Ryle Alvarez (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chanel moved in with Ryle for the mean time. Kinuha ng binata ang mga gamit ng dalaga sa bahay niya at doon na ito tumitira. Hindi na rin maasikaso ni Ryle ang paghahanda sa bagong proyekto nila. And it's been days since he last saw Liway. Nag-reply na ang dalaga pero sinabihan niya itong hindi muna magta-trabaho. Hindi na rin nagparamdam si Liway pagkatapos no'n.

Everyday, Ryle would wake up and prepare meals for Chanel. Naging sakitin ang dalaga. Matamlay ito at parang walang palaging gana kumain. Ryle had her checked to the doctor already, but everything was fine.

Ang pinag-aalala ni Ryle ay ang mental health ni Chanel. He would wake up in the middle of the night just to find her crying. He would always console her. Sa umaga naman, palaging tulala ang dalaga kaya binabantayan niya ito.

Today, Ryle found her watching her phone closely. Lumapit siya rito at sinilip ang pinapanood niya. It was his band's latest music video with Liway in it.

"So, Liway replaced me?" mahinahong tanong ni Chanel at sumandal sa balikat ni Ryle.

"Yes, and she did a great job, didn't she?" Ryle's eyes sparked with proudness.

"Tell me, Ryle, bukod sa role ko sa music video, ano pa ang pinalitan ni Liway?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Ryle. "What do you mean?"

"I saw you with her. You two seemed close."

"Yes, she's my P.A."

"Did you have sex with her when I was gone?"

Ryle fell silent. Although he knew he shouldn't be guilty, she couldn't look straight to Chanel's eyes. Napalunok siya ng ilang beses at yumuko.

"So, you did." Chanel's voice cracked. "Was she good? Did you like her more than me?"

Hindi makasagot si Ryle. He is aware of Chanel's feelings towards him, but seeing her pained like this is something he did not wish. Nagsimula na namang umiyak si Chanel and he is guilty as fuck because he knew he could not return her feelings.

He slowly went away and left Chanel crying. Hindi niya gustong makita ang babae pero ayaw niya rin ang atmosphere sa pagitan nila. He went to his balcony and sat there.

He suddenly remembered what would always cheer Liway up. He called her. Her phone rang a  times before she picked it up.

"Bakit?" sagot kaagad ni Liway mula sa kabilang linya.

"Hey, are you busy?"

"Hindi naman. Bakit?"

"Well, I was hoping if you wanna come here at my house later. And can you buy a bucket of fried chicken."

For a moment, Liway thought those were for her. She immediately got up from her bed. Maging ang mga magulang niya ay nagulat sa biglaang pagsigla niya.

She changed into a decent pair of clothes then went to the nearest fast food chain and bought a bucket. Ryle would always cheer her up with this. Hindi pa pala nakalimot ang binata.

Masaya siyang nagpunta sa bahay nh binata. Hindi na siya kumatok at basta na lang pumasok. She was expecting Ryle to be in the living, but she didn't expect to see Chanel with him.

Nakahiga ang dalawa sa sofa. Chanel's face was buried on Ryle's chest while his arms were tightly wrapped around her. Tulog si Chanel habang nakapikit si Ryle at kinakantahan siya. Liway's world shattered upon the sight of that.

Kahit na gusto na niyang umalis, naglakas loob siyang kunin ang atensiyon ni Ryle. Ryle opened his eyes and quickly got up. Napansin ni Liway kung gaano ka-gentle gumalaw si Ryle habang tumatayo.

"Liway, you're here," sa boses ni Ryle, nahalata ni Liway ang pagod niya.

"Ito na 'yong pinabili mo."

Ryle nodded and took the chicken from her. "Thank you. I think Chanel would feel better after this. Kumain ka na?"

Umiling si Liway dahil iyon ang totoo. "Nagmadali kasi akong pumunta rito noong tumawag ka."

Ryle's lips stretched into a smile. "I know I could always count on you."

Umalis si Ryle para ilipat ng lalagyan ang pagkain. Naiwan si Liway sa sala. She sat on the carpeted floor, sighing. Nagising naman si Chanel at bumangon.

