Caught in the Rainy Season(COMPLETED)

Chapter 31

Seeing Dameon beg and cry on his knees made me question everything about myself.

Did I become so consumed by my pain that I inflicted it on others, just to make them feel what I felt?

Was my revenge so selfish and cruel?

Thoughts flooded my mind, sharp and clear like the crystal drops of rain that seemed to drown me all over again.

Tangina, Taniesha Ilene, why did things end up like this?

Akala ko ba matalino ka? Bakit mas pinairal mo ang sakit na nararamdaman mo kaysa mag-isip ng mas magandang solusyon?

Bobo mo, Taniesha Ilene!

Dami mong nasaktang tao dahil sa sarado mong utak.

Those words circled in my mind like a relentless storm.

I had been too greedy and vindictive, forcing my own child to grow up without knowing her father. I let anger swallow me whole, seeking revenge and causing pain, but isn’t it true that things wouldn’t have escalated to this point if I hadn’t been hurt in the first place?

I’m just a human with feelings. If I seem shallow to you, then why did my actions hurt others? I might have been selfish, but I was only retaliating.

But still, you’re wrong, Taniesha Ilene!

I was about to hit myself as I always did when something went wrong when a hand suddenly stopped me.

“What the hell are you doing, Iesha? Are you out of your mind?” Kuya's voice was filled with anger, his grip firm on my hand.

I was stunned to see both him and Ate standing there before me.

“Kuya Kirjath and Ate, what are you doing here?” I forced a smile, a façade I hoped would conceal my turmoil.

But they didn’t respond. Instead, I watched as Kuya whispered something to Ate, prompting her to leave my office.

I looked at him, confusion clouding my thoughts. “Why did you make Ate Klei leave?”

He offered a small smile before speaking. “Because I know you wouldn’t tell me unless it was just us, right?” I nodded, my heart heavy.

I began to recount the events from earlier, detailing what had happened in my office that had made Kuya so furious.

“Kanina lang, baka narito pa siya,” Kuya said, turning to open the door.

I instinctively reached out to stop him. “Stop it, Kuya. Magkakagulo lang. Umuwi ka na; Ate Klei is waiting for you, right?”

“No, what he did is unacceptable, so he needs to face me––”

“I know, Kuya, but please, just stop. Umuwi na kayo,” but he only shook his head in defiance.

Days passed in a haze, and I thought Dameon would leave me alone. But as I entered my office, my secretary notified me he was there again.

“Why are you here, Dameon?” I said firmly, my heart racing.

“Hindi pa rin ba talaga pwede ngayon, miss?” he asked, his voice tinged with sadness.

I shook my head, desperation clawing at my chest. “Hindi pa ako handa para sa anak ko.”

He straightened his posture, his expression shifting. “Ang selfish mo, Miss De Mavicos. If you still can’t forgive me, then that’s okay, but please don’t drag our child into this.”

In a surge of anger, I slapped him. “Hinding-hindi ko idadamay ang anak ko rito dahil pinoprotektahan ko lang siya!”

I turned away, my heart racing with a mix of fury and regret.

“Ang selfish mo naman. You let our daughter live without me, and now I know you’re still holding her back. We grew up in a whole family, so please, don’t deny our child that.”

His words struck me like a thunderclap.

Realization hit me hard: Dameon was right.

I wasn't protecting her; I was hurting my own child to seek revenge.

Is this what you want, Taniesha? To be seen as the villain in your daughter’s eyes?

“If you want to see her, we need to talk first, but only if you want,” I said, my voice shaking as I made my decision.

I decided it was time to begin mending the broken pieces. We needed to discuss everything.

Together, we walked out of the building, ignoring the whispers of my employees about the scene between us. Even though we had somewhat reconciled, it was clear that the shadows of our past still lingered in our puffy eyes.

Listen, you don’t want to let people hurt you, but you’re the one who keeps hurting yourself. What makes you different from the people who have wronged you? You despise them for their actions, yet you allow yourself to be hurt repeatedly.

Maybe it really does take years to untangle the mess of various problems. We need to fix this before we lose each other entirely.

We both made mistakes. We both hid things that mattered, leading us to hurt each other.

For me, this can also be a time for healing. Because wounds won’t heal if you keep the knife buried inside you; it will just bleed and bleed.

Allow yourself to heal. The first step is to remove the knife, even if it hurts more than the original wound. But it's better to face that pain now than to carry it for the rest of your life.

“Where do you want us to talk, Miss?” he asked, and I replied quickly, “You can decide.”

As he drove, memories flashed in my mind. I recognized the direction; it led to the restaurant where I said yes to him and where we later broke up years ago.

“Why here?” I asked, surprised.

“Why not? I think it’s better to fix everything at the place where we both fell apart,” he replied, as if this were no big deal.

I turned my gaze to the window, feeling a chill run down my spine when I felt his hand cover mine.

“Are you not ready to come back here? You don’t want to be here––”

“I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE! WHY? BECAUSE OF THE GUILT INSIDE ME! I’M WRONG FOR PROTECTING MYSELF, KNOWING IT CAN HURT PEOPLE. KNOWING THAT I HURT YOU TOO?!” My patience unraveled, and I felt the tears streaming down my face once more.

“Please, I let you decide, but not here. I will tell you everything about Darniesha, but I can’t do it here,” I pleaded, desperation lacing my voice.

“Okay, but at least at your house, please, Miss De Mavicos. I want to see and meet our child. But if you just want?” he asked, and I hesitated.

For years, I had stolen both of their lives from each other. I told myself hiding my daughter was my revenge, but why did it feel like I had only made things worse? If I had set aside my ego, I could have done things better.

“Okay, we will, but please don’t spring things on her. I will tell her you are her father; she’s been longing for you,” I said, bowing my head in shame.

“Can I ask you one last question?” he held my hand again, bringing it to his lips, causing me to freeze in my seat. I didn't know that the question he was about to ask would send my heart racing.

“Can I court you for the third time, Miss Taniesha Ilene De Mavicos?” His smile was hopeful, yet it felt like a heavy weight in the air.