Nag-aalala akong nakatingin sa TV nang makita ko ang balita tungkol kay Takeru. I know that he's a well-known businessman and that there are a lot of people watching his every move. However, right now, ngayon ko lang na-realize kung gaano siya kakilala. That realization makes me feel like sh*t.Napakagat na lang ako ng ibabang labi ko at pinigilan ang pagtulo ng luha ko. Ever since I came back here, I couldn't control my emotions. Dahil doon pakiramdam ko ay parang mali ang pagbabalik ko. I thought I could finally face him without blinking or getting hurt, but I guess that was just wishful thinking.Ah, Aoi, what are you doing to yourself? Why do you love tormenting yourself?I shook my head. No, hindi ito ang time para sa mga negative thoughts.Napabalik ako sa reyalidad nang marinig ko ang pag-ring ng cellphone ko. When I saw who was calling, I unhurriedly answered."Goddamn it, Aoi. Kanina pa ako tumatawag!"I guess I was right. Kahit kelan talaga itong si Kenji, hindi pa rin maalis ang pag-aalala sa akin. 'Yung totoo, sino ba talaga ang mas matanda sa aming dalawa?"Sorry, I was just in a daze after watching the news."Hindi naman kaagad nakapagsalita si Kenji. Sa tingin ko ay tama ako ng hinala kung bakit siya tumawag sa akin ngayon.Nahihiya tuloy ako. He's pregnant, and I'm still causing him trouble."Kenji, you don't have to worry about me, okay? I'm fine, really. Besides, I don't want you to get stressed out of my situation. Alalahanin mo, ang katawan mo ay hindi na lamang sa iyo."Narinig ko na lamang ang pagbuntong hininga ni Kenji sa kabilang linya. Well, it was given since I know that he's worried about me. After all, my situation is different from theirs."I'll ask Daisuke to come to you.""No," I cut him off. "I'm really fine. Besides, may kailangan akong asikasuhin sa venue."Hindi ko tuloy alam kung matatawa ba ako o hindi dahil sa narinig ko ang malutong na pagmumura ni Kenji sa kabilang linya. Narinig ko rin ang mahinang pagpapakalma sa kaniya ni Ryosuke. Wow, sa tingin ko kung hindi ko pinsan at kung hindi ako parte ng circle ni Kenji ay pakiramdam ko mawawalan na ako ng buhay ngayon din."Kenji, really, okay lang ako. Huwag ka nang mag-alala pa sa akin. Isa pa, buntis ka. Gusto mo bang mas lalo pa ako mawala sa sarili ko kapag may nangyaring masama sa iyo dahil sa stress ka?""All right, fine, okay ka na. Pero Aoi, sinasabi ko sa iyo, narito lang kami. Naiinitndihan mo ba?"I smiled. "Of course, alam ko. Alam ko na sa lahat ng tao sa mundo, alam ko na kayo ang hindi tatalikod sa akin. Now, go and get some rest, baka mamaya ako naman ang mahirapan dahil sa hindi ako bibigyan ng day-off ng asawa mo," pagbibiro ko."Aoi, see me at my office tomorrow. I have something to discuss with you."Napalunok naman ako ng laway at pakiramdam ko ay bigla na lang kumapit sa akin ng takot. "See that, Kenji? Sabi ko naman sa iyo eh huwag kang mag-alala."Mahina naman na natawa si Kenji. "May pag-uusapan talaga kayo. Alam ko na ang tungkol doon kaya huwag ka nang mag-alala, okay?"Napatampal na lamang ako ng noo ko. "Fine, I'll go now."Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang sasabihin ni Kenji dahil kung hindi ko na i-e-end call ay siguradong mas tatagal pa ang usapan naming.Napaitngin ako sa paligid at napabuntong hininga. I feel so lonely in this apartment. I guess I should go and have fun?Maybe later.When I arrived at the venue, everything was a mess. Siguro ay dahil alam na rin nila ang nangyari kay Takeru."Mister Takeshi!"Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin at nakita ko naman ang isa sa secretary ni Takeru. "Yes, Miss?"Napalingon muna siya sa paligid bago niya hinawakan ang wrist ko at hinila sa lugar kung saan kaming dalawa lamang ang tao. "Mister Takeshi, thank you." Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "For what?"Hindi ko kasi maintindihan kung bakit siya nagte-thank you sa akin. I mean, hindi naman kami ganoon ka-close, kaya alam ko na hindi ko rin naman siya magagawan ng maganda na dapat niya ika-thank you sa akin."Oh," sambit niya at mukhang na-realized niya na wala akong kaalam alam. "Sinabihan kasi ako ni Sir Orries na mag-thank you sa iyo. He told me that it was you who found him in the parking lot. Gusto ko lang iparating na gusto rin ni Sir Orries na mag-thank you sa iyo." Mayroon naman siyang inabot sa akin at kinuha koi yon."Calling card?"Umiling ang secretary ni Takeru. "Hindi po. It was Sir Orries' private number. He told me to give you that. And oh, he said you don't have to worry about him since he's already fine now."Parang nawala bigla nag nakabara sa lalamunan ko. Hindi ko man gusto na ipakita sa kaniya ang expression ng mukha ko ngunit hindi ko talaga maiwasan na hindi ipakita na nakahinga na ako nang maluwag."You must be worried to see him like that," sambit ng secretary ni Takeru. Tumango naman ako. Lagi naman akon nag-aalala para sa kaniya. "Oh, I heard that you're not on good terms with his family, so he said that I should talk to you in private and when there is no one around. Don't worry, Mister Takeshi, I know everything between you and Sir Orries, and I have no intention of telling this to anyone." She then smiled at me sweetly. "I just hope that you guys could talk about things to settle the misunderstanding."Misunderstanding?I was about to speak when she told me that she didn't have enough time and had to leave. In the end, naiwan ako sa kung saan kami nag-usap, in a daze. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin by misunderstanding.May misunderstanding ba? Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi wala. Wala akong matandaan na may misunderstanding sa pagitan naming dalawa ni Takeru.Oh goodness, Aoi, pinapataas mo na naman ang pag-asa mo. Why don't you just let it go, hmm? Ikaw lang din naman ang masasaktan when you get your hopes up with this.Napapikit na lamang ako. My mind and my heart won't get along. Every time I think of something, my heart won't accept it, and vice versa. Whenever I felt something, my mind would immediately tell me what would happen if I let myself get swept up in my feelings.It was as if my heart and mind always fought.I stared at the card in my hands. Why is he giving me his private number? A number that only a few could have?I sneered at myself. You're still the same as before, Aoi. I closed my eyes tightly. Gusto ko talaga mag-move on, iyon ang gusto ng isip ko dahil pagod na pagod na ako. Pero itong puso ko, itong mark na mayroon ako, ayaw akong pakawalan.Why? Why do I have to suffer?I put the card in my bag and went back to the venue. Of course, I still did my best to finish my job, dahil ayoko rin naman na may masabi sila sa akin. After all, I don't want them to criticize me even more."Good job, everyone. You guys can go now," nakangiti kong sabi after ng meeting namin tungkol sa mga materials na gagamitin naming at sa mga equipment.I was left alone in the conference room. I leaned back and massaged the bridge of my nose. I was too tired to stand up right now. I guess it was okay to stay for a while."I'm glad you're still here."Para akong nabato sa kinauupuan ko nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses. Napatingin ako sa pinto at napangiwi nang makita ko na guni-guni ko lang ang lahat.Pakiramdam ko hindi ko na kakayanin pa. If I give up, will I be able to live comfortably?"What are you reminiscing for?"Napatingin na naman ako sa pinto at ang pinaka least person na gusto ko makita ang naroon. Ah, why do I have to see this one?"Hindi naman halatang hindi mo ako gustong makita, ano?" he said, smirking at me."If you know that, why do you keep appearing in front of me?" I asked, annoyed.Pagod na nga ako pero ang isang ito pakiramdam ko sinasagad na rin ang pasensya ko. Mahaba ang pasensya ko, hindi ako madaling mapikon. Pero tuwing nakikita ko ang omega na ito, ang omega na ipinalit sa akin ni Takeru, pakiramdam ko mag-snap out ako bigla. Kung hindi ko babantayan ang emosyon ko sa harapan niya siguradong malalagay ako sa malaking kaguluhan.He chuckled.Wow, may gana pa talaga siyang tumawa sa harapan ko. Nang-aasar ba talaga ito? If he doesn't leave now, I feel like I'm going to punch him.No, Aoi, calm down. Hindi mo pa naman alam kung bakit siya narito pero wala ka rin namang obligasyon na alamin iyon kaya umalis ka na lang.Right, if he was here, all I need to do is to leave. Ayoko na magkaroon ng rumor tungkol sa aming dalawa. Okay na nakikita kami ng iba na nagtatalo dahil sa project, hindi dahil sa iba na bagay."Are you going to leave? Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin kung bakit ako narito?"Lumingon naman ako sa kaniya. "Sir Shion Robert, if you have an intention to tell me, you should have told me since you entered the conference room. What's the point of waiting for me to ask you?"He started at me and then smirked. "Wow, I guess that kind of omega is what he likes."What does he like?Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga tao ngayon."I'll go first.""I was about Takeru." I halted. I want to look back, but I don't want to see his smug face. "He wanted to see you. If you want, I can give you access where there will be no one around."What the—Napalingon ako. "Anong pinagsasabi mo?" taka ko na tanong. Hindi ko kasi siya maintindihan. "You're asking me to meet your fiancé? Nababaliw ka na ba, Sir Shion? Alam mo naman siguro kung ano ang mayroon sa aming dalawa ni Takeru, hindi ba? Hindi ka naman siguro isang tanga."Natawa naman siya nang mahina. "Oh, it's okay. Gaya nga ng sinabi mo, alam ko ang tungkol sa inyo. Mula sa umpisa hanggang sa huli kaya huwag kang mag-alala. Pangalawa, you're right, I am his fiancé."Huminga ako nang malalim.Oh my god, Aoi, you need to calm down. Kung hindi ka kakalma ay siguradong mababasag mo ang mukha ng omega na nasa harapan mo. Sigurado naman na alam mo ang mangyayari, di ba?"Are you here to put salt in my wound?" I asked emotionlessly. Hindi ko na ata kaya ang mapunta sa iisang lugar kasama ang omega na ito. "If so, congratulations; you did well." I smiled at him. "You don't have to worry about me seeing him. I don't have any intention to do so."I left the conference room, trying to suppress my tears. Nang makarating ako sa kotse ay doon ko na lamang naibuga ang lahat.Why?Why do I have to feel like sh*t? Did I do something wrong? Bakit kailangan pa niya sa akin ipagkalandakan na siya ang fiancé? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama.I sobbed.Ang sakit. Sobrang sakit na pero hindi ko pa rin magawang bumitaw. Why am I still holding on to his mark?I clenched my fist in my chest. I feel like it's going to burst.Nanghihina ngunit nagmamadali kong inabot ang bag ko at kinuha ang gamot ko roon. Wala akong tubig sa kotse, naubos na rin ang dala ko. Still, I have to take my medicine. Nilunok ko ang gamot ng walang tubig. Pakiramdam ko pa ay bumara ito sa lalamunan ko but I did my best to swallow it.Calming myself is more difficult than calming others. Simula nang nasira ang bond sa pagitan naming dalawa ni Takeru ay pakiramdam ko lagi parang gusto ko nang sumabog. If it wasn't for the people around me, I would have ended my life a long time ago.Napabaling naman ang tingin ko sa wrist ko. The first time I attempted to take my life was a week after we broke up. I tried, but I failed. Hindi ko alam ang nangyari pero nang buksan ko ang mga mata ko, nasa ospital na ako. The people around me were all unfamiliar, but they had their worries on their faces. I only met them once, but they were the ones who helped me a lot.Hindi ko pinaalam sa lahat ang tungkol doon, but somehow, nakarating ito kay Kasumi dahilan para dumalaw ang buong circle sa kung saan ako nakatira.I closed my eyes.Balak ko sana bumisita kay Takeru, pero huwag na lang. The way his fiancé bluntly told me that I am nothing to Takeru now hurts me a lot. I guess I have really been nothing since the very beginning.
BINABASA MO ANG
Back to my Alpha's Embrace (Omegaverse Series #2) | SPG
RomanceAoi had been bonded with Takeru since they were in college. However, when Takeru's family learned about Aoi's family background, they immediately devised a scheme that made them break up. Aoi's mark became his illness. When the bond is broken, the m...