"Ryle?" It was the first thing that came out of her mouth even when her eyes are shut. When her eyes turned to Liway, she seemed a bit disappointed. "Oh, it's you. Nasaan si Ryle?"

Tinuro ni Liway ang kusina. "Hinahanda niya raw ang pagkain mo."

Tumango si Chanel. "Can we talk, Liway?"

"Tungkol saan ba?"

"About Ryle sana."

Hindi na nagulat si Liway doon. "Bakit? Ano'ng mayroon sa kaniya?"

"You," Chanel paused. "Mayroon siyang ikaw and I don't like it."

Punong-puno ng hinanakit ang boses ni Chanel. Liway knew how she felt. Ganoon din ang nararamdaman niya para sa babae.

"Ano'ng gusto mong gawin ko? P.A niya ako."

"Then stay that way. I know what happened. I know you had sex. A personal assistant should not have any relationship with her boss, let alone a sexual relationship."

Naramdaman ni Liway ang pamumula ng mukha niya dahil sa sinabi ni Chanel. "Pero—"

"Ryle and I have something between us, Liway. Do not ruin it please. I know you're better than that."

Tuluyan nang natahimik si Liway. Sakto namang lumabas si Ryle mula sa kusina. Dala niya ang pinggan at ang chicken. He had no idea about what just happened between the two.

"Kain na tayo," sabi ni Ryle. Nang makaupo siya, Chanel was quick to wrap her arms around his.

Liway felt the corners of her eyes stinging. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at tumayo. "Mauuna na ako. Sa bahay na lang ako kakain."

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sasabihin ng binata. Narinig niya ang ilang beses na pagtawag sa kaniya ng lalaki. As soon as she left the vicinity, her tears started falling. Nang makalayo siya nang tuluyan, humagulgol na siya.

Her knees weakened. She went home. Nagulat ang mga magulang niya nang makita ang anak nilang umiiyak. Kaagad nilang tinigil ang ginagawa nila para kumustahin siya.

"Anak, bakit? Ano'ng nangyari sa 'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Aling Meredith.

Hindi kaagad sumagot si Liway kaya sinundan pa ito ng tanong mula kay Mang Paulo. "Anak, may nangyari ba?"

Ilang minuto pa siyang huminga at pinakalma ang sarili niya. "Ma, dumating 'yong girlfriend ni Ryle."

Nagtinginan ang mga magulang niya. "Ano'ng nangyari, anak?" tanong ni Aling Meredith.

"Ma, galit sa akin 'yong tao. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang masamang ginawa ko."

"Anak, may girlfriend pala si Ryle. Akala ko ay may namumuo kayong relasyon? Hindi kaya iyon ang dahilan kung bakit galit siya?"

Umiling ako. "Ngayon ko lang naman nalamang sila. Hindi sinabi ni Ryle na may relasyon sila. Hindi ko po alam."

Inalo siya ng mga magulang niya. "Magiging maayos din ang lahat, anak."

"Anak, alam mong may pinanggagalingan ang tao. Intindihin mo na lang ang galit niya."

Umiling si Liway. "Hindi naman 'yon ang dahilan ko, Ma. Tatanggapin ko ang galit ni Chanel sa akin. Kahit ako naman magagalit kung may malaman akong gano'n."

Natahimik ang mga magulang niya. Hindi rin alam ng mga magulang niya kung paano patahanin ang anak nila. Hinahaplos nila ang likod ni Liway.

"Ma, Pa, mahal ko na si Ryle," iyak niya. "Mahal na mahal ko siya. Hulog na hulog ako sa kaniya. Hindi ko naman ginusto ang ganito. Hindi ko alam na magkakaroon ako ng pagmamahal para sa kaniya."

"Anak ko," tanginag nasabi na lang ni aling Meredith nang tuluyang humagulgol si Liway.

Hindi na alam ni Liway kung ano ang gagawin niya. She couldn't figure out what to do with her life anymore. All she knew is that she is fucked. Her heart just got broken before it could even beat.