She Loved Too Much

Chapter 2

LANCE YUXUAN CHEN 

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔

For me to say that, I needed to gather courage. I don't want any regrets again. I've regretted it before and don't want it to happen again.

We exchanged contact numbers and I also asked if she still lived in her old house.

"Ay hindi na,eh. Sa BGC na ako nakatira ngayon."

I nodded. "Can I take you home?"

She waved her hand in refusal. "Hindi na. Sabay kami pauwi ni Miguel, eh."

My jaw tightened.

I took a deep breath before asking, "Is he courting you?"

"Hala, hindi ah! Parang sira 'to!" she lightly hit me on the arm and laughed as if she couldn't believe my question.

"Selos ka?"

She covered her mouth when she saw me looking serious and saying, "Yes". She looked away when her face flushed again.

"I'm serious, Lily. I'm jealous, but I won't stop you from being friends with Miguel because that's on you."

She looked at me, her eyes shining as she stared at me.

"Do you know I waited for you to come back? Three years, Lance. I still have the film pictures you gave me. I keep reading what you wrote on the back of them. Si taco bell katabi ko matulog.

I felt butterflies in my stomach when I heard that from her. I bet my ears were turning red from the thrill I was feeling.

Umiwas ako ng tingin para itago ang ngiti ko. Kinagat ko ang pang ibabang labi ko.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya, seryoso. "Thank you, Lily, for waiting for me. I'm sorry it took me so long to express my feelings for you. It was bad timing but now I'll make it up to you. I'll make you feel that I love you."

Her eyes widened at my last statement. "Yo-yoyou love me?

I nodded and held her hand. "I didn't forget you. I tried, but my feelings for you keep coming back. Even in my sleep, you're on my mind. You are the reason why I'm still here, staying alive and-"

She cut off my sentence by hugging me. I felt the warm drop of her tear on my nape.

"You must've been struggling by yourself, feeling lonely. You couldn't even tell anyone that you were having a hard time. Sorry at hindi ko alam na nawala na si Tita. Sorry kasi dahil sa akin, hindi mo nabantayan siya. I'm so-sorry-"

I felt tears streaming down my face. I couldn't help but hug her back tightly. I let my head rest on her shoulder and cried in her embrace.

I let myself cry and feel vulnerable.

"It's not your fault, Lily. Ako ang may kasalan. I let her die. I killed my brother. I also killed my mother." my voice trembling.

I felt her embrace tighten and gently caress my back. "Hindi mo kasalan, Lance. Kung hindi mo ako hinanap nong gabing iyon, baka nabantayan mo si Tita at napigilan siya. Pero dahil sa akin, namatay siya."

"No, Lily. I decided to find you."

"It's no one's fault." biglang sabi ni Miguel na nasa harapan na namin.