Lost in the Pastel Hues (Sunset Avenues #3)

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Hold

Ganoon pa rin at walang magbabago sa magiging desisyon ko.

Tinitigan ko lamang ang pinto kung saan siya lumisan at inisip na mas makakabuti nga para sa kan'ya ang bumalik na lamang ng probinsya o ituloy iyong paghahanap ng hustisya para sa mga magulang niya. I don't need him in my mess.

And I couldn't afford to see him suffering because of my mess. And it would be good for the both of us dahil nakapagdesisyon na rin naman ako na umalis na ng bansa at bumalik ng New York.

And again ask myself where is home..

"Paige, where are you going?" si Mace.

"I'm just going to talk to my..bodyguard," garalgal ang boses na sambit ko.

The day was so heavy that I couldn't gulp that all of those are happening in just a snap. Nakaramdam man ako ng ginhawa dahil sa presensya ni Mace pero nang makita ko si Jake, para akong nasasaktan nang paulit-ulit.

Maaaring ang nararamdaman niya kapag magkalapit kaming dalawa ay kagaya din ng nararamdaman ko.

Near..yet so far. Why is there such a kind of love? Or is it really love, Paige?

I want his safety. I want him out of this so I am pushing him away but I think he wouldn't understand my reason behind that. Bumaba ako ng parking lot, never mind if I looked unglamorous or even if there were cameras around. Sinuyod ko ang parking lot at lumabas pa ng building.

"Ma'am Paige, sorry po. Utos po sa amin ni Jake na huwag kayong hayaang lumabas mag-isa. Makakasama po sa kaligtasan niyo." Tama nga dahil may mga reporters din palang nasa labas.

"Miss Legacy, ano po ang sagot niyo sa kumakalat na isyu na naunang pumunta ng Pilipinas si Mace Brooke para sa'yo? Are you making the relationship official now?"

"Miss Paige, there's a new statement from Mrs. Jones who claimed that.."

"Mrs. Jones said that she'd reveal another controversy in no time. What is your comment regarding those?"

"Miss Paige?"

Pinalibutan ako ng security. Sa dami pala ng reporters sa labas ay para na akong kinukulong at kinukuyog. So I went back to the condo unit, nakasalubong ko pa sa labas si Mace at sinabi na may mga lumabas ngang pictures na nandito na siya sa Pilipinas at magkasama kaming dalawa.

"Paige...some are contacting me. You know that I haven't been active online for the past two years. Why didn't you tell me about the controversies that you were facing?"

I went silent.

"I won't ask you about that.. for keeping your silence for an obvious reason that we both know. But regarding what happened earlier, Paige, is that the man you are pertaining to?"

I just sobbed silently. Kaya napagtanto na niya siguro iyon.

"He didn't know?"

Umiling ako. If that would matter. O kung mas gusto kong ganoon iyong isipin niya para mas madali ring tanggapin sa kung sakali man na iiwas siya o kung sakali man na susuko na siya.

"What are you going to do now, Paige?"

Tumingin ako sa bintana. He's still thinking about my safety even if I hurt him a lot and that makes me question my love for him.

I thought back then that what I need is him and not his sacrifice. I told him before that he doesn't need to sacrifice for me. And what about now, Paige, is this what sacrifice means?

"Paige, you really look beautiful even when you cry and in ugly shirt, dude." Si Mace at tinapunan ako ng unan. He's back then to his old self. Ibinato ko pabalik iyong unan.