Ryle Alvarez (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nagtataka ang lahat kung bakit nag-iba si Ryle— o mas tamang sabihin na bumalik sa dati si Ryle. He became cold as ice— palaging galit at hindi makausap nang hindi sumisigaw. Marami nang tao ang natatakot sa kaniya.

Sa kanila naman ni Chanel, parang walang nangyari. Pumupunta pa rin ang dalaga sa bahay ng lalaki pero parang estranghero na si Ryle. Kung hindi pumapasok ang binata sa trabaho, nasa bahay niya ito at naglalasing. Chanel is hella worried for him.

"Naglalasing ka na naman," saway niya sa binata nang makitang itinutungga nito ang bote ng whiskey.

"Why the fuck are you here again?" galit na saad ni Ryle.

Nilabas naman ni Chanel ang in-order na pagkain para sa binata. "I came here because I was worried. Hindi ka na naman ba kakain kung wala ako?"

Hindi siya pinansin ni Ryle. Naglakad ito paalis dala ang bote ng alak. Napabuntonghininga si Chanel at nilipat ang pagkain sa tray. She heated it. Pinapakiramdaman niya si Ryle kung papasok pa ba ulit ito sa kusina o hindi na, pero hindi nagparamdam ang lalaki.

Nang matapos iinit ang pagkain, hinanap niya kaagad si Ryle. She found him in his mini-studio listening to a raw recording. Nakayuko ito at paulit-ulit ang kanta. She listened to the lyrics and Chanel just knew, it is about Liway.

"Ryle, can we talk?" mahinanong sambit niya.

"Ano ba ang kailangan mo sa akin, Chanel at hindi ka na lang umalis?"

"Nag-aalala lang naman ako sa 'yo."

Galit na dinuro ni Ryle si Chanel. "Kasalanan mo ang lahat ng 'to. This is all your fucking fault. You ruined me, Chanel."

Chanel never expected those words coming from him. It felt like a thousand shards cutting through her heart. It made her feel as if she was bleeding inside. She clutched her skirt and pretended to ignore Ryle's remarks.

"Gutom ka na ba?" tanong niya sa binata.

"Liway was my everything. We could've had it all. Why did you have to ruin it?"

Natahimik si Chanel. Napayuko na lang siya at napahikbi. Sobrang sakit para sa kaniya ang mga salita ni Ryle. Parang sinasaksak siya nang paulit-ulit.

She took the courage and faced him. "Alam mo bang nag-usap kami ni Liway?" Her voice was shaking. "Ni minsan hindi niya ako sinisi. Hindi siya nagalit sa akin."

"Well, she should've! Kasi you deserve all of it, Chanel!"

"Bakit ba sinusumbat mo sa akin na sinira ko ang buhay mo when you did the same to me?"

Ryle was quickly puzzled by what she said. "Ano?! How could I ruin your life?!"

"Because you showed me that you love me pero hindi pala!"

Ryle ran his fingers through his hair frustratedly. "Ikaw ang kusang umasa?"

Umiling si Chanel. "Kahit noong college? Hindi naman kita pinapansin noon, ah? You were friends with my sister because Skyler was her boyfriend back then. You're the one who made a move on me!"

Memories came rushing to Ryle's head. He remembered everything. . . From the start. He could remember everything clearly now.

"It was never my priority to have a boyfriend, pero palagi kang nagcha-chat. Sinasamahan mo ako tuwing may pupuntahan ang kapatid ko. Ryle, your actions spoke to me— and I guess they lied. Napaniwala mo ako na mahal mo ako. I gave you everything, kahit na hindi 'yon kasama sa plano ko."

"I loved you, Chanel," Ryle confessed. "But what the fuck, you were sleeping with other guys!"

"You're fucking my sister! I slept with different men because they promised a good opportunity for your band!" Chanel sobbed uncontrollably. "Look at where you are now, Ryle."

"Sa tingin mo dahil sa 'yo 'yon?"

"Yes!" Chanel yelled. "At hindi ko sinusumbat 'yon sa 'yo. Sinasabi ko 'yon dahil gusto kong i-acknowledge mo na may ginawa ako para sa 'yo!"

"I never asked for any of those!"

"Ayon na nga!" Chanel cried and fell on her knees. "I did it willingly kaya kahit sising-sisi ako sa mga desisyon ko, wala akong karapatang manisi. It's all on me, Ryle."

Hinayaan siya ni Ryle na umiyak nang umiyak. When she couldn't take it anymore, she left. Hindi na rin naghabol si Ryle. And that was the last draw. Chanel knew she had no place in his life, and now, she had to leave.

She took her phone out and searched for Liway's social media accounts. She reached out to her hoping that the other woman would want to talk to her. She waited for a few minutes before Liway saw her message.

Akala niya ay hindi sasagot ang dalaga kaya laking gulat niya nang mabasa ang reply nito.

From Liway:

Ano'ng kailangan mo, Chanel?

She took a deep breath as she typed a response.

To Liway:

I need to talk to you.

From Liway:

Tungkol na naman ba kay Ryle??

To Liway:

I wanted to fix things. I was a bitch last time.

Ilang minutong hindi nakapag-reply si Liway pero pumayag din. Nagkasundo silang mag-usap ng hapon ding iyon. Chanel changed into a comfortable outfit and went on her way to the cafe.

Ilang oras din niyang hinintay si Liway. She had to go early because she had a lot to say. Nang makarating siya, isinasaulo na niya lahat ang gusto niyang sabihin.

When Liway arrived, naupo siya kaagad sa harap ni Chanel. There was a long awkward silence between them. Chanel ordered a drink and a slice of cheesecake for the both of them.

"Liway."

"Chanel," they both said at the same time. Tumikhim si Liway at saka hinayaang nagsalita si  Chanel.

"Last time. . . At the mall. . . I was such a bitch that time. You did not deserve everything I said. I was just insecure and let jealousy control me."

"Okay lang. Naiintindihan naman kita. Kahit ako naman, kapag may nakitang malapit sa lalaking mahal ko magseselos ako."

"But I was a bitch. Hindi mo deserve 'yon."

Tumango si Liway. "Okay lang 'yon. Hayaan mo na."

"Thank you," Chanel whispered. "It means so much to me."

Ngumiti si Liway. "Ang hirap kaya sa pakiramdam na magkaroon ng sama ng loob. I'm glad we could sort things out. Thank you for reaching out to me, Chanel."

Chanel reached for her hand. "Liway, babalik na ako sa France. I think that's the best thing to do. I know now that Ryle has someone he really loves. Please take care of him for me."

Hindi nagsalita si Liway. She let Chanel tell her everything she had to say for Ryle. Sadly, hindi niya na rin masasabi pa ito sa lalaki. She already found a job abroad at nakasalang na siya sa interview.

Hindi niya kayang ipaalam iyon kay Chanel dahil nababasa niya ang sakit sa mga mata nito. Bawat bitaw niya sa mga salita kung gaano niya kamahal si Ryle, magkahalong sakit at pagmamahal ang kumikislap sa mga mata ng dalaga.

She was envious of Chanel because she knew, she couldn't give Ryle the love Chanel has. Because at the end of it all, what they had was just a little something.

Hanggang doon na lang iyon para sa kaniya. The least she could do now is enjoy what they had. . . Enjoy the bittersweet memories she had with the man she unexpectedly fell in love with.