Craving the Thorns (Monforte Series #1) (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 45

Keys

"You can tell him, Ma'am. It's not a problem for me."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. I'm sure she wasn't expecting that.

Buong pagkatao ko ang naibubuhos ko dahil sa pagpipigil ng luha. At kasama na doon ang sakit na ganito ang pakikitungo sa akin ngayon ni Mrs. Monforte.

Flame... didn't tell me anything about this. Siguro dahil... walang pagkakataon? Ngayon lang kami naging okay. I'm sure he will tell me sooner. Pero ngayong hindi pa niya sinasabi, hindi ko pipilitin. I will let him tell me... and I will believe him on whatever he has to say.

"My son is a gentleman. I'm sure he won't try to hurt you."

Ngumiti ako. "Yes. He never did once hurt me. Kaya ngayong sinabi niyang mahal niya ako, susubukan kong hindi na siya muling saktan."

Her proud aura broke into pieces. Such disappointment was etched on her face. Pero... totoo ang sinabi ko.

I won't leave him again. Unless... he told me so. Hindi na ako aalis, hangga't ako ang mahal niya. Hindi ako aalis dahil hindi ko na alam kung saan pa pupunta... kung hindi siya kasama.

"That was last year, Ma'am. And he told me... that he's been waiting for me. I've been looking for him too. In every places I went to, I always look for him. Sinira ang pangalan ko sa harap niya kaya wala akong mukhang naiharap. This is our chance to reconciliate with love. Hindi ko na po pakakawalan ang pagkakataon."

"They were promised to each other. At uuwi ang fiance niya sa mismong araw ng birthday niya. You can just let it all go, Hardin. Forget all the things he promised you. After all, it has ended."

Umiling ako at sinubukan pa ring ngumiti. Mabigat na ang loob ko pero gusto ko pa ring ilaban 'to. "Hindi niyo po 'yon alam, Ma'am. Maybe it ended for everyone. But... it never ended for us. Alam ko po 'yon. Alam niya 'yon."

She sighed and looked at me with disbelief. "Katulad ng sinabi ko, hindi ko hahayaang wasakin mo'ng muli ang anak ko. Matagal bago siya naka-recover sa ginawa mo. Matagal... bago bumalik ang anak ko sa dati niyang sarili. And it hurts me... as his mom... to see him that way. Hindi mo 'yon alam dahil wala kang nakasama sa paglaki. You don't know how it feels to be connected to anyone. Kaya siguro... madali sa'yong manakit."

Tumango ako. I can take all the insults. I can take all the pain. Dahil alam ko... wala pa ito sa sakit na naramdaman ko nang mawalay sa akin si Flame. This is a different kind of pain. But... bearable. Kakayanin dahil nandito na ulit ako. Kasama si Flame.

All I can feel right now is my heart pounding with so much heaviness. Pero... hindi ko pa rin magawang magalit sa kaniya. Kahit maubos ang dugo ko ngayon dahil sa paglaban na ito, ayos lang. I understand her. Pero hindi ganoon kalala na iiwanan kong muli si Flame.

I smiled at her as one tear glided onto my cheeks. I wanted to curse at it because I didn't really want to be emotional. Pero hindi ko na talaga kinaya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya roon. Somehow, I saw how she panicked. Napaawang ang labi niya habang nakatingin sa luhang lumandas sa pisngi ko.

"No, Ma'am. I knew what you're talking about. Because when I left the city to run away, I know in my heart... that I will always be connected to Flame. I know how it feels to be hurt... because he's hurt. Kaya ngayon, kung masasaktan po siya dahil sa pag-alis ko... hindi ko po gagawin... dahil ayaw kong masaktan siya."

Napalunok siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit wala na siyang naisagot doon kaya kinuha ko na ang pagkakataon na 'yon para magpatuloy.

"Sa araw po ng birthday niya, araw ng pagdating ng fiance na sinasabi niyo. I'll stay if he chooses me. I'll stay if he wants me. I'll stay if he says he loves me. Wala na po akong pakialam kung noong nakaraang taon ay sinubukan niyang magmahal ng iba." huminga ako ng malalim. "But if he chooses her, you will never see me again. I'll try to find my home somewhere else. Kahit alam kong hindi ko na po 'yon matatagpuan, susubukan ko po."