Stolen Moments

28.

"I'm sorry... for everything, Celestine. I know I was so immature for doing that. I was blinded by my jealousy and I... I ended up being a homewrecker." Katelyn sniffed and reached for my hand.

My eyes watered as I listened to her. I sighed and blinked my tears away. "I just don't understand, Katelyn. We used to be best friends... I know we grew apart when we grew older but I didn't really... I never really thought you could do that to me."

"I was always so jealous of you... you had a complete family, your parents loved you so much... I didn't have that."

I shook my head and stared at her. "Katelyn, we're your family... you're part of our family."

"I know... you never made me feel like I wasn't. It was my fault for being ungrateful. Maybe I just couldn't accept that I lost my parents." she cried while saying that.

"I was so irrational but... I wanted everything you had. And I… I have liked Zayden since we were kids. I just never told you because I was shy. I always look for him during family gatherings and all that." she chuckled a bit. "So when I found out that you two were married, I just... snapped. I made a plan to frame you and I thought I'll be happy but you husband... he loves you so much. And now guilt is creeping up in my system, I shouldn't have been so desperate. I-I'm sorry." she sobbed and kneeled down. She pushed her forehead against my palm that she was holding as she cried.

My tears fell one by one as I stared at her. "Stand up." I said and helped her up.

She stood up and hugged me immediately as she cried. "I'm s-sorry... I'm so sorry."

I nodded and hugged her back. "It's okay now... I understand your pain, katelyn. And I'm sorry you felt that way."

She sobbed harder as she hugged me tighter. "No... my pain was supposed to be mine alone... hindi ko dapat kayo dinamay. I was hurt but that doesn't justify what I did. I was awful to you."

I caressed her hair to calm her down and she eventually did after a few minutes. Nang parehas kaming kumalma ay naupo kami sa sofa sa salas at hinainan niya ako ng meryenda.

She was still staying with my parents. My mom and dad talked to her already and she apologized to them too. My parents understood her, and they loved her like their own daughter kaya hindi nila pinayagang umalis nung sinabi niyang aalis na siya dito.

"I was planning to visit you this week to apologize." she said as she handed me a glass of juice. "Naunahan mo ako." she smiled and sat beside me. "What brought you here anyway?"

"I actually came here to ask you a question." I started.

She looked at me and nodded. "Sure, what is it?"

"My son... I want to know who his father is."

Muntik siyang mabulunan sa iniinom niya at umuubo-ubong tumingin sa'kin.

"May pamangkin ako?!" Her eyes widened.

"You didn't know?!" I was shocked too.

"What the fuck, Celestine?! Would I react this way if I knew?!"

Natawa kami pareho. "Well, his name's Levi."

"I want to meet him, please?" she pouted.

I smiled and nodded. "He's in the hospital right now... he needs a blood donor."

"Then why are you here?"

"I came to ask about that night... if you were the one who set me up, then you should know who my rapist was, right?" alangan kong tanong.

"Rapist?!" her jaw dropped.

Nagtataka ko naman siyang tinignan. "Yes? After you set me up, that guy touched me, right?" I asked.