Unlawful Destiny

Chapter 23: Lies After Lies

"What happened?" iyan ang unang tinanong sa akin ni Gwen nang makarating siya rito sa bahay.

I don't even know where to begin. Ang sakit balikan ng mga nalaman ko kanina, parang hindi ko yata kayang ikwento pa.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsimulang magsalita.

"Jax and Niccolo are brothers." diyan ko napagpasiyahang simulan ang kwento ko. Pakiramdam ko ay mas mapapabilis kung iyan agad ang sasabihin ko.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Gwen at napanganga siya. Kahit siya ay hindi alam ang sasabihin.

"What? How?" takhang tanong niya sa akin.

"I just found out earlier. You remember that Niccolo and I were not okay?"

Tumango siya, "Yeah, that bitch Celine."

"Jax and I went to his friends' wedding today and when they were partying, Niccolo brought me to this place where Jax took me on our beach date."

Muli siyang tumango. Ramdam ko ang pagka-intriga niya sa mga sasabihin ko.

"He explained that it was Celine who kissed him, and that–" napahinto akong saglit nang maramdaman kong maiiyak na naman ako. Hinaplos niya ang likod ko. "H-He told me he l-love me, too." at nang pagkatapos kong sabihin ang salitang iyon ay tuluyang dumaloy ang luha ko.

"He said that?" bakas sa mukha ni Gwen ang pagka-galak. Sana nga ay masaya talaga ang kahihinatnan ng kwento ko.

"But then Jax came, he knew everything that was going on between me and Niccolo. I guess he was mad that I'm still in love with him despite everything. So then, he told me something. He told me the truth about Niccolo." eksplanasyon ko kay Gwen.

"What truth?"

"I-It was all a fucking plan." mas lalong lumakas ang paghikbi ko. "He planned on using me and having sex with me to make me fall for him so he can get rid of me and mommy." niyakap niya ako pagkatapos kong sabihin sa kaniya iyon.

Iniyak ko lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman ko. Kay Gwen ko ito ibinuhos lahat dahil alam kong siya lang ang makakaintindi sa sitwasyon ko.

"That fucking guy, he's a piece of shit." disappointed na sabi ni Gwen.

She's right. Niccolo is a piece of shit, and most of all a fucking liar. I hate him with every nerve in my body.

"I loved him, Gwen." garalgal ang boses ko habang sinasabi ko ang katagang iyon. "I loved him more than I've loved any man, and you know that."

This is why I decided not to have boyfriends anymore after my first boyfriend, James. I loved him and God knows how much it hurt no'ng pinaghiwalay kami ng parents ko.

Ngunit mas masakit ang isang ito, because he lied to me. He used me, I thought he cared about me when all this time it was only for a show.

"I know, but it'll be okay. Let it hurt until it's not hurting anymore." she empathized. "What about Jax?" tanong niya.

"Oh my God, Jax isn't any different. He's a fucking liar too. I-I treated him as a friend, and all the while he was only u-using me to get even with his brother– Niccolo." I said as I was back to breaking down again.

Or at least, that's what I think. Bakit niya ako kakaibiganin kung alam niya ang plano ng kapatid niya, only for him not to tell me the truth. Gusto niya lang bang makaganti sa kuya niya?

"What? What the fuck is up with those two?" umiiling niyang sabi sa akin. "Did Niccolo tell you why he did such a thing?" tanong niya.

"He tried to, he said it was to protect his family. But I didn't let him explain anymore after that." sagot ko kay Gwen. "God, I have these questions on my mind that I will probably not get an answer." tumingala ako at sumandal sa couch.

"Maybe you should hear him out– when you're ready, of course. For your own peace of mind" she answered.

Should I even hear them out? Pagkatapos ng pangga-gago nila sa akin? But alas, I think Gwen is right. I have all these questions in my head that should be answered, I deserve that at least.

"I'm not ready to see either of them. Like, ever." sentimento ko sa kaniya.

"Honey, I know. But like you said, marami kang katanungan sa isip mo. Kailangang masagot ang mga iyon, or else you'll spend your whole life wondering. Hear them out, and after that it's your choice." payo niya sa akin.

May point si Gwen, ngunit mahirap gawin ang mga ito ngayon. Puno pa ako ng galit, nagbabaga ang emosyon ko.

Tinignan ko ang orasan at alas-dos na pala ng madaling araw. It's been a long tiring day, I feel like resting already.

"I'm gonna rest for tonight, will you stay?" pakiusap ko kay Gwen.

Tumango siya, "Of course, I'll be here when you wake up. Don't worry." niyakap niya ako at saka kaming sabay tumayo.

Hinatid niya ako sa kwarto ko, hindi na niya ako sinamahang matulog dahil ang sabi ko rin sa kaniya ay gusto ko munang mapag-isa.

Nagpaalam rin siyang may kukunin munang materials para sa inaaral niya. Nakonsensiya naman akong naistorbo ko siya sa pag-aaral niya lalo't Lunes na naman bukas at may pasok pa siya.

Nang makahiga na ako ay hindi pa rin ako makatulog. Napakaraming tumatakbo sa isipan ko. Naramdaman ko na naman ulit ang luha kong tumutulo sa mukha ko.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paghikbi nang mayroong kumatok sa kwarto ko. Mukhang may kailangan si Gwen, napansin ko namang nai-lock ko pala ang pinto ng kwarto.

"Adaline?"

Napaupo agad ako sa pagkakahiga nang marinig ko kung kaninong boses ito.

It's Niccolo.

"Please, Adaline. Open the door." he said in a soft voice.

Lumapit ako sa pinto para siguraduhing siya nga ito at hindi lang ako nag-iilusyon.

Napahawak ako sa bibig ko, I'm trying so hard not to make him hear me cry. Why is he here? What does he even want with me?"

Hindi ko alam kung saan ko hinugot ang lakas ng loob ko para sumagot sa kaniya.

"Y-You lied to me, about everything Niccolo." garalgal ang boses ko dahil sa paghikbi ko.

"Come on, Adaline. Open the door, let's talk properly. Please, I can't fix us like this." he pleaded on the other side of the door.

Mas lalong tumulo ang mga luha ko sa boses niya. Hearing him beg after hurting me, it's hurting me even more knowing it might not be true once again.

"Talk? We don't have anything to talk about Niccolo. I began to fall for you, only to discover you are nothing but a liar." I said as I began crying and not holding a single tear back.