. Baka pwedeng pakibantayan na lang shop ko habang wala ako? I will still monitor it though. Gusto ko lang na makasiguro, kayo lang ni Diana ang mapagkakatiwalaan ko diyan--”

“Why are you going back to the Philippines?! How about me?! I will be left here?!” Bulyaw niya, nailayo ko pa sa tenga ko ang cellphone.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. “Natural. Alangan namang sumama ka. Lagot ka sa Tatay mo kapag sasama ka rin.”

“But, Niv, why is it so sudden? Ang bilis naman! We were having our lunch awhile ago! Tapos biglang you’re leaving na agad!”

I pursed my lips. “Nakaka-conyo pala ang stress, ‘no?”

“Shut up! Answer me! Wait, where are you! Pupunta ako diyan!” Tapos narinig kong may pinupuloy siyang kung ano. Halatang nagmamadali.

“No need, Arabelle. Just stay there and be fine. I’ll be… fine too. Tatawagan naman kita palagi. Don’t worry,” saad ko.

She sighed. “I don’t understand. Why is it so sudden? Tapos have you called Chief already? Did you already told him about this?”

Nahiga ako sa kama. Napatitig ako sa kisame. “Hindi pa. I will tell him later.” I am not sure if I would. “For now, stay quiet. Ako na ang bahalang magsasabi sa kanya.”

She sighed. “Alright. Hindi ka na ba talaga mapipigilan?”

I smiled sadly. “Yeah. I’ll make a living there. I’ll stay there for good. Don’t worry, I’ll be happy.”

Sana…

“Okay. Sabi mo, eh. I’ll visit you there if I would have the time. I will miss you, Niv.” She sniffed.

I chuckled. “Umiiyak ka ba? Ba’t ka umiiyak? Hindi pa naman ako mamamatay. Nagpapaalam lang ako.”

Though I’m good as dead.