Secret Series #3 Beautiful Scars [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 33

Night flew so fast and the day brightly changed. I felt cold after I got my shower. I go down to have some coffee when the doorbell rings. I leaned against the door, opened it, and I saw her- Lindsay.

"Lin?" I was a little taken aback. Napamura ako sa aking isipan. I don't expect someone to come as early. Bumaling siya sa aking likuran. Her smile got brighter when she saw him going down.

"Hon, what's for breakfast?" Nagulat ako dahilan para lingunin si Rain. Sandali itong nakatingin sa paligid saka pa niya ako napansin sa may pintuan. He leaned on it and finally saw her.

"You're both wet, huh?" pabirong usal ni Lin habang nakataas ang mga kilay at patuloy sa pagngiti.

"Lin?" He was almost shocked when he saw her face.

"May I come in?" tanong nito at saka ko naman nilakihan ang bukas ng pinto, pumasok naman siya agad. Nagkatinginan kami ni Rain na tila nagtatanong. Maging siya ay walang ideya kung bakit dumating ang kaniyang pinsan gayong hindi namin ito inimbitahan.

"Lin, do you want some coffee?" tanong ko na may pagkailang.

Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi magugulat.

"No, thanks." Umupo siya sa sopa at patuloy sa pagtingin sa amin.

"Hindi ba kayo uupo?" dagdag pa niya habang papalit-palit siyang nakatingin sa aming dalawa ni Rain.

"So what brought you here?" tanong ni Rain sa kaniyang pinsan. She lowers her head for a moment, then raises it.

"You need to go home, Rain." Sumeryoso ang mukha nito habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Suminghap si Rain at nagsimulang umiba ang aura ng mukha.

"Excuse me." Agad akong umalis at tinungo ang kusina para maghanda ng aming agahan. Hinayaan ko na lamang sila na mag-usap gayong may mahalagang kailangan ang kaniyang pinsan sa kaniya. Parang may kung ano na gumagambala sa isipan ni Rain at hindi ko siya maiwasang tingnan lalo pa at tila nagtatalo sila nito.

***
"What do you mean by that, Lin?" Rain was furious and she couldn't even let him fret himself because she couldn't handle it.

"Sa bahay tayo mag-usap, Rain," kalmadong sagot nito saka tumayo. Pasimple itong lumakad palapit sa kaniya. Rain gave her a mad look.

"I'm really sorry about this. And I know she could really understand it."

"Hindi ka sigurado."

"Ikaw ang hindi sigurado, Rain." Lin finally turned her head back and saw her in the kitchen.

"And Ashleigh?" tawag niya rito. Lumingon naman ito sa kaniya. "I need to go. Thank you."
Muling bumaling ang babae sa kaniyang pinsanbat binigyan ito ng masamang tingin.

"Just follow me outside," aniya at tuluyan ng umalis. Nanatiling nakatayo si Rain habang pinipigilan ang kaniyang inis, kuyom ang kamao na gusto na rin manakit.

**
A S H Y

I let her go, then stepped on him while holding his arms.

"May problema ba?"

"Wala ito," tugon niya nang hindi man lang ako magawang tingnan.

"Pur breakfast is ready."

Tumango siya st sinabing, "I even need to go now."

Yumuko ako ng kaunti. Hindi batid ng aking isip kung ano ang nangyari at kung bakit ganito na lamang katindi ang galit sa kaniyang mukha at pilit niya lang din itong pinipigilan.

Humarap siya sa akin at humawak sa aking magkabilang balikat, inangat ko naman ang tingin sa kaniya.

"I'm really sorry, Ash."

"It's okay. Isa pa, ayoko rin pakialaman ang kung anong problema meron kayo. And just kiss our son for me."

Niyakap niya ako at dagli na hinalikan sa ulo. Ginantihan ko rin siya ng mahigpit na yakap.

"I will be right back," saad niya at humiwalay na rin sa akin.

"Hihintayin kita." Tumango siya. Sandali pa lamang at siya'y umalis na. Naiwan akong nakatayo, tila nawalan ng sigla.

***
He slammed the door angrily, removing his suit and throwing it on the couch. Nakaupo habang nakatingin sa kaniya si Lindsay. He got a bottle of a cold beer, poured it into the glass, put ice on it, and finally had a seat.

"Ano pa ba ang hinihintay mo, Lin? I'm here now," asik nito sa kaniya. She heaved a sigh, looking so calm with the right attitude.

"Alam mo ba ang ginagawa mo?" tanong nito na ikinangiti naman ni Rain.

"May mali ba sa ginawa ko?" He almost laughed about what she said.

"Rain, this is not about Ash or even your son. It's all about Megan." Natigilan si Rain sa sinabi nito na ikinasingkit din sa kaniyang mga mata. He took a sip from his glass, looking at the window. He didn't want to say anything.

"Kaya ba pumunta ka sa unit ni Ash kanina?"

"Iniisip mo ba na sasabihin ko sa kaniya ang alam ko?"

Muli niyang binalingan si Lin. "Ako ang magsasabi kay Ashleigh at ako ang magpapaliwanag kaya't huwag mo akong pangunahan, Lindsay."

"Ayusin mo ang buhay mo, Rain," giit nito. "Dalawang tao ang naghihintay sa iyo, and don't you ever waste your everything just because you slept with a bum just for one night. I can't endure you, Rain. Not anymore."

Rain took a deep breath, realizing how stupendous things he had done the way he chose to be weak. His inmost thoughts grow.

"It's my fault," he responded. "And let me fix this, Lin. Just let me."

"Huwag mo na itong patagalin pa," tugon nito at tumayo na rin. "I'm your cousin, Rain at kapatid na rin ang turing ko sa iyo. I don't want you to neglect the rest of your life."

She gave him a once-over look and suddenly went out. Rain rested his back on the chair, mumbling a curse and shouting it out impatiently.

**
A S H Y

I was greatly surprised when Tiara came and wanted to see me. Nagkatitigan pa kami bago siya kusang lumapit sa akin. Her darting eyes are full of sympathy and I feel very nervous.

"Hi," bati niya pagkalapit sa akin. "How are you, Maddy?"

"I'm fine. So what brought you here?"

"I am just here and want to see you." She stared at me with concern and love. "I miss you, Maddy."

"I even miss you, more than you know." She smiles indulgently and instantly hugs me.

"Are you okay?" Hindi siya sumagot at sa halip ay niyakap pa ako ng pagkadiin-diin. I let her hug me and I understood what she felt for me.

"I'm sorry, Maddy," sagot niya pagkahiwalay sa akin. I saw her wet eyes.

"What's wrong?" pagtataka ko.

"I . . . I just want to say sorry for everything. Yes, for everything." I gently hold her hand, feeling the warmth of it.

"Diba dapat ako ang humingi sa iyo ng tawad?" Umiling siya.

"I am really sorry for being so untrue, Tiara . . . for being selfish and weak . . . for being someone pretending to be perfect and real. It's all my fault."

Sadness sprang to my eyes. Sa pagkakataong iyon, ako na ang yumakap sa kaniya ng mahigpit. My body tensed with such overwhelming happiness. I can't help but smile, and she even does.