Ang balak ko sanang umuwi sa anak ko ay hindi nangyari nang muli akong tawagan ni Mom. Dad wants me to go to our house before I go to my own place. Wala naman akong choice kundi sumunod. Baka sugurin pa ako nito at mabuking nang wala sa oras ang sekreto ko.
Nakapangalumbaba ako at nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Bored at gustong-gusto nang magpahinga. Ngunit ang pagod sa aking katawan ay parang bulang maglaho nang makarating kami sa mansyon. Ang dalawang kotse na palaging naka-park sa labas ng mansyon ay naging apat na!
Nagsimulang mamawis ang mga palad ko nang makilala ko ang pamilyar na kulay grey na mamahaling sasakyan na naka-park sa labas ng mansyon.
T-that car—
"Ma'am, nandito na po tayo."
Ilang beses akong napakurap bago ako natauhan. "S-Salamat."
Nanginginig ang kamay na inabot ko ang aking purse bago lumabas ng aking kotse. I looked over to the car one more time bago ako humakbang papasok sa loob.
Juliano's at the door, waiting for me, at hindi siya nag-iisa. My mom's waiting at the sala. Looking agitated and worried. Napatayo siya nang makita ako.
"Ryleigh! Why did you suddenly go home? What happened?" pabulong niyang tanong.
I looked around first before answering, "I saw him with. . .with someone else. I know you've seen it too. He introduced the woman to Lolo Philips."
Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng pag-aalala sa mga mata ni Mom. "Ryleigh—"
I cut her off. "We don't need to problem him anymore, mom. Once he settled down, malaman man niya o hindi, ayos na sa akin. He won't bother me anymore."
"Ryleigh? Are you sure na ayos lang talaga sa’yo? He's your ex-fiance and the—"
"Mom!" saway ko. Baka may makarinig sa kanya. "So what if he's with someone else now? It was just an arranged marriage. There's no feelings between us to begin with. He's nothing but a man I was once forced to be betrothed to!"
Hindi na nakaimik pa si Mom sa usaping iyon. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at marahas na napabuga ng hangin.
"Bakit ako pinapunta ni Dad dito? At isa pa, hindi ba dapat nasa party pa rin kayo? Bakit kayo umuwi?" tanong ko.
Mom released a soft sigh. "Naroon lang naman ang Dad mo para sa iisang taong gustong-gusto niyang makausap."
Kumabog ang aking dibdib. "Kung gano'n, bakit ako pinapunta ni Dad dito? What's my purpose here?"
"I don't know about your Dad. Just go and ask him after he's done talking with that boy, Reagan. Magbibihis lang ako at maghahanda ng kakainin natin. Dito ka na kumain," saad ni Mom.
Tumango na lang ako at pabagsak na umupo sa sofa. Minasahe ko ang aking sentido. It's not even midnight, yet I feel like a lot has happened tonight.
"You hate me that much, huh?"
Nanigas ang mga daliri kong nagmamasahe sa aking sentido. Kumabog ang aking dibdib nang marinig ko ang mga yabag niya papalapit sa akin.
Pinilit ko ang sariling umayos ng upo. The last thing I want him to think is he can intimidate me. Palihim akong humugot ng malalim na paghinga.
"You shouldn't expect me to just forget about it after the things you've done," malamig kong sambit. "You deserve that word for destroying us."
Narinig ko ang mahina at walang emosyong pagtawa niya. "It's been three years and you can't still move forward? You love that bastard that much?"
The word bastard made me snap from my thin patience. Marahas akong tumayo at hinarap siya. I planned to snap at him too but it was a wrong move.
Hindi ko namalayan na nasa gilid ko na pala siya kaya nang tumayo ako at humarap ay tumama ang aking mukha sa kanyang leeg. Umatras ako para bigyan ng pagitan ang mga katawan namin.
But this man doesn't know the word personal space! When I move backwards, he moves forward.
"Don't call him that!" asik ko. "And stay away from me, asshole!"
Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang mapupulang mga labi na para bang may narinig siyang nakakatuwa ngunit ang kulay abo niyang mga mata ay madilim at matalim na nakatingin sa akin.
"Ano bang ginawa para sa 'yo ng lalaking 'yon? Why do you love him so much? He couldn't even do anything when I easily made you mine. How is he worthy of you, Ryleigh, when he couldn't even fight for you?" mababa at may talim sa boses niyang tanong.
Tila nawalan ako ng dila. Hindi ako nakaimik sa kanya. Kumuyom ang mga palad ko at pilit na pinatatag ang kalooban dahil sa kirot na bumalatay sa aking puso.
"I was willing to give you everything, but you destroyed it just for that man." Pagak siyang natawa. "I couldn't even believe you'd threaten your parents that you will disown yourself if they went on the marriage. All of that for the man who doesn't even give a fuck about you."
"W-wala kang alam!" nanginginig ang boses kong asik.
"You can say that, and you can also say that I deserve that word, Ryleigh. But let me remind you of this. If I deserve the word hate, so will you." Dumoble ang sikip sa aking dibdib.
He stepped backward. His blank and sharp eyes turned cold and murderous.
"For accusing me of destroying a relationship that was already damaged," he said before turning his back at me.
Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Natulos ako sa aking kinatatayuan hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang sunod-sunod na pagbagsak ng luha mula sa aking mga mata.
![](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/302085121-288-k131027.jpg)
BINABASA MO ANG
Don't Let Him Know
RomanceRyleigh Sebastian had been living in peace for three years now, until the man she loathed the most suddenly appeared. It was none other than the evil and ruthless billionaire, Reagan Iverson. Her ex-fiance and the father of her son. She knew that on...