Revenge

EPILOGUE

Rizmond's POV

"Bro! Umiinom ka na naman! Tigilan mo na nga 'yan!" suway ng kadarating lang na si Brent.

Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nalamang nandito ako samantalang iba't-ibang resto bar ang pinupuntahan ko gabi-gabi para lang makaiwas sa isang makulit na kagaya ni Brent.

Matalik na kaibigan ko si Brent. Tatlo kaming barkada pero simula nang traydurin ako ni Mondrick ay si Brent na lamang ang itinuring kong kaibigan.

Gusto kong mapag-isa. Ilang beses ko na iyong sinabi sa kanya pero heto na naman siya at nasundan na naman ako.

"Stop that, dude. Tita Brenda was already asking me to help you. Ang dami mo raw tinanggal sa trabaho? Even your secretary? Paano na 'yan?! How will you handle things without a secretary, huh?!" he uttered.

"I can handle it, dude." I said as I drink from my shot glass.

"Fine. Kung ito ang gusto mo, sasamahan kita." desis'yon niya at naupo sa tabi ko. Humingi pa siya ng baso sa bartender at siya na mismo ang nagsalin ng alak sa baso niya.

Namamangha ko siyang tiningnan. But in the end, I gave up. I want to be alone. But if this is the guy I want to drive away, maybe it's not a good idea. I'm just wasting my saliva.

"Alam mo ba kung nasaan sila?"

Napalingon ako sa tanong niya. Muli kong ininom ang alak sa harap ko.

"Rome." I faked a laugh. "Akala yata mabubura ang kasalanan nila kapag doon sila pumunta. Cheaters!"

"Kakaiba ka talagang mag-imbestiga. You even know where they are. Bakit hindi mo sila puntahan?" he asked.

"What for? Para guluhin sila? Com'on, dude."

"Si Tita Brenda--."

"Hayaan mo na si Mommy, Brent. I dont want her to think that I'm a loser--that I'm losing it. Whatever she's thinking right now, let her be. She might think I'm crazy because I lost her and I don't want to believe that she cheated--and what I believe is she was raped. Mabuti na 'yon. Mabuti nang makita niyang galit lang ako kay Mondrick."

"And it's all about Jasmine once again! Why? Ayaw mong magalit si Tita kay Jasmine? As if it won't happen, dude." naiiling pang sabi nito.

"She's still a family friend. I don't want them to be ruined just because of what happened between us."

"But it's her fault."

"It's not her family's fault. Ayaw kong masira ang friendship ng family niya at ni Mommy. Ayokong isipin ni Mommy na nagtatanim ako ng galit sa pamilya niya. In that case, she will get mad as well to them. You know Mom."

Naiiling na lang na uminom si Brent. Yes, I know the truth. I know that she cheated on me. But I just knew it recently. I have already done something that ruined somebody's life. I've never done things this evil before. But I did, just for revenge.

I raped a girl. I committed a mistake. I admit it. Hindi ko dapat iyon ginawa. Pinagsisisihan ko iyon. Pero ang gumugulo sa isip ko ngayon--I don't want to let her go. I just can't.

Even if she was the ex-girlfriend of Mondrick, I should not take it on her. I know that! Mondrick's at fault and not her. Pero bakit ganoon? Bakit gusto kong paniwalain ang sarili ko na kaya hawak ko pa rin ang babaeng iyon ngayon ay dahil naghihiganti ako?

"I LOVE YOU, RITZELY." I whispered in her ear.

"I love you, too." she replied.

I hugged her tight as I kissed her head from the back. I just asked her to marry me while making love at hindi naman ako nabigong makuha ang matamis niyang oo.