Chaos in the Cavity of Peace (Love in Mendiola Series #1)

Chapter 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

KEECIA

"I knew you'd be here."

"Ahia," I whispered weakly as I caught a glimpse of him in the reflection of my baby's tombstone. "What are you doing here?"

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "Caine called."

I rose slowly, turning to face him. "You knew."

Dahan-dahan siyang tumango. "He filled me in on everything from last night. You just ran away and turned your phone off. We were worried, and I thought this is the only place you—"

But that's not what I meant.

"No, ahia," I interrupted, my face stoic. "You knew."

Ahia looked guilty. Hindi siya maka-tingin nang diretso sa mga mata ko. He swallowed hard before speaking, "We almost lost you, Ciacia. I thought by keeping the truth, we were protecting you."

Ayan na naman. I shook my head and scoffed sarcastically, still refusing to accept that lame-ass explanation.

"Protecting me?" I asked sarcastically. "I don't understand. You were all there when I was hurting. You saw me when I was doubting myself, when I was drowning in all the 'whys'... yet, all this time, you knew the answer," my voice broke as tears started to fall. "How could you call yourselves my 'family' when you just watched in silence while I was in pain?"

He couldn't answer, he could only look at me defeatedly.

I clutched my chest and continued, "Ahia, you know me. Kung sinabi niyo lang sakin noon, alam mong maiintindihan ko kayo. But instead, pinagmukha niyo akong tanga! Ikaw, si Caine, si dad, si mom... kayong lahat! How could you do that to me?"

"No, Ciacia... Hindi naman sa ganun," he tried to explain. "We were going to tell you once things settled down, but..."

"But?!" I demanded, my voice rising. "Ano na namang irarason mo? Five years yun, ahia... tatlong taon na ring nakakulong sila William. Kailan niyo balak sabihin sakin lahat? O may balak ba talaga kayong sabihin sakin at all?"

Napa-pikit siya saglit bago ibinalik ang mga mata sakin, punong-puno ang mga ito ng sakit at pagsisisi. "I'm sorry."

"Can your 'sorry' bring back everything I've lost?"

"Ciacia..." He tried to reach for me, pero agad akong umiwas.

"No! I am so damn furious with you, Ahia... with all of you. Tinanong ko kayo noon, diba? Ilang beses akong nagtanong! But instead of telling me the truth, you chose to betray me!" Humihikbi na ako. "Pinagkatiwalaan ko kayo kasi akala ko pamilya tayo. Hinayaan ko kayong i-handle yung kaso dahil sabi mo kaya niyo na, kayo na ang bahala sa lahat, pero tinarantado niyo lang ako!" I exclaimed, my disappointment echoing through the words. Then I wiped my tears away before locking eyes with him. "So, no. Your apologies mean nothing to me, Ahia. Hindi ko kayo kayang patawarin sa ginawa niyo. I... I think I'm going to need time and space from all of you—"