Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 25

We were silent the whole trip. Panay ang pagtiim ng bagang ni Neus habang nakapokus ang mga mata sa pagmamaneho. 

He looked irritated and uneasy but the emotion that I can see is confusion. Kaya naman hinayaan ko na lang siya at hindi na nagsalita pa. 

Dahil may kalayuan ang restaurant sa bahay nina Shania, mahaba ang oras ko para makapag-isip. 

Ngayon lang nag-sink in sa ‘kin ang mga sinabi ni Jules. 

She was talking about her plan. Does that mean she’s fully aware na hindi kami iisa? Kung ganoon, then there’s a possibility na hindi totoong wala siyang naaalala. She was purposely tricking Neus. She was blatantly lying. 

So when she said she was pregnant ... was she lying as well?

Hindi ba’t ang desperada niya na kung gano’n?

And Neus said he doesn’t believe her ...

I shook my head. Argh! Ang dami kong tanong. Pero ayaw ko namang tanungin si Neus dahil halatang malalim din ang iniisip niya.

Palilipasin ko na lang muna ang araw.

Tahimik kong inalis ang seatbelt at akmang lalabas na but Neus asked me to stay. 

“Bakit?” 

I stilled when he embraced me.

“I’m so sorry. We just agreed to start over tapos magkakaroon ng ganito.” He held my face. “But one thing’s for sure. We shouldn’t believe anything Jules says.” 

“But what if it’s true? Na buntis nga siya?” I asked.

“I don’t believe her.”

“Bakit, wala bang ... nangyari sa inyo?” 

Natahimik siya kapagkuwan nag-iwas ng tingin. My heart dropped.

“It only happened because—”

“You thought I was her,” I cut him off. I nodded and smiled bitterly. “I know. I understand. Hayaan mo na ‘yon. Ang inaalala ko ay paano kung totoo ang sinasabi niya?”

“Then I will take full responsibility.” 

Taking full responsibility means marrying Jules, right? 

Marrying her means ending whatever this is, right?

How ironic. Kasisimula pa lang pero tapos na agad. So much for seeking happiness.

“Sana hindi magbago ang isip mo. If this were all true, I hope you won’t leave me.” Fear was visible in his face. Naguguluhan ko siyang tiningnan. 

“What do you mean? You said you’ll take full responsibility ... ”

“I can do that without having any romantic relationship with her. Anak ko lang ang aalagaan at susuportahan ko.” 

Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa sinabi niya. Hindi madaling iproseso na maaaring may anak si Neus sa ibang babae. Hindi ‘yon madaling tanggapin. But honestly, I care more about what we have now rather than his alleged unborn child. Wala rin namang mangyayari kung hindi ko tatanggapin. And it’s a baby we’re talking about. It should be considered a gift.

“Please don’t leave me, Anj. I know this is too much to ask right now dahil sa nangyari but I beg you, don’t leave me again. Baka hindi ko na kayanin,” he begged. His eyes were starting to get teary. 

The need in his eyes was evident. Alam kong sa mga oras na ito, kailangan niya ng masasandalan at susuporta sa kaniya. So I’ll help him in any way I can. Para na rin manatili ang magaang pakiramdam sa puso ko.