Way Back Into Love (Back Again Series #2)

12

"Ilang araw ka na raw hindi bumabangon sa kama mo. Emcy, bangon na!"

Agad kong naramdaman ang sikat ng araw na tumama sa mukha ko, pilit kong ipinikit muli ang aking mga mata bago dahan-dahang iminulat. Ley was sitting beside me, while Erich stood by the window, fixing the curtains. Napabuntong-hininga ako nang bahagya at lihim na napairap bago dahan-dahang umupo.

It had been a week since that night happened. Pero parang hanggang ngayon, nakakapit pa rin sa akin ang bigat ng lahat. I didn't know why, but I felt like I had lost all motivation. Happiness seemed so far away. Not because it was out of reach, but because I was the one keeping myself from it.

Maybe I didn't deserve it. Maybe I was the problem all along.

"Simba tayo?" Erich beamed at me, sitting beside me and wrapping her arms around mine. "Tamang-tama, Sunday ngayon!"

Sunday. Church. Him.

Biglang bumigat ang dibdib ko. He was the one who always invited me to mass. The reason I used to wake up early without complaints. It wasn't just about attending church, it was about the moments we shared before and after. Ang tahimik na paglalakad, ang maiikling usapan, ang paraan niya ng pagpapagaan sa lahat. Sundays used to mean something because of him.

"We'll treat you!" Ley chimed in. "Kaya gayak ka na, we'll wait for you downstairs."

"Anong we?!" sambit ni Erich. "Gaga, ikaw lang ang manlilibre! Idadamay mo pa ako."

They'll treat me just like he used to.

Spending time with him never meant splitting the bill. He never let me pay for my own food, drinks, or anything I wanted. It was his way of taking care of me, and I let him, not realizing that those small acts would one day turn into painful memories I couldn't shake off.

And now, here I was, sitting in bed, relating everything back to him.

I let out a slow breath. The moment I realized that... that everything still traced back to him, I knew everything still sucked.

Dahil wala na akong ibang pagpipilian at nandito na sila, pinilit kong kumilos. After taking a bath, I grabbed the most comfortable clothes I could find in my closet. Same with my shoes, I picked the pair that wouldn't feel like a burden to wear. Then, I finally went downstairs.

"Wag mo na nating isama si Chad," I heard Erich say as I made my way down the stairs. "Baka 'di comfortable si Emcy. Isa pa, girls' day muna ngayon. Gets mo ba ako?"

"Anong gets ba kita? Siraulo ka ba?" Nangunot ang noo ni Ley. "Ikaw kaya ang nag-insist na isama si Chad. Siraulo."

"Sarap mo talagang galitin." Tumawa si Erich.

Mali man, pero hindi ko maiwasang mainggit sa kanilang dalawa. Their love was uncomplicated, pure, something I never had.

Ley had Chad, and I knew how much he loved her. Erich had Daniel, and I could tell he felt the same way about her. But me? I was just here, waiting... Waiting to be loved.

Nang makalapit ako sa dalawa ay niyaya na nila ako paalis. Kasama ni Ley ang driver niya kaya hindi kami nag-commute. On the way to the church, my heart started pounding. Of all places, we were going to that church. The one we used to go to together. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor.

"Emcy, tara na!"

Erich's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I nodded and grabbed my sling bag before stepping out of the car. Ley immediately took my hand and gently pulled me inside the church.