Ryle Alvarez (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ryle was at the verge of breaking down. Hindi na niya alam kung ano ang gagawin niya sa buhay niya. Liway stopped talking to her, he's still guilty about what he did to Chanel. Everything around him is falling apart. He had to cancel his solo album because he couldn't function well.

He's been staying in his condo for God knows how long. Until he decided he couldn't let Liway leave his life easily. He suddenly had the energy to stand up. He didn't even tried to make himself look presentable, he just drove to her residence. Laking gulat niya nang nakita niyang naglalakad pauwi si Liway galing terminal.

Ryle pulled the car over and stopped to run after her. "Liway, wait!"

Nagulat si Liway pero madali ring nakabalik sa sarili. She stopped and waited for Ryle to come to her. "Bakit?"

"Let's talk, please?"

"Tapos na tayong mag-usap noon."

Umiling si Ryle. "I can't take this anymore. Please, come back to me, Liway. Come back to my life."

"Hin—"

Bago pa man maituloy ni Liway ang sasabihin niya, Ryle slowly went on his knees. "I want you back. I'll do everything for you, Liway. I won't do things that will upset you. I'll be a good boy, Liway."

Liway sighed. "Don't stoop this low, Ryle. I don't deserve this."

"If this is the only way, I'll drag myself to filth. Whatever it takes to have you back in my life."

Bumuntonghininga si Liway. "May gagawin pa kasi ako, Ryle. Sa ibang pagkakataon na lang."

"This weekend? Let's have a dinner date." Tumango na lang si Liway. "I'll take you out."

"Sige."

"I'll pick you up?"

Umiling si Liway. "Text mo na lang kung saan ako pupunta tapos sunod ako."

Ryle was hesitant at first, but if it is what she wants, he'll follow. He stood on his feet and kissed the back of Liway's hand. "Thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance."

Tipid na ngumiti si Liway at saka nilampasan ang binata. Ryle felt relieved. He immediately planned everything for their dinner. He spent a huge amount of money just to make it special for her.

Meanwhile, Liway is still not feeling good. Pasalampak siyang umupo sa sofa at saka huminga ng malalim. She looked at her papers to make sure about the date of her next interview. Huling interview na niya iyon kung sakali. She's planning to apply for a job abroad.

"Anak, kumusta ang interview?" tanong ng ama na kakapasok lang.

"Okay lang po, Pa. Babalik pa raw ako para sa final screening nila."

Umupo sa tabi niya ang ama. "Sigurado ka bang gusto mong mangibang-bansa? Mahirap 'yon. Malalayo ka sa amin ng Mama mo."

Pilit na ngumiti si Liway. "Desidido na po ako, Papa."

"Kung ako ang tatanungin mo, anak, ayaw ko sanang umalis ka na. Matanda na kami ng Mama mo kaya hindi mo na kami makakasama nang matagal."

Nalungkot si Liway. May parte sa kaniyang ayaw patulan ang sinasabi ng ama, pero alam niyang tama ito. Napayakap siya nang wala sa oras sa ama.

"Dalawang taon lang po 'yon, Papa. Babalik din po ako kaagad para sa inyo ni Mama."

Mapait na ngumiti ang ama. "Wala akong magagawa sa desisyon mo, anak. Kapag nandoon ka na, tandaan mo na mahal na mahal ka namin ng Mama mo."

Tumango si Liway. "Palagi po akong tatawag, Papa. Kukumustahin ko kayo palagi para hindi niyo ako masiyadong mami-miss."

Bumuntonghininga si Mang Paulo. "Oh, siya sige na! May gagawin pa akong trabaho. Magpahinga ka na rin."

Tumango si Liway at nagtungo sa kuwarto niya. Humiga siya sa kama at nasagi ng paningin niya ang plushie na regalo sa kaniya ng binata. Kinuha niya ito at niyakap.

Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa ginawa ng lalaki kanina lang. It's the Ryle Alvarez begging her to take him back. He was on his knees pleading.

Hindi maintindihan ni Liway kung bakit ginawa iyon ng binata. Did he really love her? Liway pushed that thought at the back of her head. There is no way that could be true.

Masakit pa rin sa kaniya ang pag-iwan niya kay Ryle. Nalulungkot siya at nagsisisi dahil naging mahina siya. Pinaniwala niya ang sarili niyang wala siyang karapatang ipaglaban kay ang nararamdaman niya para sa binata.

Now, all she could do is regret it. Dahil sa totoo lang, wala pa rin siyang lakas ng loob ipaglaban ang binata. Natatakot pa rin siyang makipagsapalaran dahil natatakot siya sa mundo ni Ryle.

Hinanda na niya ang sarili sa mga puwedeng mangyari sa pagkikita nila. Ang dami niyang 'what-ifs' tungkol doon. Hindi niya alam kung excited ba siyang makita ulit ang binata o matatakot dahil alam niyang marupok siya rito.

She opened her social media accounts. Napatitig siya nang matagal sa conversation nila ni Ryle. Maraming pagkakataon nang sumubok mag-reach out ang lalaki sa kaniya.

She opened the conversation and a bunch of voice messages popped on her screen. She played it one by one and teared up upon hearing them.

"Liway," Ryle said, obviously drunk. "I miss you so, so much. When will you ever come back?"

She played another one. "I was at your place earlier. I saw you come out of your house and helped your Mom with the laundry. You even smiled while talking to her. I missed the times when those sweet smiles were for me."

And another one. "I went out to buy a bucket of fried chicken earlier. I was hoping it would make me feel better. On my way to the restaurant, everything reminded me of you. Napangiti nga ako habang inaalala ka."

Hindi na pinakinggan pa ni Liway ang ibang audio. Ryle's voice kept breaking as he spoke. He made their conversation his journal, as if she wanted Liway to know everything he did.

Liway pressed the record button. "I missed you as well. Everyday that passes by without you is hard. Nasanay na ako sa presensiya mo kaya mahirap para sa akin ang biglang pag-iwan ko sa 'yo. Maybe we love each other, but now is not the right time for it."

She was contemplating, but in the end, she deleted her message and turned her phone off. She hugged the plushie tighter as she quietly sobbed in her room.