Safe In Your Arms

Chapter 41

Hope

"This was a bad idea." I tried to walk out of there but Genna stopped me. Ihinarap niya ako sa kaniya at galit na tumingin sa 'kin.

"Why aren't you shouting at me? Bakit hindi mo ako minumura? Hindi ka ba galit sa 'kin? Ano? Plastik ka rin e! Plastik ka! Bait-baitan ka lagi!" Before she could say another word, malakas ko siyang sinampal dahilan para matahimik silang lahat.

Ito ang unang beses kong nakitang mawala sa sarili si Genna. She was always calm and gentle. Ngayon, that version of her was nowhere to be found.

"You asked for that," nanginginig ang boses kong sabi.

"Did you know? I wanted to be like you. You were strong, kind, gentle and loveable. I always adored you for that but what did you do? Trinaydor mo ako, Genna. You knew how much i liked Tristan pero binalewala mo 'yon! After meeting you again, you finally apologized but you didn't looked sorry at all pero may narinig ka ba sa 'kin? Wala! I was willing to accept that halfed ass apology kahit hindi naman talaga sincere because i wanted to forget about everything." Tumulo ang luha ko.

"Even if it feels suffocating with you around, I pretended to be okay because i wanted to have my friends back kahit alam komg hindi na tayo babalik sa dati." Bumuhos ang luha niya.

"Maybe I was wrong about you. I was wrong for always thinking that you were perfect. You were always wearing that mask around us and when you took it off, i couldn't even recognize you. Sino ka ba? Totoo ba ang Genna-ng ipinakita mo sa 'min?" I smiled bitterly.

"I was wrong for coming here thinking that i could have a peaceful life around you." She tried to hold my hand but i didn't let her.

"Hindi ko aagawin sa 'yo ang lalakenf inagaw mo sa 'kin. I'm not like you, Genna." I turned to Eva who's still in shock.

"I'm sorry, Eva. Uuwi na ako," Paalam ko at dali-daling bumalik sa cottage upang kunin ang mga gamit kong naiwan ron.

"You were brave." Rafael spoke nang makapasok kame sa loob ng kotse niya. He followed me the whole time silently at inaalalayan ako dahil medyo dumidilim na rin ang paligid. I wore my maong shorts and covered my self with a big towel.

I didn't even have time to change my clothes dahil sa pagmamadaling umalis doon.

"Here," inabot niya sa 'kin ang bago niyang t-shirt na kulay gray. Tinanggap ko naman 'yon at sinuot nang tahimik. It smelled like him and it made me more emotional.

I cried there silently habang nagmamaneho siya paalis doon. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari, I can't believe na ako pa ang nakakaramdam ng guilt dahil sa pananampal ko sa kaniya kanina.

I'm so mad of myself for being like this. I hate that I hoped that I could have that perfect relationship with them again kahit hindi naman 'yun mangyayari.

The car suddenly stopped sa gilid ng daan. I turned to Rafael who's handing me a handkerchief, hindi parin nag sasalita.

"What?" Lumuluha kong tanong. Umiling siya at hinaplos ang pisngi kong namumula na siguro ngayon dahil sa ginawa ni Genna.

"I'm sorry," mahinang sabi niya. Pinunasan ko ang sariling luha at umiling.

"Wala ka namang kasalanan, e," I said, sobbing.

He leaned in and kissed my cheek. Sunod ay ang lumuluha kong mga mata. I closed my eyes and held his hand and the next thing i knew, his lips was pressed against mine. I kissed him back as I cried even more.