MRS. AZUCENA

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Talk." I broke the silence between us.
Nakatitig lang ito sa akin kanina pa at hindi nagsasalita.

"You'll talk or I'll leave you here? You choose," sabi ko kay Harvey.

Nandito kami ngayon sa isang coffee shop malapit lang sa presinto.

"I'm sorry." Buntong hiningang sambit ni Harvey.

"I'm tired of hearing that." Poker face na sabi ko.

"I admit that keeping the truth from you was a huge mistake."

"Buti alam mo," pilosopong sabi ko.

"Can you listen to me first?" He clenched his jaw tightly.

Tinitigan ko ito ng ilang segundo. I looked at my wrist watch. "I'll give you 15 minutes. And after that, I'm done. I'll leave you here." Blankong sabi ko.

"Okay."

"You may start," I seriously said.

"As I've said before... I'm not gay or bisexual. It's all an act," he started.
Bigla kong naalala ang unang kita namin.

I chuckled without humor. "Well... what can I say, you're a good artist. You're good at acting and pretending. Napaniwala mo ako, congrats."

Tumiim ang bagang nito sa sinabi ko. "I only did that because I wanted to be close to my daughter. When I found out my child was with you, I immediately thought of a way to get my daughter, from you, but the longer I followed you... I realized that— I love your smile so much. I only see you laughing and smiling when Naveah is with you. I can't erase the smile on your lips. You were so mysterious at first that I had to hire a private investigator to investigate you. It was only then that I found out about what you went through. I witnessed how you started to treat men badly. It seems like you have closed your heart to men. So I came up with a way to... and that was to pretend to be gay," he explained.

"But, whether you believe me or not, I didn't really know anything about Rowen at first. Madeline only told me the truth two years after we met. I want to tell you the truth, but... something is stopping me from telling you the truth."

"It's because you're selfish, Harvey. That's why you couldn't tell it to me." I tilted my head.

"No. No. No. It's not that I'm selfish. I'm sorry okay..." sabi niya. "But I only did that... I-I only hid it from you because I want to spare you from being in pain again."

"You want me to spare from pain?" I bitterly said. "Sana sinabi mo na lang noon pa, para hindi ganito kasakit ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. You broke my trust in you which is very hard to get back."

"I-I know..." He murmured.

Mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan namin.
Napasinghap ako ng biglang tumayo si Harvey at lumuhod sa harapan ko.
Bahagya akong napaatras sa kinauupuan ko.

"What are you doing? Stand up!" I exclaimed, looking around the coffee shop.

Marami ang napatingin sa direksyon namin at nag bubulungan.
Pinanlisikan ko ng mga mata si Harvey.

"If you are just doing this because—" Naputol ang sasabihin ng magsalita si Harvey.

"I want everyone in this coffee shop to witness how pathetic I am for your forgiveness. I know that It's hard to forgive me. Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko. I can't bear it not seeing you and talking to you." Harvey said with sincerity. Yumuko ito.

"Stand up, I can only forgive you but I can't trust you again,” I sternly commanded.

Hindi ito sumunod at nanatiling nakaluhod sa harap ko. "I'm in love with you, Marga," he confessed all of a sudden, and my eyes widened.