The Despicable Prince [FIN]

Chapter Thirty-Four

Cheska's POV

"Bryce..." Usal ko. "How?"

May kinuha siyang kung ano sa breast pocket ng suot niyang suit. Yung invitation. "My family received one too." He said.

"I mean, kailan ka pa nandito?" I tried to make my voice be calm and composed. Pero sa totoo lang, kanina ko pa gusto magbreak down.

"I arrived about a week ago."

"Okay." I said. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Masyado akong naooverwhelm. Marami akong gusto itanong sa kanya, gusto ko siyang suntukin, gusto ko siyang sipain, gusto ko siyang sisihin dahil sa tatlong taong ginawa niyang miserable ang buhay ko, at sa tatlong taon na hindi man lang niya ako sinubukan kausapin. "I have to go back." Akmang tatalikod na ako ng bigla niya akong pigilan.

"Cheska, we need to talk." He said firmly.

"Bryce... Please. Engagement party ko 'to."

"Gusto mo ba 'to?"

There was a pause.

"Do you want this, Cheska?" He repeated.

"Of course! Sa tingin mo ba aattend ako dito kung hindi 'to okay sa'kin?" Nakataas ang kilay na sagot ko sa kanya.

"How come you've changed so much? And why are you so distant?"

Ngumiti ako ng mapakla. "It was never I who created the distance, Bryce." Malamig na tugon ko sabay talikod at lakad palayo.

"Three years had been like hell for me, Cheska."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad.

"I was put into coma for six more months para ma-stabilize ang condition ko. It was not my choice, Cheska. God only knows, kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, I'd rather stay here with you." He said. "I decided not to go back after because I was afraid to cause you more pain, I blamed myself for breaking you. Oo, aaminin ko, I am to blame for not getting into contact with everyone, but believe me, Ches, I have always been watching you..."

"Sana bumalik ka nalang agad..." Tanging nasabi ko.

"I wanted to! Pero pakiramdam ko noon... Noong mawala ako sa tabi mo, I felt you're safest without me. I only did that to protect you."

"To protect me?" Natawa ako ng mapakla. "You seriously believe you did that to protect me?! Alam mo ba kung anong pinagdaanan ko pagkatapos mong umalis?! The boys and I are constantly receiving death threats!"

"Cheska, alam mong hindi ko ginusto na umalis! I was in coma! Ano bang hindi mo maintindihan dun?"

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Before, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na, okay lang na pumunta ka ng America kung 'yun ang ikaayos ng kalagayan mo. But why did you have to cut ties with us? Tapos bigla ka nalang dadating kung kailan mo gusto? You're so unfair, Bryce."

"Unfair?" Tumingin siya sa akin. "Don't you think ikaw ang unfair? You should understand me."

Hindi ako makasagot. Sino nga ba ang mali sa aming dalawa?

"Look, I've made up my mind. I am sure of this engagement." Pinal na sabi ko at nagsimula na ulit maglakad palayo.

"I never stopped loving you, Cheska, and I swear to God, I will do whatever it takes to get you back."

"Get who back?"

Sabay kaming napalingon at nakita namin si Tanner Cedric na naglalakad palapit sa amin. "Get who back, Bryce?" Ulit na tanong niya.

"Tanner, kaibigan kita pero anong ginawa mo?"

"Look, Bryce. This was not our decision. Three years were too long, madaming nangyari. You cannot avoid what is bound to happen, and neither do us." Kalmadong sagot ni Tanner Cedric sa kaibigan niya.

Mataman na tumingin si Bryce sa kaibigan, "I will get what is rightfully mine, Tanner Cedric. I will get her back." Bryce said while putting emphasis on the word, 'her'. Pagkasabi niyon ay nauna na itong umalis.

-

Pagkatapos ng engagement party ay dinala ako ni Tanner Cedric sa overlooking sa Antipolo.

"Water?" Inabot niya sa akin ang isang bottled mineral water.

"Thanks." Tugon ko pagkatapos kong uminom.

"What did he say to you?"

"He said he want me back. Alam niyo bang nandito na siya?"

"We saw him last week. Hindi rin namin alam na uuwi na sila dito. Bigla nalang siya dumating nung may get-together kami nung isang araw."

Napahinga ako ng malalim. "I hate him for being like that."

"For being what?"

"Unpredictable. Lagi siyang ganun eh."

"Well, Bryce will never be Bryce if he's not unpredictable." Tumawa ng marahan si Tanner Cedric.

"WHOAAAAAA. I am so confused with what's happening."

"Cheska, I want you to be honest with me, do you still want to continue this engagement?"

5 seconds... 10 seconds... I can't find my voice.

"Ches?"

"Huh? Oh, oo naman. I mean, nandito na rin naman tayo eh." Sagot ko.

"If you want to think it over, sabihin mo lang sa'kin. Alam mo naman, I don't want to tie you down into some meaningless relationship." Hinila ako ni Tanner Cedric at hinagkan sa noo.

Bakit hindi nalang ako sa kanya na-in love?

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TO BE CONTINUED

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