Beside the Enemy Lies

Chapter THREE: Monte Araza 🏡

"You don't know how deeply you are intertwined with someone until you try to walk away from them"

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IRENE's POV:

It's been six days and fourteen hours since I last saw that cheater! THAT cheater! I cannot even say his name without crying! I hate him! I hate him!! I really truly madly hate him!!!

I told him that I love him.. twice! And he gave me this diamond tennis bracelet! That's before he proposed to his now fiancé, Charo! I don't even know that he has a girlfriend!

Also, sabi nya diba? He'll talk to my parents, manliligaw siya! Sinabi nya yan diba? Napaka manloloko!!

And he kissed me! He's my first kiss! Why would he do that? Wala naman akong kasalanan sa kanya ahh.

The fiancé.. she's beautiful. She seems gracious and kind and as much as I wanted to, I can't hate her. So I am hating on the cheater instead!

'Oh anak? Ang aga mo naman gumising. Saturday naman, wala kang pasok'
"It's fine, Daddy. Maglalakad lang naman po ako, pahangin lang"
'Will it be okay if I join you?'
"No problem"

When Dad pulls me closer, I know that I just wanted to bask in his love rather than walk around the palace grounds.

'So.. si Greggy-'
"What? Why? Anong sinabi nya sayo?"
'Why are you so defensive? Wala pa nga akong sinasabi'

Shit! Is he resigning?

"I.. hindi po ahh!"
'Why are you avoiding him? May ginawa ba siya?'
"Avoiding? Daddy.. hindi naman"
'Stop lying, Bunso. Hindi bagay sayo ang sinungaling. Tell me, bakit ka umiiwas kay Greggy? The whole week, sa Tito Fabian mo ikaw nagpahatid kahit nandyan lang si Greggy. Anak si Greggy ang CPO mo, hindi si Fabian'

"Daddy.. kasi-"
'Kasi?'

I turn around to face my father before I pull him for an embrace. And then I started crying.

"Dad.. si Greggy kasi.. si Greggy, Daddy-"
'Ano nga si Greggy, anak? Bakit ka umiiyak?'
"Engaged na si Greggy, Daddy! Magpapakasal na siya sa iba"
'And you are crying because?'

Because I love him.

My father is looking at me expecting me to give him  some answers.

"Because he knows me. He knows what I like, how I want things to be done. He's patient and he's understanding. Because he makes me happy! Because Daddy, he's my kakampi against bullies. And he drives me around campus and-"
'And he's sneaking you out of the palace to visit our house in San Juan. He's bringing you to Luneta for fish balls and he's driving you around Manila Bay without the knowledge of the PSC. Is that it?'

Shit! Lagot na!

"Daddy.."
'All those that you said still don't answer my question why are you crying. So let me ask you again. Why are you crying over Greggy's engagement?'

Because I can no longer bear the look of my father, I decided to fix my sight on the graveled floor.

"Because I love him. I am in love with him, Daddy. I'm sorry"

I'm bracing myself for the waves of disappointment from my father but they never come. Instead, he lifts my chin forcing me to look at him before he wipes away my tears one after the other.

'I know. Anak kita ehh, alam ko.'
"Are you mad at me, Daddy?"
'Only because you lied while risking your own security and-'
"But I told you, kasama ko naman si Greggy. I know I will be safe"
'Yet you forgot to guard your heart'
"Sorry po"

I don't know how long am I crying to my father's arms, but it feels so good to finally let go of the burden of carrying this pain alone.

'Matanda naman na si Greggy, anak. Ikaw ang bata mo pa. Hanap ka na lang ng iba'
"Ayaw ko nga sa iba, Daddy! Si Greggy lang ang gusto ko ehh. At tsaka, matanda ka rin naman kaysa sa mommy"
'Mahal ko ang mommy ko from the beginning, kaya ko nga pinakasalan agad, hindi ba? Si Greggy ba, mahal ka?'